Chapter Thirteen: The Wheels are Turning
Ink
Fast-talking and fast-moving Jaz was pulling all my heartstrings, but I was done. Once I thought I’d gotten through to her, I realized I hadn’t. She’d done it again.
I’d never met anyone like her in my life. She rocked every part of me and not always in a good way. I went home from that security shift, mulling over what she told me. The Chinese guy. I didn’t pay so much attention to him, but now I would. I had a few days off to think things through. I didn’t want to lose her, even though I didn’t know what I was losing yet.
I slept in the next morning and woke up around lunchtime. Due to my late night shifts, my body clock was in a different rhythm from almost everyone else. I worked mostly at night and I enjoyed it. If I had to work during the day, I don’t know if I would be able to cope. It would feel alien to me.
No one really saw me during the day unless I was riding with my road dogs, Coyote and Smoke. I was closest to them at the club. Maybe it was because we were patches, or due to our age range. Smoke was maturing pretty fast now, especially since finding out about his son Gavin. I felt proud of him for doing so well as a father.
I freshened up and shook off last night’s revelations from Jaz and diverted my attention to the fact our club would soon be an accepted part of the community.
Bones had called me before my previous shift. “Hey, Ink.”
“Hey Bones, what’s new?”
“Plenty, mostly good. Fair chance of sunshine with a little bit of rain.”
“Isn’t there always?” I chuckled.
“Touche. Listen, I called you to let you know we’re going to run a bike maintenance workshop out the back of Wheelz. I’ve set a roster up, down at the club and you’ll see it. Just pick the days you can be involved and join in.”
“That’s great. I’m looking forward to that. I remember when I was wet behind the ears back then. I wish I knew some of the tricks I know now,” I replied as I thought back.
“Exactly, that’s where we step in,” Bones said excitedly.
“Do you know when the next session is, off the top of your head?” I asked sitting up straighter.
“Yep. Next week Monday from 4:30 to 6. You wanna take it? I’ll be there too. It would be ten boys.”
“Yup, I’m in. Sounds good.” The workshop would be a healthy distraction from Jaz, even though I carried her inside me, wherever I went now.
“Okay. Done. Thanks, Ink. We can talk more then about what we’re going to do.”
“For sure.” I walked through to my garage to see what tips I wanted to share with the kids. I looked at my bike. Clean as a whistle is how I kept her and that’s how she would stay. I glossed over the shelves and picked up a few items. Armor-All, a few microfiber cloths, leather spray, my screwdriver, and anything else I could think of that would be useful for the kids.
Once I had everything prepared and in a crate to take with me, my mind drifted back to Jaz. I knew more about her world than she knew about mine. I wanted her to see some elements of me as well. I felt like she must be lonely because I only ever saw her in the casino. I didn’t know what else she did with her life.
What did her family think of her gambling and cheating? Did they even know?
I locked the crate onto the back of my bike and put the items I wanted for class on the back of it. I was grateful for the change of pace and a new environment for a while.
I had one thing to do first. I patted my pocket and located my phone. I pulled it out and started typing. I needed to see her and I didn’t care about the casino. I wanted her with me.
Come down to Wheelz Bar, meet me. I start at 6. Look it up for the address. Ink.
I still felt furious at her for the things she’d done, so I wasn’t about to give her the address. Since she liked to play mind games I would give her a little puzzle to work out. I knew I was being petty, but it was how I felt.
My phone peeped back ten seconds later: Are you serious?
Yes. Be there. I texted back.
Maybe.
Yeah, this was to be expected from Jaz. She would be there. I had a feeling she would. I gave the garage one last look over before I mounted my bike and slid my helmet on, bound for Wheelz. As I traveled along the back streets of Mississippi, I realized how lucky I was to even be alive. I’d nearly been killed in that fire. Maybe that would be a story for the young men as well about dabbling in drugs.
I pulled in and walked around to the back of Wheelz.