Page 59 of Sweet Pea

Sweet Pea

“Because that’s not how I fucking told you to do it, that’s why,” I snapped.

“My way will take half the time,” Doozer argued.

“No, it’s gonna take you twice as long, because now you have to remove this piece of shit wiring harness and replace it with the right one,” I said.

“That’s gonna mean a trip to Big Ernie’s to find another one that’ll work on a ’68.”

“Then you’d better leave now.”

I’d been in a shitty mood all day, and Doozer was not helping matters in any way. Elwood was sick, so I was filling in at the club’s shop and we were behind schedule on a vintage Triumph restoration job. I volunteered for the job because I thought it would help take my mind off Callie, but in truth, just the opposite was happening. I was irritable, distracted, and having a hard time focusing.

“Traffic’s gonna be hell. I’ll send a recruit,” he said.

“No. It’s your mistake and you’re gonna fix it, so get on your bike and fucking ride,” I growled.

Doozer threw down his pliers and walked away without another word.

I returned to finishing my work on the bike’s gas tank and tried, unsuccessfully, not to think of Callie. Why did everything have to be so damned complicated? Why the hell did I have to meet her now, at the worst possible time?

Minus approached just as I was finishing my last weld.

“Any word from the Spiders?” I asked after raising the visor on my helmet.

“Why is that the first question everyone asks as soon as they see me?”

“I guess we’re on pins and needles,” I replied.

“Where’s Doozer?”

“He had to run to Big Ernie’s for a wiring harness for that ’68,” I said motioning to the Triumph.

“Who’d he take with him?” Minus asked.

“Dunno. Spike is on the gate and Tacky is working out.”

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