Page 200 of Bend

By the time I circle back to Talon, I know I’ve already checked everything that matters, but knowing isn’t enough anymore.

I squeeze his front brake lever again.

Check the reservoir.

Run my hand along the line.

Then I do it one more time.

When I reach Reign’s bike, he watches me crouch beside the front tire and stare at the gauge long enough that eventually he says, “You expecting it to change if you intimidate it?”

I glance up.

His face is exhausted, but there is the faintest edge of himself in there.

“It might.”

“It won’t.”

“Well, you never know.”

“It’s still thirty-one.”

I look at the gauge.

Thirty-one.

I write it down anyway.

By the time I reach Thorne’s bike, I’m halfway through checking a fastener I know I already torqued when a hand closes over mine.

I jerk my head up.

Andre is standing above me with that expression he gets when he already knows exactly what bullshit I’m about to try.

“Echo.”

“I’m checking it.”

“I can see that.”

“Then we’re both having a productive morning.”

His mouth doesn’t move. “You checked it ten minutes ago.”

“I could’ve missed something.”

“You didn’t.”

I pull my hand free and reach for the wrench.

Andre gets there first.

My jaw tightens. “Give me that.”

“No.”

“Andre.”