Page 11 of August's Ride with Arrow

We’re on the road, and the guys ahead of me pull off at an exit. I’m guessing they are either hungry, need gas, need to use the restroom, or a combination of all three, so I follow them. Since we’ve been riding for a few hours now, I could use a good stretch.

With the bikes parked, I don't even acknowledge the guys. Instead, I pull out my phone and see if Kat responded to the text I sent.

While she was still sleeping, I had to get out of bed and leave her, so I texted her. I wanted to remind her that she was mine, but also to tell her to have a good day and be safe getting back to Denver. At least I know she will be safe in Denver, as much as I hate the distance.

Kat: I wasn't a fan of waking up without you and I really wish you had woken me up to say goodbye. But I hope you have a safe trip home.

The text message seems almost impersonal. It’s all I can do not to growl.

Me: This isn't goodbye. That's why I did not wake you up. I will be seeing you soon. Let me know when you get home, so I know you made it safely.

I wait, but don't get a response. The guys are beginning to demand my attention and are not happy that I'm giving it to my phone and not them.

“Can you believe this shit?” Crank says to me, catching my attention.

“Can I believe what?”

“I'm pretty sure Motor Mouth here got laid more than the rest of us. And his pickup lines weren't even that good. I know because I had to listen to them,” Crank complains.

“Well, at least I wasn't trying to convince women to sleep with me saying that they could have a ride on the millimeter defeater,” Motor Mouth says, and we all burst out laughing.

“What? It made the women laugh,” Crank says.

“Yeah, laugh at you. No wonder you didn't get laid,” I say, joining in.

“He may not have gotten laid in the traditional way, but he got fucked all right,” Thunder says, laughing.

“Shut up, right now,” Crank says, glaring at Thunder.

“We are going to fill everyone in on this story. Crank got us some support from a club on the East Coast whose numbers triple ours,” Thunder says with an evil smile.

“And how did he do that?” I ask.

“He got drunk and made a deal with one of their members called Pappy,” Thunder says, and I can tell there's a story behind the grin.

“What kind of deal?” I ask as Crank glares at Thunder. At my question, both Thunder and his girl Ashley bust out laughing.

“Oh, he became the guy's little bitch. They got drunk, and he woke up with a brand-new tattoo,” Lightning says.

“And what would this tattoo be?” I ask.

“It says property of Pappy inches above his dick,” Thunder says, and then I burst out laughing.

“That explains why you're walking a little weird and a little slow on your bike today,” I wheeze out.

“Fuck all of you,” he says, storming off into the gas station.

“Sorry, I don't want to upset Pappy and all. You know I don't mess with other men's property,” I call back after him. Instead of replying, he flips his middle finger at me.

“Maybe it won't be a problem. Or maybe he'll stay single forever, and one-night stands are just something we have to get creative with,” Lightning says, still chuckling, as we turn and follow him into the building.

A few minutes later, as we're all getting back on our bikes, my phone falls out of my pocket. A text from Kat lights up my screen. It's a picture of her in the backseat of a car under a blanket and reading a book.

Kat: Bridget is driving and listening to some meditation music. Penny is sleeping because she was out all night, and I'm enjoying reading time on the way home.

I save that photo and make it the background on my phone. It is now one of my favorites. Though my absolute favorite photo is the one that we snapped of the two of us together at the concert, which is now my lock screen on my phone.

“Hopefully, all this extra help will allow us to take down Savage Bones sooner rather than later,” I tell the guys as they join me back by our bikes.

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