As if that was a compliment, he puffs up his chest.
“Geez.” I roll my eyes.
“Okay, Princess.” He loses his playful grin. “For real, though, I’m not going to be watching your every move. But you two better stay out of trouble or we’ll never be allowed to do anything ever again. Neither will Bit-bit and you know she’s dying to tour with Shelby.”
A bit of jealousy prickles at me but I push it away. Even if every single one of my cousins were to tag along, Aunt Shelby will always make time for me.
* * *
The babyish treatmentcontinues with Chance being designated as the one to drive us to where we’re meeting Aunt Shelby’s tour bus.
“Why did I bother getting my license if I’m never allowed to drive?” I grumble.
“I’m the oldest.” Chance smirks at me in the rearview mirror.
We’re not alone on the highway. No, the entire club—about thirty bikes and a minivan or two—are riding in front and behind us. Our own personal, overprotective caravan of cavemen.
Alexa stretches her arms up and over her head. “I’m just thrilled to get away from Bit-bit and Connor for a few weeks. You don’t know how lucky you are to be an only child, Grace.” She kicks the back of Chance’s seat. “Aren’t you excited you won’t have Raven tagging along everywhere you go?”
From where I’m sitting, I spot the solemn expression on Chance’s face. “Nah, I’m gonna miss her.” He flicks his gaze to the mirror. “You’re not gonna miss B & C even a little?”
“Maybe Bit-bit,” Alexa says.
I turn and peer out the back window. I swear the line of motorcycles behind us looks longer every time I turn around. “This is ridiculous. We’re going on tour, not to the moon.”
“Please.” Alexa waves away my concerns with a flick of her wrist. “We’ll ditch Chance in no time. He’ll be busy working or chasing groupies and we’ll have our own fun.”
Chance snort-laughs. “Keep telling yourself that, Duchess.” He catches my eye in the mirror. “Grace won’t let me down, right?”
“I’m not doing anything to disrespect or embarrass Aunt Shelby. It has nothing to do with you, Chance Frazier.”
* * *
A rushof excitement floods me as I spot Shelby’s tour bus in the parking lot of the restaurant owned by the Lost Kings MC. Phew. For a minute, I was worried someone might’ve called this off and told Shelby not to come.
Then a wave of sadness hits me.
I’ve never been away from my parents for this long. Dad goes on runs with the club all the time but for anything longer than a couple of days, Mom and I have always gone with him.
Chance barely has the SUV in park when I jump out. Alexa follows.
Aunt Shelby and Aunt Lilly are talking but Shelby turns as soon as she sees Alexa and me.
She welcomes us with open arms and we grab her in a fierce hug.
“Here’re my favorite nieces,” Shelby whispers to us. “Don’t let yer cousins hear me sayin’ that.” She presses her finger to her lips as if it’s a big secret.
I hug her tighter. “I know I’m really your favorite,” I whisper in her ear.
She shakes with laughter but doesn’t deny it.
“Are you excited, Aunt Shelby?” I ask, pulling away.
“I am. We have a lot of dates lined up.”
I think the last time she toured was when I was twelve or thirteen. Aunt Trinity and Uncle Wrath had taken us to a bunch of shows. That’s sorta how Alexa and I hatched the plan to work as Shelby’s assistants when we were old enough.
We just didn’t plan on Chance crashing our party. Grrr.