Page 3 of Fire Me Up
“I love the idea. You need something to focus all that energy on.”
I looked around at their expectant faces. Even Cash seemed interested in my response, his dark eyes assessing.
“I don’t know the first thing about motorcycles,” I said weakly.
“That’s why it’s called a beginner class, genius,” Liv said, already pulling out her phone. “I’m texting Dylan right now to see if there’s room available.”
An orange ball of fluff leapt onto the table, narrowly missing Aiden’s plate and heading straight for the bowl of ground beef. Bacon, my rescue cat and the world’s most food-motivated feline, had apparently decided to join taco night. I lunged for him, hiding a wince as my shoulder protested, but Liv was faster, scooping him up before he could stick his face in Aiden’s carnitas.
“Hello, handsome boy,” Liv cooed, cradling Bacon against her chest while he fixed the abandoned taco meat with a look of pure feline betrayal. “You want to come hang out at the Collectivewith me tomorrow? Dylan can teach a class, and you can be our shop cat for the day.”
“He’d terrorize everyone,” I said, scratching behind his ears. “He loves knocking things off high places. No tool bench would be safe. Besides, he really doesn’t like other people.”
Bacon purred loudly, head-butting Liv’s chin. Traitor.
“He loves me,” Liv said smugly. “He knows quality people.”
“Maybe he’d like motorcycles,” Aiden suggested, wiggling his fingers for Bacon to sniff. “We could get him a tiny helmet.”
“I’m really not into motorcycles myself. They’re dangerous.” The words slipped out before I could stop them—not because I didn’t mean it, but because the last thing I wanted was to upset Liv or her friends. Still, the part of me trained to see accidents before they happened couldn’t shut up.
The silence that fell over the table was so complete I could hear Bacon’s purring. Four pairs of eyes stared at me with expressions ranging from shock to horror, like I’d just announced I kicked puppies for fun. Even Cash, who’d barely changed expression all night, looked offended.
“What?” I asked, glancing around.
Liv clutched Bacon tighter, as if protecting him from my heresy. “Tell me you didn’t just say that in my house.”
“They’re statistically much more dangerous than cars,” I said, digging myself deeper. “I’ve responded to enough motorcycle accidents to—”
“Actually,” Marisol chimed in, setting down her beer, “he has a point. If you look at the data on motorcycles versus—”
Liv clapped her hand over Marisol’s mouth, still cradling Bacon with the other. “No. We are not having stats at the dinner table. Motorcycles are a passion for both me and Cash.”
I grinned, enjoying their reactions more than I probably should have. “Sorry, I didn’t realize I was blaspheming.”
“You’re in my house,” Liv said, removing her hand from Marisol’s mouth but giving her a warning look. “Eating my tacos. You show some respect.”
“They’re my tacos,” Marisol said. “I did most of the cooking. You only chopped vegetables.”
“Semantics,” Liv waved her off. “The point is, our brother has just revealed himself to be a heathen who needs education.”
Cash nodded solemnly, and Aiden translated: “Cash says ignorance can be cured, but only with proper instruction.”
I looked at Cash, who hadn’t opened his mouth. He grinned and shrugged.
“He said all that?” I asked.
“Well, he might have said you’re an asshole if you hate motorcycles, but I was trying to mediate,” Aiden said.
Cash nodded.
“Well, it’s settled,” Liv declared, finally releasing Bacon, who immediately jumped down and stationed himself strategically under the table for fallen taco debris. “Gael will be in Dylan’s class tomorrow. My brother will not remain motorcycle-illiterate on my watch.”
“Don’t I get a say in this?” I asked, though I already knew the answer.
“No,” all three of them said in unison. Even Cash shook his head.
“Fine!” I threw up my hands, already resigned. “At least it’s better than meditation.” It was easier to give in than fight them. Besides, if keeping the peace made dinner smoother for my sisters, I could play the sacrificial lamb one more time.
