He climbs onto his bike, and he rides away.
“Good riddance.” Max holds his belly and laughs. “You all right? Sorry. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised some guys might be assholes to ya.”
“Not your fault,” I assure him.
I gather the money all together and hand it five of the bills.
“You keep that,” he says, taking only two of the twenties.
I blink a few times. “Max…”
“You get extra for dealing with that shit. ‘Sides, you heard him. He only came here for you.” He eyes me. “Can you handle a full and complete detailing? My hands can’t quite handle it anymore, which is why it’s not something I really offer anymore, but as you can see, still got all the cleaning supplies for it all.”
“I can properly detail a bike,” I assure him. “I painted my bike. Never did learn how to do it properly, but it looks great to me. Biased, I’m sure—”
“Bring your bike over tomorrow. Wanna see it. Never thought I would off paint jobs here, but why not?” He rubs his chin. “I’ll eat lunch out here from now on. Had to call my girl, though. That’s why I was in the back so long. Your turn for lunch.”
“What’s within walking distance?” I ask.
“The place two doors down has great sandwiches.”
“Great. I’ll be right back. Want anything?”
“Just ate, remember? You want me to blow up like the Pillsbury Dough Boy and my woman to leave me before I can save up for a rock for her?”
“If she’s the woman, wouldn’t she be happy to just have you ask her to marry her?”
He snorts. “Ya don’t understand Cali, do you? The bigger the rock, the more ya love her.”
“Bullshit. Love isn’t a ring. It’s everything else.”
“As if you know love. What are you, twelve?”
I snort. “Sure, dude. Twelve.”
He chuckles. “I should have you sign paperwork.”
“Or you could pay me under the table.”
Max narrows his eyes. “You aren’t illegal, are you?”
I shake my head.
“Runaway?”
“Saving up for my own place,” I mumble.
“Your daddy hit you? Or hit on you? Stepdad?”
“I’m on my own,” I assure him, “but the place I’m at…”
“All right. Fine, but if you get into any trouble—”
“Trouble’s not my middle name.”
“Oh, yeah? What is?”
“Biker Chick.”