Page 12 of Undefeated

“Well, she either said help me or hurt me or something. I couldn’t tell,” I shook my head as I pressed my hood tight to my head with the palms of my hands.

“I kind of forgot about it until I went into the insurance company. Now I can’t stop thinking of her. You believe there’s a plan for all of us? You know, everything happens for a reason?” I asked.

“Yeah. I do. Kinda weird about that, but yeah,” he said as he nodded his head slowly.

“I think things happen for a reason. I really do,” I said as I recalled seeing her sitting at the desk.

“What’s she look like?” he asked.

I thought of the day at the drug store parking lot. She looked beautiful, but she was scared. I didn’t like thinking about that. I recalled the image of her talking on the phone as she sat at the desk, her blonde hair curly and clean. She looked magnificent.

“Perfect,” I responded, still looking up at the lights.

“Oh, I see. Perfect. If she robs a bank, we could give that description to the cops, Dekkar. Did you see who robbed the bank? Yes, officer, I got a good look at her. Great. Can you describe her to the sketch artist? Yes, I sure can. She looked perfect, officer,” he laughed as he tipped his beer bottle to his lips.

“Ripp, you’re a prick. She’s probably five foot something. She was in the truck, but looked short. Maybe a hundred pounds. Thin, but looks athletic. She’s blonde, and gorgeous,” I looked back down and focused on Mike’s face as I finished speaking.

“What about him?”

“He was maybe six foot or so. Two twenty. Out of shape, but a big fucker,” I rubbed my hood with my hands.

“Shitty brown hair, curly,” I paused and thought for a second, “Shitty beard. Shitty attitude.”

“Well, next time you go pay your insurance, if she’s in there, talk to her. Ask her about the day at the drug store. Give her a chance to say if she’s even still with that guy,” he responded as he raised his beer and tipped the mouth of the bottle my direction.

“You about ready to get out of here?” he asked as he set the empty bottle down on the table.

I shrugged my shoulders and pushed my hands into the pockets of my hoodie.

“To where?” I asked.

“To the mall, Dekkar. I’m gonna help buy my buddy some boots,” he said as he stood up and looked at the bill.

I pulled my hand from my pocket and reached for my wallet.

“I got this,” he said as he waved his hands over the receipt the waitress had placed on the table.

“Times are tough and you need to save up for some boots,” he laughed as he set the empty beer bottle down on the money and the receipt.

“Well, at least I don’t ride in those,” I said as I pointed to his shorts and Chuck’s.

“Hell Shane, ask the waitress. Shit, ask anyone at the mall or on the way. Ask somebody at a fucking stoplight. Which one of us looks out of place? The one in the shorts and Chuck’s or the guy wearing a fucking black hoodie when it’s ninety degrees outside?” he laughed as he stuck his signature toothpick in his mouth.

I shook my head and walked toward the door.

“I know, they’re your security blankets. Your hoodie and those damned dog tags. Hell, Dekk. If it works, it works,” he said as he slapped my shoulder.

I pulled my hand from my pocket and reached under my hoodie toward my chest.

Still there.

We walked out the door and directly to the bike parking, which was right beside the front door.

As I got on my bike, I began to think.

“Dude, you fall asleep?” Mike yelled over the sound of the exhaust.

“What?” I asked.