A few minutes later she hopped in the drivers seat and we headed out to our dad's house. I didn't say anything about the party as my initial anger had subsided. If she wanted to surprise me, then what was the harm in letting her, as long as it wasn't a surprise. We pulled into the driveway and I grabbed my bag and followed her in, inhaling sharply at the familiarity of the house. She hadn't really changed anything since our dad died, so it pained me a little to see it as he left it. I looked over at Tara to see her watching me carefully.
"I'm fine. War hardened soldier remember?" I walked back to my old room and threw my bag on the bed before looking around at the old pictures and tiaras. I felt vomit inching up my throat as the memories of glitzy gowns and hairspray flashed in my mind. I was always a girly girl but thinking back to just how superficial it always disgusted me. I opened my closet and breathed a sigh of relief as my clothes had apparently arrived ahead of me and Tara had taken the time to put them up for me.
Seeing as how I knew we'd be going to a party, I surveyed my closet for a few minutes devising a plan. I didn't want to try and catch a son tonight, but I did want to show off as to let them know that some women were actually unattainable. I settled on a pair of leather leggings and boots with a white flowing tank top with a skull made of black crystals on the front. I had picked it up in Germany and hadn't gotten a chance to wear it, so I was actually a little excited for the excuse.
I got in the shower and by force of habit finished washing my hair and body within eight minutes. I laughed as I got out and started drying off. My blonde hair shone brightly in the light as I dried it straight. Finishing up with just a bit of mascara and perfume, I got dressed and walked back into the living room to find Tara changed into tight jeans and a black tank. I smiled and so did she.
"So, how do I look?" I did a turn, letting my loose tank flare out in the air. She giggled and nodded.
"You look great! Are you planning on going somewhere?" She asked with fake innocence. I smiled just as innocently and shook my head.
"Nope, just felt like looking like a girl." I genuinely laughed because I honestly did miss looking like a girl for the past three months. Tara nodded and dug the toe of her boot into the carpet.
"Well I thought we could go down to the diner and maybe eat and grab a beer if you wanted to." She didn't look at me. I would have known she was lying even if Piney hadn't spilt the beans earlier.
"Okay!" I said cheerfully, grabbing my purse and walking towards the door. Tara looked surprised.
"Oh!" she exclaimed, "That was easy, okay, well let's go." I laughed and shook my head as she grabbed the car keys.
"Tara, I know my bike is here so just go ahead and give me my keys to it. It's been too long since I've ridden it and I will follow you there." She looked nervous but dug around in her purse and tossed me a small key ring with my key and a house key on it.
"Is it in the shed?" I asked. She nodded and I headed back to the shed and slid the door open. My beautiful Harley Davidson Iron 883 was standing there waiting for me. I smiled as I walked it out of the shed and out onto the driveway. The sun was just going down and it hit the candy purple paint just right. I piled my hair on top of my head and put on my helmet to avoid helmet hair and smiled broadly. Tara shook her head as she pulled out before me. I obnoxiously revved my bike up loudly as she shifted into drive.
She drove directly towards the diner before taking what would have been a surprising right off of the route. I followed, to preoccupied with my bike and the open air to be annoyed. As she pulled into Teller Morrow, I played off my surprise by stopping in the street and shaking my head. She folded her hand together and yelled please. I just revved loudly before pulling into the lot. I decided to make a statement and walked my bike back alongside the son's Harley's. There were roughly thirty people milling around with drinks and smokes as I turned my bike off and hopped off. I hung my helmet on my handlebars and shook out my hair before throwing my purse into Tara's car and letting her lock it. I still wasn't used to carrying one yet.
"Thank you so much for coming here! Surprise! It's all for you!" Tara said excitedly, smiling and hugging me. It was out of character for Tara to get excited about something, so I finally gave in and decided to try and have fun. I saw Jax walking up and shook his hand.
"Thanks for helping her set all this up," I said gesturing around to the decorations and people. He nodded and welcomed me home again.
"Nice bike, by the way. Tara had me help the delivery crew so it wouldn't get damaged." He grinned and tilted his head over to it. "I think it may have some admirers over there." I followed his hint and saw a couple of sons and prospects checking it out. One great thing about other bikers is you don't have to worry about them touching your bike.
I walked over and introduced myself to the ones I didn't know and greeted the sons I did know. "Hi, I'm Ana Knowles. Tara's little sister."
"Baby, you aren't so little anymore." Trager said looking me up and down. I flipped him off with a curt, "Shut up, Tig." He laughed and hugged me with one arm. He introduced me to his companions one by one. I was about to politely excuse myself to the bar when he grabbed a passing son by the shoulder and pulled him over.
"Ana, this here is our Scotsman Chibs. He was around before you left but I don't think you every really met." He smiled and smacked Chibs hard on the back. "Chibs this here is Ana Knowles. She's Tara's not so little sister that can probably kick our asses with her eyes closed." Chibs grinned and nodded.
"I'm sure you'd enjoy that a little to much brotha," he said with a thick Scottish accent. I grabbed a beer Tara was offering me and nonchalantly studied Chibs as he and Trager argued back and forth. He was definitely new to me, as I would have remembered at least his scars from before. I could tell he was quite a bit older than me and even Tara as his hair was graying in some places and there were faint lines coming through around his eyes. He wasn't skinny by any means, but looked like he took care of himself, which seemed to age him back down. I felt something start to stir in my stomach, so I abruptly walked away as they continued to argue.
I wasn't here to meet anyone and I sure as hell wasn't going to get caught up with a son. I spent the next few hours blocking him from my mind and talking to some old friends turned crow eaters and drinking top shelf vodka on ice. I actually started enjoying myself when I noticed something was off. The line of bikes were full and I knew there weren't many, if any more sons that weren't already here, yet I heard the rumbling of at least four Harleys out on the road. I looked around for Tara and saw her sitting on a picnic table over by the boxing ring on the clubhouse's patio. She and Jax were smiling and kissing, so I didn't want to interrupt them with what was probably nothing.
The noise grew louder and then I heard them start to slow down. Whether it was war-grown paranoia or intuition. I ran over to my bike and pulled out my M9 from the saddlebag. Chibs and Tig noticed my sudden movement and pulled their pieces, following my gaze. I kept my M9 at my side as I crouched behind my bike just high enough to see the main road.