Page 22 of Blue

I smiled in spite of the purpose for the text. I hated this. I wanted to be there to hold her head while she puked and make her promises—promises only she could keep.

I’d promise that she’d get through it.

I’d promise the worst was over.

I’d promise that she was stronger than the dragon she was chasing.

As I spent the morning tearing apart the motorcycle, the phone rang, a customer dropped off their bike, and a few people came into check the inventory.

Rogue stopped in late-morning. “Take a walk?”

“Yeah.” I stepped outside with him, and he smoked a cigarette.

“How’s it going?” he asked.

“Good. No one has asked why I’m working at the shop.”

“I told them Jazzy had some things to do, and you were filling in. They don’t need to know anything else.”

We walked the length of the building, and I slid my hands into my pockets. “They’ll eventually find out.”

“No doubt. But I figured when is up to you and Kiss. I did talk to Bullet. He deserves to know what’s going on.”

I had mixed feelings about my friendship with Bullet. It came with conditions. I didn’t owe him my private business. Because he’d decided I didn’t need to know about his fucked up situation with Stormy, I’d nearly lost Kiss.

We took a few more steps. “Does he have a lecture for me?”

“Yep.” He took a drag off his cigarette. “Same lecture I have for you.” He put his hand on my shoulder. “You might not be feeling it now, but you’re our brother. I know you have something with Kiss. Have you thought about what happens if the MC is a bad influence on her?”

I had, and I hoped I never had to choose. My Harley and the MC were my lifelines. But I’d been without Kiss for six weeks, and somehow, she’d become my heroin. I needed to hear her laugh and feel her warm breath on my skin. I needed to know she was safe. I didn’t want anyone touching her. I’d fuck up anyone who tried.

With her in my life, I could breathe again. Light seeped into the black hole she’d left in my chest when she’d walked away from me. I couldn’t keep her from harming herself if she wasn’t with me. And I didn’t want to be without her.

After Rogue showed me the work he was doing on the dance studio, I went back to the shop, and keeping my eye on the clock, I finished pulling the wiring on the bike.

“Text Blade what you want for lunch. He’s picking up Jay Swings,” Torch hollered from the pit.

“Hey, do you guys mind if I bounce for lunch?” I shrugged out of the coveralls. I didn’t want a pub burger or fries. I wanted to see Kiss.

Dozer wiped his hand on a rag. “If you’re working Jazzy’s schedule, returning is optional.”

Squatting next to a motorcycle, Romeo laughed and adjusted the chain.

“I’ll be back as soon as I can.” I hung the overalls on the peg, washed my hands, pulled my bike keys from my pocket, and headed out. On the way to Jazzy’s, I stopped by a supercenter store. Because my saddlebagswere empty after unloading my stuff into the spare room at Sully’s, I was able to get the drinks along with a few other things.

I had to admit, I was a little concerned Kiss wouldn’t want to see me.

Blue: I’m here. Can I come up?My heart ratcheted up as I sent the text.

I grabbed the items from the saddlebag. Before I climbed the stairs to her apartment, I waited for her reply.

Jazzy: I’m coming down.

Fuck. I didn’t want to leave without seeing Kiss. Five minutes was all I needed to get my fix, to breathe in the scent of her, to feel the heat of her body, to know her heart was still beating.

A moment later, the door opened. Jazzy jogged down the steps, and I crossed the driveway.

“How is she?”

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