She waved gleefully as Rider and Jewell, and Cade and Fat Louise arrived.
Squeezing Calder’s waist as they rode back down the mountain, she waited until he was filling the gas tank before taking off her helmet, showing him what she had with a wide smile.
Pausing when he saw it, he finally asked, “Do you know the answer to the clue?”
“Fuck no, but did you see who Rider’s partner is?”
“I saw her, but I’ve never talked to her. Why?”
She raised her hand for him to high-five her. “He’s riding with Jewell. We can cross him off our list without having to worry about him. He’ll spend more time fucking her than searching for the bike we’re going to steal out from under his nose.”
11
The two regulars who were having their hair done sensed the tension between their hairdressers.
Crazy Bitch ran the comb through Sophie’s damp hair as Sex Piston cut Zoey’s long curls. The two friends had been friends since high school and were taking a day off work for a girls’ day out. Usually, she and Sex Piston would talk as they worked. Neither had said a word since they had returned from the road trip.
She was clipping layers into Sophie’s hair when Killyama, Fat Louise, and T.A. stopped inside to see if they wanted to go to lunch.
“Does it look like I can go out?” Sex Piston’s refusal had their friends taking seats to wait.
“I can go get takeout,” Killyama offered. “What are you in the mood for?”
“For you all to leave me alone so I can work in peace.”
Crazy Bitch looked at Sex Piston in the mirror before glancing at the rest of the women. Fat Louise’s hurt was palpable when she started to rise.
“Sit your ass down. I’m supposed to be the biggest bitch here, but right now, you’re beating me. The contest was supposed to between us and The Last Riders. Not against each other in the club. Why are you so determined to win?”
Sex Piston dropped the brush she had been using as she confronted her. “Look who’s talking. I didn’t see you and Calder waiting to share the clue with Fat Louise.”
“No, I didn’t. I waited until we were at the gas station to text her.”
“You did?”
“Yes. I didn’t want to share with her in front of Rider and Jewell.”
“You should have seen their faces when Cade and I took off.” Fat Louise laughed. “They didn’t know it was the rock, and neither did we until Crazy Bitch texted.”
“Then why didn’t you tell me yesterday that the first clue was a mountain?”
“I’m not that generous. You know what I’m driving; I want the motorcycle that Stud built. He can build another one with spare parts—he’s got a garage full of them. My bike is shot, and my car may have fond memories, but it would be easier to stop it with my feet than the brakes.”
“I don’t care about either bike. If we win, you can have it.”
Sex Piston’s customer was becoming irritated at her stopping work on her hair.
“What do you care about?” Fat Louise asked as she pulled out a candy bar from her purse.
“Stud’s jacket.”
Crazy Bitch hit the side of her forehead with her palm. “Bitch, if I win, you can have it. Besides, it’s supposed to go back to the club whose team wins it.”
“You see Ginger doing that?” Sex Piston grimaced, brandishing her hairbrush like a bat.
Crazy Bitch could see the point she was trying to make.
“Yes, after she prances around with it on for a while.”
“I’ll kill her first.”
“You don’t have to worry about it. I’m going to win it, and I promise not to try it on before giving it back to Stud,” Crazy Bitch promised.
“What if you don’t?” Sex Piston started the blow-dryer. “Winter feels the same way. The ones who got there early are the ones who want it badly.”
“There you go. Pike and Ginger weren’t there this morning,” T.A. spoke up over the sound of the blow-dryer. “Neither were Bear and I, but Crazy Bitch saved us the trip.”
Sex Piston shut the dryer off. “Doesn’t Calder mind you sharing the clues?”
“Not if we’ve already gotten them. We talked about it at the gas station when I told him I was going to text it to Fat Louise and T.A., but they also agreed to share their clues if they get there first.”
“What if they win because of a clue you gave them?”
“Then they win.” She shrugged, finishing the layers then starting her blow-dryer. The shop filled with the sound of them drying their customers’ hair.
When Crazy Bitch finished, she started curling Sophie’s hair.
“I’m sorry. Ginger makes me nuts, always being up in Stud’s grill,” Sex Piston seethed.
“You want me to take care of her?” Killyama’s cold offer had their customers’ eyes widening.
“That bitch is mine to deal with. I’m done talking about her. You figure out the next clue yet?” she asked, removing Zoey’s cape.