Page 14 of Cocky Secrets

Celia asks, “Why didn’t you just come here?”

Dad takes a step like he’s going to dive in.

Jett says, “Easy, Honey Badger.” To Celia, he reminds, “Because you saidyou’d come backif you found her here.”

Celia smiles, “We found her.”

Dad grunts, “No shit.” He points at me. “Sage! Don’t you ever do that again!”

My earlier frustration rises quick. “I was just going on a bike ride!”

“You tell us when you’re leaving and where you’re going!”

“Dad…” Luke pauses for a second. “She can’t ride that bicycle out on her own.”

Atlas agrees, “It’s too fucking slow.”

“Yes I can!”

Ignoring me, Dad glares at them. “Then you’ll drive her where she needs to go.”

“No!” I shout, horrified. “No way! I need my freedom! I’m almost thirty years old!”

“Too bad!” Dad steps closer, pointing at me. “Do you know some of the shit I’ve seen out there?”

Jett joins in, softening the ‘discussion’ by explaining, “We live in a safe place, Sage, but your father and I have seen terrible things done to women.”

Wearily, as if the memories are almost too much for them, Sofia Sol and Celia chime in, “So have we.”

Jett takes a deep breath, “Not as many as we have. We’ve been at this longer.” Knowing I’m in a bad position, the over-protection of an entire motorcycle club clipping my proverbial wings, he adds, “I’m sorry, Sage.”

Dad grunts, “We’re keeping you safe!”

“She needs her own Harley.” We all turn to hear Luke say it again. “Sage needs her own Harley. If she had a faster ride, she could go into town, get the groceries and things she needs whenwe’re not here. I just don’t like her riding that slow-poke bicycle for miles when anyone could stop and scoop her up.”

“No one’s going to scoop me up! I’ve ridden to town countless times!”

Soph ignores me. “We could get her a used car like Melody has.”

Dad nods, thinking about it. “You can lock a car.”

I shout, “I don’t want a car!” more to be heard and less from anger. No, that’s a lie. I’m pissed. “If you’re going to take away my bicycle then I want to ride a motorcycle like you guys! Just because I’m not a Cipher doesn’t mean I can’t ride! Dad, you taught me!” Back when I was sixteen, when he thought I might join the club, before my lack of fighting instincts proved that wouldn’t be my destiny. “I just need to brush up! I can ride, Dad! You know I can!”

“You want a hog, Sage?”

“Yes! I need the wind in my hair! On my face! I don’t want some dumb car.”And I want to not be babysat like a child!But I won’t say that part. Instead I give the firm confirmation, “Yes, I want a Harley of my own!”

“Fine,” Dad grumbles, but there’s a smile in his eyes that looks an awful lot like pride. “We’ll get you a Harley.”

Celia splashes me. “Sage is getting her own hog!”

And that’s it, she sparked a unified tackle where everyone in the water splashes to me and I try to get away until I’m lifted up by Luke.

Atlas shouts, “Sage is getting a big girl’s bike!”

They whoop and holler and Luke says, “You want to feel the wind in your hair?” He throws me with all of his strength, “Feelthis!” and I go airborne, arms flailing, their laughter joined by Jett and Dad…and me.

SEVEN

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