Page 125 of Diesel's Perseverance
He shrugged. “What’s stopping you?Me?”
Shaking her head vehemently, she said, “No, not you. Not at all. It’s the situation. I mean, I can’t live here anymore. I want a place of my own and more than one room and a bathroom.” She laughed. “I already did two years in a studio apartment when I got my first good-paying job.”
“So you want an apartment. I get it. I didn’t expect you to live here forever.”
“What did you expect?”
“Whaddya mean?”
“With us… with me?”
Sticking his hands into his pockets, he flinched his head back slightly.How the fuck did she change the conversation like that?“I… yeah, I mean, keep going like it is.”
“The status quo.”
“Yeah, that’s it.”
“Well, I want something more in life than the status quo. I deserve it.”
What the fuck is she talking about?“You deserve everything, darlin’.”
“And what’severything?”
Before he could think of an answer, several loud knocks sounded in quick succession on the door.
“Diesel, get your ass downstairs. Banger’s waiting for you,” Smokey said.
He glanced over at Myla, who motioned for him to answer the door.
“I gotta change. I’ll be down in a few.”
“Just hurry your sorry ass up.”
He heard his buddy’s footsteps clomping down the stairs.
“Saved by the knock,” she said.
“The prez wants me. I gotta go, you know that.”
“I didn’t say anything. Have a good time.”
After a quick shower, a faster shave, and a set of clean clothes, he stepped over to Myla. She sat in a chair with her feet tucked under her, holding a book in her hands. Diesel dipped his head, she raised her gaze to meet his, and he kissed her deeply. The book dropped out of her hands and landed with athumpon the floor.
He straightened up as he smiled at her. “I won’t be very late,” he said as he strode to the door. After a quick wink, he closed the door and locked it.
Diesel rushed down the stairs and burst into the crowded-as-hell great room. Metal music blasted from the ceiling speakers. He waved his hands back and forth trying to dissipate the smoke as he searched for Banger.
“You finally got your ass down here.” Smokey shoved a tumbler of whiskey at him.
“Where’s Banger?”
“I dunno. Last time I saw him, he was with Panther and Steel. Why’re you asking?”
“You said he wanted me.”
Smokey guffawed. “You bought that shit? I just wanted your ass down here to team up with me in a couple rounds of pool. Demon and Iceman think they’re gonna beat us, and they got a wad of cash I’m aiming to win.”
“You asshole.” Diesel chuckled. “When do they wanna play?”
