Page 18 of The Biker's Last Rodeo
I grip the gun tighter. That explanation doesn’t change the facts. It doesn’t undo what happened. Every instinct screams at me to end it, to make it right by force, because forgiveness feels too soft, too clean.
The man glances up and notices me at the end of the driveway. He waves, a smile on his face as he lifts the girl into his arms and carries her down the old dirt path.
Fuck.
“Howdy, neighbor. You okay? Your bike break down? I’ve got some gas in the barn if that’s what ya need.”
I chew the inside of my cheek. I’ve taken dozens of hits. Dozens.
I’ve never flinched. I don’t flinch.
“Nah.” I swallow hard and reach out for the man’s hand, and for a second, I remind myself of my father and his good neighbor policy. I’m reminded of the good my parents instilled in me. And as though the ghost of my father himself reaches out, my hand sinks into the man’s before me. “Just driving through. Had to check my tire, think I got a stone stuck.”
“That happens up here.” The man smiles. “You want a glass of sweet tea to go? Wife just made some fresh off the back porch.”
The little girl rests her head on her father’s shoulder like all she’s ever known is safety. Her small fingers tug on his collar as though she’s anchoring herself to him as wind slips through the trees.
All at once, I know I’m on the wrong doorstep.
“No thanks, man. I’m… sorry to scare ya.” I swallow hard as I back away. “I’ll be gettin’ back on the road.”
He nods, casual and calm. “No worries. Have a good one.”
I’m not sure how to reconcile the random firing in my brain, or the way the ghosts whisper in the dust that picks up behind the tires, but something urges me forward.
Because ahead, in the distance, where the sky stretches low, and the road cuts clean, in my mind’s eye… is her.
My bunny. My sweet, fierce, gorgeous, little bunny.
I’m not running from ghosts anymore. I’ve finally got something to run towards.
Chapter Seven
Maci
I sit across from Kera at the diner. She’s barely out of high school, so there’s a few years between us, but we made quick friends when she moved out here from Nebraska for college last year. I was in the Springs shopping, and she was on the side of the road with a broken-down car. I knew how to change a tire, and she loves to talk. We’ve been close ever since. Thank God, because I don’t think I’d have gotten through the last day without her.
“I’m sorry, babe.” She reaches across the table, resting a hand on top of mine.
“I don’t know what happened,” I groan. “I got scared. Like all the sudden, I was staring at a family, a house, a life. A real one. What… I mean… I don’t know what to do with any of that.”
“You’ve known the guy a few months. I mean, he’s still red flag guy. You don’t get forever with red flag guy. You said that yourself.”
“I know what I said.” I dip a fry in my green mint milkshake and stare at my well-meaning friend. “Something happened with him. I don’t know. It’s like… we started with this sexual energy, and I thought… hey, I’m just gonna have fun. Then… I started wanting more. I started seeing myself in that old farmhouse with him. I started seeing us raising babies and—”
“Are you listening to yourself?” She leans in. “You’re sounding crazy. He’s a hitman, Maci. You were following him because he’s a story, not because you want a family with him.”
“I know, and I don’t. I really don’t. Really. I just… I mean I’m here because I don’t.”
“Okay.” She leans back in the booth as though the issue is settled. “Well, I need your help. My mom has completely lost it. She’s serious about hiring someone to watch me next semester.”
“What?” I bite back a ridiculous grin. “I thought that was a joke.”
“Me too,” the vinyl booth creaks as she slouches deeper, “but she told me today that she’d actually hired someone.”
“No, she must be kidding.” I blink in disbelief. “There’s no way she’s that crazy, right? I mean, you don’t need a babysitter at college.”
“You’d think… but I’m pretty sure she hired the guy. The criminal looking one. Do you know how embarrassing this is gonna be?”
