Page 67 of Knight
“Because the judge that matters most is you. Can you look yourself in the mirror? Can you like what you see? Can you say you’re a good man? If you can, then the casual judgment of strangers won’t matter, and you’ll make friends—create a family, even—with people who accept you as you are.”
Joyride lowered his eyes to the table. “I don’t know how to do that.”
“Well, it starts here and now.” I clapped a hand over his forearm. “I’ve got your back. If you’re not sure about a situation,you come to me. If you need help, you’re frustrated, whatever it is, I’m here for you.”
His forehead furrowed. “But I keep blowing you off. Why do you even care?”
“Because you’re part of the family I’ve made for myself. And I look out for my family.”
He still looked baffled, but he nodded. “Okay.”
I slid out of the booth. Dalton had picked up the ticket when he left, so I tossed down a few ones on the table to cover a tip. “Come on. I’ll give you a ride home.”
He blew out a big breath and followed me outside. I unlocked the helmets from the mount on my bike and handed him one.
“Sweet ride,” he said. “I want one, but my parents won’t budge.” He rolled his eyes. “I’m probably stuck driving that embarrassing Hummer forever.”
“There are worse things.” I swung a leg over the bike and settled into the seat. “Bikes are cool, but less great when it comes to hauling people around.”
Joyride pulled on the helmet and mounted the bike behind me. “I hope me riding in the bitch seat doesn’t give you any ideas, old man.”
I laughed. “Oh, you brat. I’m only thirty!”
“Like I said.”
“Don’t worry. I’ve got better options waiting for me at home.”
“So you’re fucking that hot roommate, huh?”
Damn. I’d walked right into that one.
I kickstarted the motor to end the conversation, and Joyride laughed. Oh, well, the kid needed a distraction. If laughing at my sex life did the trick, then no harm done.
Joyride didn’t know Flynn, and I was too far out of the closet to cram myself back in just because Aiden and I werecasual. We’d never even spoken about secrecy. I wasn’t about to go blurting the news to his brother—not unless Aiden wanted me to—but I wasn’t hiding, either. I’d done too much of that with Puck.
The thought of my ex made my stomach twist. I hoped to hell he kept his mouth shut about seeing me. All my lectures about staying out of trouble would mean fuck all if the other Serpents found out where I was.
I drove out of the parking lot slowly, Joyride talking shit about old men drivers, then cruised Main Street at thirty miles per hour. Once we hit a larger street with a higher speed limit, I let loose, and Joyride whooped behind me.
“This is more like it!”
I grinned and took the scenic route, giving him a little more time to enjoy the ride. There was nothing better to blow shitty thoughts out of your head.
When I finally pulled up in front of his parents’ big-ass house with the circle drive out front, he was more at ease. I could tell by the way he leaned against me, soft and relaxed.
He sat there for a minute, unmoving. I let him take his time. Finally, with a sigh, he dismounted and took off his helmet.
“Guess there’s nothing left to do but go in there.”
His attitude surprised me. “Do you not like staying with your parents?”
He grimaced. “Well, I wasn’t really given a choice. They picked me up from prison and brought me home. Treat me like a little kid who can’t be trusted with anything.”
I nodded slowly. “I guess they’re worried about you.”
“Or something.”
“You’re okay here, though?” I checked. “Safe?”
