Page 28 of Full Throttled

As we pull into the parking lot, a familiar voice comes through the speakers. “Uncle Bowie!” Aubree exclaims from the backseat. I had forgotten that Bowie James had been one of the local radio DJ’s. Apparently, he still is. He did have the perfect voice for it. We sat in the car and listened to him for a moment before getting out and making our way inside. I carried Aubree since she didn’t want to walk and Drake was already off balance enough. I go to the buffet and make our plates. Aubree tells us more about her day and complains that even though she had fun she still didn’t like her uniform. It was kind of the cutest thing I’d ever heard. Once she was finished, she looked up at Drake. “Can I…I mean, may I go play some of the games?”

Drake nods and smiles down at her while pulling his wallet from his back pocket. “Yes you may, Love Bug. Let me go grab you some tokens.”

I jump up from my seat. “I can do that for you. Stay sitting. Rest that ankle.”

Aubree nods her head. “Yes, Daddy, listen to Zoey. She’s pretty and smart.”

Drake and I both laugh but then his eyes find mine and the look in them sets my soul on fire. “She sure is.”

After I get the tokens, I grab Aubree and we go around playing her favorite games before jumping into the ball pit. I watch her laugh, sing and dance. My heart feels like it finally found a home but the scariest thought is that none of this is mine. I’m scared to let myself enjoy this too much because what is going to happen when today is over?

Twenty-One

Drake

I sit at the table and watch as Aubree plays with Zoey. It’s a funny thing to watch, but it makes my heart swell. I love hearing Aubree laugh and call out for Zoey to watch her. Zoey hangs onto Aubree’s every word. She showers her with attention which makes my little girl shine like a million dollars. It warms my heart to watch but at the same time it cracks it into pieces. If Zoey can care so much for her in such a short amount of time, I have to ask the question...why couldn’t Jules? I mean, Jules, Aubree’s mother, her own flesh and blood, just passed her onto my father without even blinking an eye. She hasn’t bothered to ever reach out and even ask how Aubree is doing so clearly, she doesn’t even cross her mind. I can’t even begin to understand how Zoey can care enough to show Aubree all the attention in the world, but Jules can’t even be bothered by her own daughter.

I shake my head as my phone rings, looking down at the screen I see Zayde’s name. I take a deep breath before answering the call. “Hello.”

“Is she with you?” he asks instantly.

I scoff. “I’m doing great. How about you Asshole?”

Zayde sighs. “I’m sorry okay? You don’t understand how it feels to be me right now. What I did to her was wrong and I need to talk to her, but I’m not sure where she is. Considering how you avoided my question instead of being in a panic that she might haverun awayagain, I’m guessing you already know she’s okay because she’s with you.”

“She can’t run away; her car is at the shop. It died today,” I explain to him, still not answering his question.

“Drake, man, please just bring her back here so I can apologize and actually talk to her.” I can hear the desperation in his voice and it does pull on my heartstrings. I know he’s missed the hell out of her.

I sigh, knowing I’m going to give in. “Okay, but if you speak to her like you did earlier, I’ll lay your ass out on the floor, yeah?”

“I would expect nothing less.”

“Right now she’s playing with Aubree, but we’ll be back there in a bit,” I explain to him. We disconnect the call after that. I continue to let Aubree and Zoey have their fun for a little while longer. I never noticed just how bright Pippa’s Pepperoni Palace was until now. I guess normally I have a distraction from all that is around me. Now, I notice the bright white walls with red pepperoni looking spots painted on them. The tile is yellow and red and placed in an order to make it look like cheese and pepperoni. Long cafeteria style tables in all colors with stools that don’t match take up the rest of the space. It’s fun, whimsical and off beat which makes it perfect for kids. When I catch Zoey’s eye I motion toward my watch and she nods. She gets Aubree out of the ball pit and they come back my way.

Aubree comes bounding up to me. “Daddy! Can we go home so I can change my clothes? I still don’t like these clothes.”

“Well, we can’t go home. Uncle Zayde wants to see Zoey, sowe'regoing to the clubhouse, but you may have some clothes there. Plus, if Ransom or Gunner are around, I bet they’ll let you ride the bike,” I tell her.

Her face lights up. A few months ago, the club all chipped in and purchased her a toddler motorized motorcycle that we keep at the clubhouse for her birthday. She is obsessed with it as well as Ransom. I think she has a little crush on him which makes me see red, but I keep my tongue to myself. Ransom is great with Aubree. “Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go,” she says, trying to run for the door of the restaurant but I quickly grab her around the waist.

“Not so fast, Love Bug. First, you need to take your sweater from Zoey and mind your manners,” I tell her, with a pointed look.

She smiles and nods her head. She goes over to Zoey who is standing there watching us with a look in her eye I’ve never seen before. Aubree goes over and holds out her hands. “I can take my sweater back.” Zoey hands it to her with a smile and Aubree puts it on. Aubree meets Zoey’s eyes again. “Thank you for playing with me today. You’re almost as good as my daddy,” she tells her, before throwing her arms around Zoey’s legs. I chuckle and Zoey pats Aubree’s back telling her she had so much fun.I standandgo to grab Aubree because I know how she hates to walk around cars. For some reason, despite growing up around them, they scare her when they are in a parking lot. However, Aubree shakes her head. “No Daddy, I want Zoey to carry me.” She turns to Zoey and says, “Please.”

Zoey smiles down at her before scooping her up into her arms. “Well, of course.”

The ride back to the clubhouse is quiet and tense, well at least for Zoey and me. For Aubree, it’s time to karaoke in the backseat. She does get Zoey to laugh a few times which allows me to take a few deep breaths. As the clubhouse comes into sight, I notice that Zoey starts to wring her hands together. I reach over and take one of them in mine. Her eyes meet mine and my cheeks fill with a blush. I give her a smile, but my heart is gone. It beat so hard that it’s taken off down the highway like a bat out of hell. What am I doing? Don’t I have lines I shouldn’t be crossing where she is concerned? I know I do, but why can’t I seem to remember them when she’s around?

We pull in and Zoey immediately jumps out and gets Aubree from the backseat. Aubree takes off running for the door before I can get a hold of her. I usually like to give the guys a heads up that Aubree’s going to be around. I’m hoping that Zayde warned them just in case. As she reaches the door, it flies open and Ransom stands there with his arms spread wide and a huge smile on his face. “There’s the prettiest sinner girl I’ve ever seen!”

“Ransom!” Aubree hollers with delight, before throwing herself into his arms. I look over at Zoey and see the look of shock on her face. I don’t blame her. I’m sure it’s funny to see. Ransom is a huge guy. He stands at six feet, seven inches. Every ounce of his body is muscle. At first, Aubree referred to him as King Triton because he reminded her of Ariel’s dad from the Little Mermaid with his long golden-brown hair and beard. No one messes with Ransom as if his name alone wasn’t intimidating enough however when Aubree appears, he’s like a huge teddy bear.

I nudge Zoey and her eyes meet mine. “You okay?”

She nods. “Yeah, just shocked by that.” She points in the direction of Ransom who has now put Aubree on his shoulders running around the lot of the clubhouse, causing her to giggle uncontrollably.

“Yeah, don’t let his size or name fool you. He’s a softy.”

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