Page 38 of Endo
“I don’t want to talk about it,” I mutter, my voice quieter, the fight draining from me. “Just… leave it.”
Thorne doesn’t push. He nods, like he gets it, and there’s no trace of frustration in his expression. He stays there, leaning against the wall, a silent support as I process the weight of hiswords. Before I can sink further into my thoughts, I hear the unmistakable sound of footsteps approaching.
Sayshen strolls in, eyes scanning the garage before landing on me. He’s grinning like he’s about to pull some prank, but the second he spots the tension hanging in the air, his smile falters just a little. He raises an eyebrow, as if asking without words what’s going on.
“What’s up, man?” he asks, his tone easy, like he’s just casually checking in.
I force a smile, trying to shake off the weight that’s settled in my chest. “Same old. Just... trying to keep busy.”
Sayshen glances at the bike, his lips twitching. “That bike’s looking solid. You’re really putting in the work.”
I nod, trying to focus on the bike, not on the conversation, not on the mess in my head. “Yeah, just trying to stay distracted.”
“Good call,” he replies, leaning against a nearby workbench, arms crossed. “Before you know it, you’ll be back out there with us.”
I shrug, still focused on the bike. “Yeah, hopefully.”
There’s a beat of silence before Sayshen glances over at Thorne, who’s still leaning against the wall, arms still crossed. His attention shifts back to me. “Bexley said Lena’s been hanging out with her and Cece again. They grabbed some coffees. She said it sounds like she’s doing a lot better.”
I glance up at that, the words hitting me like a punch to the gut. My stomach tightens, but I try to sound casual. “Oh yeah?”
“Yeah.” Sayshen nods. “Bex thinks it’s because of all the training you’ve been doing with her. She seems more like herself lately, you know? How’s she doing riding wise?”
That makes me pause, the guilt bubbling back up to the surface. I don’t know why, but the fact that Lena’s been spendingtime with the girls and seems to be getting better makes me feel both relieved and like shit at the same time.
“Yeah, she’s been doing alright,” I mumble, avoiding Sayshen’s gaze. “We’ve been working on it, but she’s got a lot going on. It’s still a work in progress.”
Sayshen tilts his head, sensing the shift in my mood. “I get it, man. But I mean, she’ll get it. Shit, we all start somewhere.”
I nod, trying to push the heaviness out of my chest. “Yeah. For sure. She’ll get it.”
Sayshen gives me a knowing look, but he doesn’t push it any further. “Alright, well, I better get to work, Andre’s been on my ass about installing these new exhausts from that sponsor deal we just got. You know how he gets. The guy’s a fucking drill sergeant.”
I grunt, a small smile tugging at my lips. “Yeah, don’t let him catch you slacking, or you’ll be hearing about it for the next week.”
Sayshen chuckles, shaking his head. “I swear, I’ve never met a guy who can get so worked up over a fucking exhaust. But whatever, I’ll get it done.”
Thorne, who’s been quietly listening, chimes in with his usual mix of sarcasm and dry humor. “Andre’s got that whole ‘obsessive-compulsive mechanic’ thing going on. Drives us all mad. But we love him for it. Don’t we, boys?”
Sayshen laughs, bumping Thorne with his shoulder as he heads toward the garage door. “Yeah, we love him. Just wish he’d, you know, ease up on the constant micromanaging bullshit.”
“Oi, if Andre wasn’t breathing down our necks, who would?” Thorne grins. “Who else is gonna keep us in line, bruv?”
I roll my eyes, but the banter lightens the mood. It’s good to have the noise around me for a minute, something to keep my mind from spiraling.
Sayshen tosses one last comment over his shoulder as he disappears into the garage. “Take care of yourself, Reign. Don’t make me come back here and find you staring at that bike like it’s gonna fix itself.”
Thorne lingers a bit longer, his expression softening. “We’ve got your back, bruv. Always. Don’t forget that.”
I nod, watching them leave before turning back to the bike in front of me. The silence settles around me again, but it’s different this time. It’s not as suffocating. Maybe I’m starting to get the hang of this whole “not being alone” thing, even if it’s just a little bit.
In my pocket, my phone buzzes once, a sharp vibration that pulls my attention away from the bike. Expecting another worried message from my mom, I pull it out, and glance at the screen—but it’s not what I expected.
Lena: I know I’ve been distant. I don’t want things to be weird between us. Can we talk?
The words hit me harder than I anticipated. My stomach drops, and for a second, I freeze, unsure of how to react. I didn’t think she’d reach out again, not after everything. The guilt gnaws at me, but so does a flicker of hope that I’m not sure I’m ready for.
Reign: Yeah. Let’s talk. When you’re ready
