One You Can’t Forget
“So that makes, what, three bikes now?”
“Yeah, I guess. I guess I kinda like them.”
“You’re lucky you don’t have an old lady that keeps tabs on your cash. My wife, well, let’s just say I can’t buy a six pack without her texting me what I bought.”
“That’s because you buy too many six packs.”
“Yup. With good reason.” Gibs picked up a ticket with some keys and headed out to the back lot to bring in the bike.
Saks came in next. “Oh man, Gibs here first, again?”
“If you stop sweet talking the help at the coffee shop next door you’d be here earlier.” Luke laughed.
“What are you reading there?”
Luke flipped through the pages of the weekly shopper. “Police blotter. My favorite part.”
“Who d’you think’s going to be there?”
“Old friends,” said Luke cryptically. It was true. The period after high school was an especially tough part of his life when he fell in with a bad crowd, Satan’s Sons. He was on the outs with his parents, and the Sons provided a de facto family and the clubhouse represented a place to sleep. The problem with the Sons was that they were into hardcore drug dealing, a detail Luke did not pay enough attention to. He kept track of the Sons because he was not in good standing with them, and keeping out of their way was important to his health. He even went so far as to check the inmate database from time to time to make sure certain members were still in prison.
In fact, what happened with him and the Sons was the prime reason he went into the Navy after he got his GED. When he was half a world away, he finally felt safe for the first time in months.
“Uh-huh,” said Saks. “What d’you want me to work on?”
“The Honda.”
“Fuck.”
“Suck it up, Saks. With your talent it shouldn’t take long.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
Finally, Pepper popped his head in.
“You’re late.”
“Sorry, boss.”
“You should call.”
“You’re right. But I had a little tire trouble.”
“Well, you clean the shop today.”
“Oh, man.” Pepper closed his eyes like a little kid in trouble.
“You know the rules, Pepper. Clean the shop and then work on the, let’s see, the Triumph.”
Pepper smiled and perked up instantly. “The Triumph, really?”
“Yes, it’s leaking oil.”
“Sure thing, boss,” said Pepper. The other two wouldn’t want to work on a Triumph, but he was happy to.
“Might be a weak seal. Or it could be a ring.”
“You got it. No problem.”
Luke wished other people in his life had the same philosophy because from the front window of the shop he saw Deirdre pull up in her red mustang. From the look on her face she wasn’t happy. Shit. He thought he’d smoothed things over with her since the last disaster at his apartment. He wondered what was bothering her now.
Deirdre came in the office through the front door, her dark hair pulled back into a ponytail, and her long, blue jean-clad legs walking in a pair of high red stilettos. She took off her designer sunglasses and gave him a serious look. “Luke.”
“Hi, Babe, what’s up?”
“Have you made a decision? About Saturday?”
Ah, double shit. That stupid wedding thing. Again. He’d already given her a response. But Deirdre being Deirdre didn’t take “no” for an answer.
“I told you, Dee, Saturday’s road trip day. I’m Road Captain. It’s my job to make sure all the logistics are worked out.”
“It’s one Saturday.”
“I told you upfront, from the day the roads are clear of ice and snow until it flies again, Saturdays are spoken for.”
“My sister only gets married once.”
Luke knew that wasn’t true. This was sis’ second marriage. He figured it best to keep silent on this point. “I’m not saying you shouldn’t go.”
“I’d like my boyfriend to be with me.” Her hands went to her hips.
Bad sign. Luke pinched his nose with his fingers. He didn’t want to fight with her. “This isn’t the time or place for this conversation.”
“It never is, is it?”
“This is my place of business, Deirdre. We’ll talk about this later.”
“No, we’ll talk about it now.”
Luke saw his crew had moved to the center of the work bay, shooting glances to the door that led to his office. Luke walked over, and shut the door firmly. “Deirdre, don’t do this here now.” Luke was beginning to feel some heat now. He pointed to the door to the work bay. “My employees are out there listening to every word, and customers can walk in any minute. Go home. I’ll call you later.”
“No! You’ve dodged this since I asked you. Are you going with me or not?”
He inhaled a sharp breath. “You’re pressing me for an answer now? You already know it. It’s no. I’m not going with you. Take anyone you want, but I’m not going to your damn sister’s wedding.”
Deirdre’s face burned fuming red. She stood there tapping one red shoe against the concrete, her arms folded against her chest. “Luke Wade, I’m telling you right now, either you choose your club, or you choose me. I’m tired of being the odd man out.”