Page 142 of Love at First Ride
I gotta hand it to Echo. He cleared out of Rapture and made sure everybody else did safely too. He made sure each and every resident had somewhere decent in Eastvale to live, and that the development company made good on their promises before the bulldozers rolled in. He purchased a run-down bar and flipped it in just seven months, along with a site that was already earmarked for demolition on the edge of Electric Hills that he’s turning into an auto shop. Now he has old dudes from Canyon, rich and retired golfers, calling him up and asking him for recommendations on what motorcycle they should purchase. And he’s still paying me a monthly wage, even though it feels like I’ve barely lifted a finger since the night of the fire.
I’m walking again. The pain was bad for a while there, but now it’s better. Still got a limp, though I don’t notice it so much now.
Hollie says it makes my walk even sexier. I didn’t even know I had a sexy walk in the first place. Then again, I didn’t know she used to daydream about me in high school neither. Things might have been different if I had.
I wouldn’t be walking again without her help. She’s helped me through this, every step of the way. Even on the shitty days when I didn’t wanna get out of bed.
‘Come on, we’ll be late,’ she says. Her hand slides in mine and I squeeze her fingers tight.
It’s not far to go. Just near Hollie’s old apartment where her dad’s still living. He filed for divorce from the former mayor and is dating again already.
We hear the music first. Whitesnake’sHere I Go Againblares out over the Eastvale night sky. And, unbelievably, there’s a line going around the block, just as Hollie said there would be. Eager faces, wanting to come experience something special.
I wrap my arm around Hollie’s waist, give one of my buddies from Hell’s Venom a fist bump and we walk right on inside.
Hollie’s jaw drops. Inside, it’s just like the old Scotch, even the layout, only on a slightly smaller scale. Nando and Reyes are serving drinks behind the bar, along with some new faces. On the walls are pictures of the old place. Of times gone by, when Rapture was still a thriving township and home to the original Hell’s Venom Motorcycle Club.
Mom comes running over. ‘There you are!’ she says, wrapping me in an embrace. ‘Happy birthday, sweetheart.’
‘Thanks, Ma,’ I say.
‘You both look gorgeous,’ she says. ‘Hollie, that jacket looks so cute on you.’
She and Hollie talk. They’re really fond of one another. Mom’s tipsy already, I can tell. That’s when she gets flirty. It’s lucky Armando’s a chill guy. Sometimes I worry she’ll get bored with him and move onto somebody else.
I spy Echo through the crowd. He looks back, gives me a single nod. My eyes sweep around the room in an obvious way, and I pout my lips, showing I’m impressed. He tilts his heads toward one corner of the room and I frown. Then he thumbs it and beckons us over.
I take Hollie’s hand again. ‘Echo wants to show us something. Come on.’
I tell Mom I’ll see her later as I lead Hollie through the crowd. Some of the Venom crew slap me on the back, wishing me a happy birthday. I join up with Echo, and he doesn’t say a word, just smiles and walks us over to whatever it is we’re supposed to be looking at.
This time, my jaw falls open. Hollie squeals.
The room is roped off. Inside it contains two pool tables side by side. Blue felt, just like the ones in the original Scotch & Smoke. Nestled in the corner are Chase and Aubri, sucking face as usual.
‘No freaking way,’ I holler at Echo. ‘I thought you said—’
‘Forget what I said,’ Echo says with a smile as he moves the rope to one side. ‘Thought you should be the one to bless this hot mess. Be the first to break. Seeing as it’s your birthday. Thankfully, Chase was otherwise engaged.’ He rolls his eyes at Chase and Aubri. ‘Thought those two broke up, anyways.’
‘They did,’ Hollie and I say in unison.
‘Rack ’em up, Hollie,’ Echo says. Hollie goes to the table and racks the balls. Echo hands me a brand-new cue stick.
I go to the far end of the table. Bite my lip. ‘You know what? I think Hollie should be the one to do it.’
Hollie raises her brow. ‘Me?’
‘It should be somebody who can hustle at pool. I’m bummed, but that’s not me.’
Echo throws up his hands. He looks to my girl with a grin. ‘Hollie? You wanna be my guest?’
He hands her a second cue. I move out the way. Watch her bend at the waist and line it up. I can’t get enough of the sight of her in that jacket, or her pert ass raised in the air. She draws back, smacks the cue ball real hard and the balls scatter. She pockets two. She looks pleased with herself, until I smother her smile with a kiss.
The sound of the break is enough to get Chase’s attention. ‘Finally! We can shoot some goddamn pool!’ he says, his arms still around Aubri, whose lips look a little swollen from all the kissing them two have clearly been doing lately. I swear that girl has brought him to his knees. Much like my girl did to me.
‘Card payments only though,’ Echo says, holding up a finger. ‘No more quarters.’
Chase and I look straight up horrified.
