Page 45 of Rigid

“I’ll agree to it if you keep those rates you were talking about. 100% of my dances, and 70% of drinks.”

“I can do that.”

I stood. “Okay. I’ll stay two weeks.”

“Thank you. And, before you go, be sure and come say goodbye. I’ll miss you, Sandy. I really will.”

“I’ll miss you too, Mr. Rosetti.”

I smiled and turned toward the door.

Two more weeks.

What could that hurt?

FOURTEEN

Smokey

I rolled up beside the three other bikes, came to a stop, and then whacked the throttle twice. Standing on the far side of the shop, Crip cupped his hands to his ears and shot me a glare. I shut off the motor and grinned.

As I was hanging my helmet on the handlebars, he shouted across the shop. “God damn it with you and that loud ass bike. Shut it down at the street and roll in here from now on with that loud cocksucker off. I’ve only asked you what? A thousand times?”

“I’ll try and remember,” I yelled, turning to face him as I spoke. “Got a lot on my mind.”

He shook his head and turned toward Pee Bee.

“The Nut will be here in a minute.” I took a few steps in their direction. “Wanting to talk to the four of you.”

Cholo, Pee Bee, and Crip were all gathered around the refrigerator. I’d sent each of them a text message to see if they were at the shop, and after finding that they were, asked P-Nut to come in as well.

I wanted to tell them about the changes I was going to go through before they heard it from someone else. It seemed anytime information came from anywhere other than the source, it was inaccurate at best.

Bikers with Ol’ Ladies were looked at differently than bikers who were single. Often, when a man like me ended up in a relationship, he was looked down upon and considered a sellout. If the four men I was speaking to accepted my situation, everyone else would do the same. Convincing them I was doing what was right should be easy, as three of them had Ol’ Ladies.

“So, what the fuck’s going on?” Crip asked. “Having problems with the prospect?”

I pulled my vape from my pocket and checked the battery life. “Nope. In fact, he’s coming along smartly.”

“Why the meeting?” he asked.

I took a long hit off the vape. “Is that what this is?”

He glanced at Pee Bee and Cholo, and then looked at me. “Looks like it.”

I blew the cloud of smoke toward Crip. “Makes you nervous when someone other than you calls a few of the fellas together, huh?”

“God damn it, Smokey. What’d I tell you about that fucking thing? Blow that shit somewhere else.”

“My bad, Crip. Shit, I can’t remember a God damned thing. Think the exhaust fumes are getting to me. Either that or the adhesive from all the tile work.”

He glared. “I mean it.”

I extended my fist toward Peeb. After he pounded it, I did the same with Cholo. Then, I made eye contact with Crip and gave him a half-hearted nod.

He shook his head and turned away.

Aggravating him was part of what made being around him so much fun. Most of the fellas knew I was full of shit, and simply accepted me as being me. Crip took everything personal, and genuinely let me get under his skin. The fact that I could irritate him enough to get him off his game drove me to do so even more.