Page 63 of Wasted Lust

“So you’re lonely.”

“I guess. But more importantly, it’s Sparrow’s birthday.”

“Hmph.”

I win.

So I smile. But I look out the window as I do it so he’ll stop with the interrogation. We talk about other stuff the rest of the ride and then when I’m on the ground and I figure I’m gonna get away with no more discussion, he gives it one more try.

“I’m serious about the ride home. If you need one, just call.”

But I’m ready for it. “I’m gonna stay at home and think about my options. There’s no reason to go so far away when all my family is here. But if I do, I will call, believe me. Driving home to Kansas is not my idea of fun.”

“I’m gonna drive down to Boulder to visit my brother then, OK? I’ll be here for the weekend if you need me.”

He thinks I’m in trouble. And I might be, but I’m not sure yet. So I accept his offer of help with a kiss to the cheek and then exit the plane and make my way to the terminal.

The local airport is small, but they know me. I called ahead and asked them to find me a rental car, so it’s ready for me when I get there.

Ten minutes later I’m on my way into town.

I check Spencer and Veronica’s bike shop, Shrike Bikes, first. It’s right in the small downtown, and I need to drive by it to get to Rook’s or Veronica’s house.

I hit the jackpot there, because there’s balloons flying in bunches near the side door. I park the car next to Spencer’s red truck with his shop logo on it, and as soon as I get out I hear the squealing of little girls coming from inside. Ronnie used to be a tattoo artist at her family shop a block down the street. But she retired after she got pregnant. Now she body-paints in the back of the bike shop.

I open the back door and there are kids running everywhere. It looks like tattooed princesses threw up in here. Five wasn’t kidding when he said Sparrow was having a biker party. Every little girl is wearing those fake tattoo sleeves, jeans with tutus on them, and tiaras.

God. I have never seen anything so adorable in my whole life.

“Sasha!” Princess Rory squeals. “Look, Mommy! It’s Sasha!”

Veronica stops painting a little girl’s face and beams up at me. “Hey! I wasn’t sure you’d come.”

“Hey, Sasha,” Rook says, her younger little girl, Starling, on her hip. She likes to name her girls after birds. “Wanna help me out for a second?” She holds Starling out to me.

“Sure,” I say, taking the baby. “What’s up, little cutie?” I ask as I nuzzle her nose. Her gummy smile brightens my whole life. I miss having babies around. Both Five and Kate were very small when I moved in with Ford and Ashleigh. Five was a newborn and Ashleigh was glad to have help since Kate had just turned one.

Rook goes off to help Sparrow open her presents, and I take my attention back to Ronnie. “When Five said Sparrow was having a biker theme, I thought he was kidding.”

“Don’t ask. But these girls are crazy for tattoos and bikes right now. I blame Spencer. He made mini-Shrike Trikes for them, and they think they’re in a motorcycle club now.”

“Oh my God. I might die.”

“They want patches and leather jackets. And Rory asked me for Frye boots like mine.”

I’m smiling so big as I picture this pack of princesses dressed up like Spencer. “Does their club have a name?”

Ronnie rolls her eyes. “Spencer calls them the Shrike Sisters.”

“Damn, I miss all the good stuff living so far away. I should move home.”

“Home?” Ronnie stops her face-painting and looks up at me. “What about school?”

“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe I’m not cut out for school.”

“No? Well, you should talk to Rook. Remember when she dropped out?”

“Yeah, and it all worked out for her. She won that indie film festival prize three times now.”