Page 82 of Steele

“We can discuss this outside.” My dad pointed to the aisle. “We’re blocking the way.”

Brett stepped aside. Mom smiled at Brett again and then led us out of the sanctuary. Once outside, we stopped on the sidewalk in front of the church.

“Brett Steele.” Brett held his hand out to my dad. “Everyone calls me Steele.”

“Russ Keyes.”

“We almost met yesterday,” Ryan said.

“Yeah.” Brett gently slid his hand onto my lower back and cupped his palm around my hip. “It didn’t feel like the right time for introductions. I was meeting with my attorney.”

Oh no. I wouldn’t want Brett to hide who he was, but this wasn’t how I wanted the initial meeting to go. Restraining order or divorced? I wasn’t sure which one would be worse. But neither situation was a reflection on Brett. I opted for the one I thought was least damning. Although divorce was ugly, had Jeff not died, I’d be divorced. My dad wouldn’t care as much, but then he wasn’t as concerned about my eternal soul. Ryan would lose his shit over a restraining order. He’d call me crazy for trusting Brett.

“Brett is going through a divorce.”

“Oh.” The smile on my mom’s face slipped a little.

“Leave it, Cali.” My dad ushered her along the sidewalk. “We’ll see you at the house.”

Ryan walked with them, and Brett and I walked toward the rear of the parking lot. He slipped on his sunglasses and unlocked my helmet from the motorcycle.

“I’m sorry about that,” I said as he secured the chin strap.

“About what?”

“About lying to them about you meeting your divorce attorney.”

“I get it, baby. I almost choked on the words when they came out of my mouth. I don’t want to lie to your family, but I also know how it looks. If they’re going to hate me, I’d rather them hate me for the right reasons, not Natalie’s fucked up accusations.”

I rested my hands on his hips. “They won’t hate you.”

With the face shield up, he tilted his head and gave me a quick kiss on the lips.

“You think they’ll approve of you dating a Heller.”

I shrugged and climbed onto the bike. “They’re going to have to. You can’t ride without your cut.” I slapped the face shield down and smiled.

Steele

I’d only ever felt pride wearing the cut, showing my colors, representing my club. But Jaymi and I already had enough working against us. I didn’t need her catching shit from her family because of me.

We rode through the little town. There were mom and pop shops on Main Street, flags on the sides of buildings, and guys hanging out in front of the bowling alley. Her parents lived on a quiet street in a single-level rambler with a detached garage set back from the small house. Flowers lined the front pathway, and more flowers hung around the porch stretching across the length of the house.

I parked along the curb and killed the engine.

This time Jaymi had the helmet unbuckled and off before I could help.

“Looks like home,” I said. “I can imagine how you looked riding your bike down the street.” I wasn’t wholesome hometown. Not that I hadn’t had a good childhood, but she and I weren’t raised the same. She might’ve gotten knocked up in high school, but I’d been under the bleachers smoking weed and getting blow jobs.

“I didn’t grow up here,” she said. “My mom and dad moved out here maybe five years ago. I was married with a baby. Ryan was at EU living with a bunch of guys. Dad was a lineman for Coastal Power.”

I locked her helmet to the bike. “Dangerous job.”

“He had an accident. Somehow, he gaffed out, sliding about six feet before the safety line caught him, but the damage had already been done. He blew out his knee, and he’d suffered a severe, grade three concussion. He won’t talk about it. He was lucky to survive, but he was angry. He’s on permanent disability from it. He can’t climb. They sold the house and moved out here because Mom’s sister is in town. It was actually a blessing in disguise. Dad’s happier now, too.”

She smiled, tucked her finger into the waistband of my jeans and tugged me closer. “Don’t be surprised if he drags you out to the garage.”

“Is he going to beat me up for the wicked things I do to his daughter?”