Page 22 of Wheelie's Challenge
“Good luck, dude,” Rags said under his breath as Wheelie followed Banger, an impassive look covering his face.
The door groaned when Banger slammed it shut. “Stay the fuck away from Sofia and Tigger. You’re one step away from me throwing your goddamn ass outta the club!”
Wheelie stood in front of his president with his legs planted wide. “I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about. Tigger got—”
“Bullshit! You’ve had a hard-on for his woman for too long. Bury your cock in one of the club girls and stop this pussy teen shit. She belongs to Tigger. No more fuckin’ discussion on this.”
Wheelie’s jaw tensed as anger ripped through him. “Just so you know, there’s no damn way any man takes a swing at me and doesn’t get one back… even a brother. Tigger made the first move. Are you done with the fuckin’ lecture?”
“Just stay the hell away from him for the rest of the night.”
“I’ll do one better. I’m outta here.” He spun around, opened the door, and walked straight to the parking lot, rage burning through his veins.
“Wait,” Brenda called out to him.
He kept walking, ignoring the clack of her heels on the asphalt.
“Wheelie! Are you mad at me about what happened? Please stop.”
He took the keys out of his pocket and swung his leg over the bike. Brenda came up to him panting. “I’m not mad at you. The fight had nothing to do with you, at least for me. Go back to the party. Tigger’ll wonder where you are.”
She pushed away the hairs clinging to her forehead. “He’s too drunk to even know who I am. Are you coming back?”
“Maybe.”
“I hope I didn’t fuck anything up between us.”
He didn’t have the heart to tell her there was nothing between them. She was just a waitress he talked to at the diner. “You didn’t. I’ll see you at Ruthie’s.”
“Or later tonight.”
He jerked his head, pushed the starter button then took off, the road scurrying underneath him.
When he turned down the quiet street in Sofia’s neighborhood, he cursed under his breath but kept riding, stopping a few feet away from her house. Wheelie killed the engine and stared at the soft yellow light seeping through the shade by the living room window.She’s probably sitting on the couch with her legs under her cute ass watching one of those corny romances she loves.He chuckled softly.And eating popcorn. For fuckin’ sure.
For reasons Wheelie couldn’t explain, he wanted to make sure Sofia was all right. When Tigger called Brenda his woman, a tsunami of emotions flooded Wheelie: Anger. Sadness. Disdain.How can that fucker disrespect you like that? Doesn’t he know how lucky he is to have you.Wheelie threw his head back and looked at the twinkling stars.Banger’s right—this is just ‘pussy teen shit.’He took out a joint and lit it, inhaling deeply as his gaze stood fixed at the illuminated window. The rage coursing through his veins slowly subsided. After a long while, he got off his bike and walked it in neutral until he was a good distance from Sofia’s place, then he jumped on and headed back to the party.
***
Wheelie cracked openhis heavy eyelids and quickly shut them again. A cruel sunbeam pierced them, making his brain pound viciously. His mouth was dry and sticky with thick saliva as he groaned and pulled the sheet up and over his face.
A loud knock on the door went through his head like a goddamn hammer.
“Yo, dude. Is it okay if Panther tries out your bike?”
Another loud bang on the door.
“Stop hitting the fuckin’ door,” he croaked, his throat felt like sandpaper. “Just come in.”
Heavy footsteps thundered through him as Klutch walked in.
“Where are your keys?”
“Top of the dresser. Can you close the damn curtains?”
Klutch’s laughter resounded through the room as it grew dimmer. “You really tied one on last night. I’m gonna guess you don’t wanna go for a ride this afternoon.”
All Wheelie wanted to do was stop the merciless throbbing in his head. Since he’d stopped drinking so much a few years back, the hangovers were horrific whenever hedidoverindulge.
