“I can’t wear flip flops in the winter,” she pointed out as she followed me toward the door. “My feet would get wet.”
“You got a change of clothes in that backpack?” I asked as I locked up behind us. The sun was already shining, and I inhaled the scent of cut grass, enjoying that first whiff of fresh air.
“Yeah,” she said, clearing the front steps in one jump, the backpack thumping hard against her back as she landed.
“Then you can wear shorts and flip flops all day until I pick you up.”
“I don’t know why I have to go to Trix’s,” she grumbled as she expertly tucked her hair back and shoved her helmet on. “I’m twelve. I don’t need a babysitter.”
“We’ve had this conversation,” I replied, checking her chin strap, even though she’d buckled it herself about a thousand times. “If I’m gone for a few hours, you can stay home. Not when I’m gonna be gone all day.”
“Everyone in my class stays home while their parents work,” she pointed out for the millionth time as I climbed on my bike and waited for her to climb on behind me. She had to practically yell so that I could hear her through the helmet. “I’m old enough to take care of myself.”
I chuckled as I fired up the bike and let the pipes drown out her complaining. I laughed harder as she pinched me lightly on the side in annoyance.
Maybe I was overprotective. Hell, I knew I was overprotective. I just didn’t give a shit. When your wife kills herself in a bathtub full of water, leaving your five year old to fend for herself for God knows how long before you got home from work, it changes your perspective. I knew Kara could fend for herself. She was smart and capable and she didn’t get into trouble. That didn’t mean that I was comfortable with her being alone all damn day.
As we rode toward the compound, I felt Kara relax behind me. She looked a lot like her mother, she had her eyes and her smile and her dimples, but damn if she didn’t get her love of the open road from me. My little girl had always loved riding on the back of my bike, and there had been more than a few rough days when we’d spent hours cruising down back roads with no destination in sight.
As we pulled up to Cam and Trix’s house on the property next to the compound, Trix came onto the porch to greet us.
“Be good,” I told Kara as she climbed off the bike and pulled her helmet off. “I’ll be here around five to get ya.”
“Sounds good,” she said, kissing the side of my helmet like she’d done since she was a toddler. “Love you.”
“Love you back.”
“Hey, thanks for letting her hang out,” I called as Kara bounded up the front steps.
“She’s always welcome,” Trix replied, smiling at Kara. Then she looked at me. “The boys are always on their best behavior when she’s here, ’cause they’re trying to impress her.”
I felt nausea pool in my gut and instantly regretted that Kara had already gone inside the house.
“Your face!” Trix laughed, pointing at me. “I’m just fucking with you. The boys treat Kara like she’s their triplet. Plus, Charlie’s coming to hang out later, so they can ditch the boys.”
“That ain’t funny,” I said, letting out a long breath.
“Yeah, it was,” Trix replied. “I wish I would’ve taken a picture.”
I flipped her off as I started the bike again and ignored her laughter as I turned around. Less than five minutes later, I was parked at the clubhouse and walking into the garage. The bays were already wide open, and a few of the guys were working, but most of them wouldn’t be in for a few hours yet. I didn’t blame them. I’d never been a morning person myself, especially before Kara was born. I’d party all night and start working while I was still buzzed the next day. Things were different now, though.
If it was up to me, I’d start at five and be done by one so I could have the rest of the day to do whatever. Especially in the summer when Kara didn’t have a million school things going on. Unfortunately, Kara considered waking up at five complete torture, and if she didn’t get enough sleep, she was a monster, so we usually made it out the door a couple hours later.
“Mornin’,” Trix’s husband Cam called as I pulled on a pair of coveralls. “Kara at our place today?”
“Yep.” I nodded as he strode toward me. “Trix said Charlie’s goin’ over later.”
Cam chuckled. “Gonna be a full house.”
“Pretty sure you’ve got the room,” I said drily. After a house fire had completely wrecked their place years before, Cam and Trix had rebuilt bigger and nicer than they’d had before. The house was huge and gorgeous.