Page 226 of Smooth Sailing

There was a corner of the living room filled with boxes and loaded pallets. Another stacked with tools. They were waiting for the kitchen cabinets that had been picked by Rosalie and Tyra (and approved by Diana) to arrive. But they were ready to roll on the bathrooms.

That work was going to start tomorrow.

He’d be glad to have it done, renters in, income coming in.

It had never been a home. But now it would be something.

Something that would feed into making a good life with Diana.

He left the house, setting the security alarm that was the first thing put in because now there was something in it that had worth, and locking up.

He hopped on his bike and headed to Chaos.

When he hit the forecourt, he saw all his brothers’ rides parked in a line outside the Compound.

Hugger parked at the end, shut her down and got off.

He was headed to the front door to the Compound when something pulled him another direction.

Even though he knew the men were waiting for him, he found his feet taking him to the back door of the store. He punched in the code, pulled open the door, strolled through the meticulously organized storeroom (his doing—before him, that room was a pit), and hit the store.

It felt funny, walking through it, knowing where every fanbelt was hung, every jug of wiper fluid was shelved, every can of motor oil was stacked.

It was then he realized he got off on being the first one in to open. He got off on being the man they could ask if they had a question about some shit at the register or how long it might take to get a special part from a certain vendor.

He got off on being that guy for his brothers.

It was then, he knew he was going to miss it.

He’d tell Di about that, after he was moved in and settled. She was already tweaked enough about what he was “giving up” for her. He wasn’t going to add to that until she knew he was good, and they were solid.

His phone went with a text when he was leaving Ride to head to the Compound.

Since it was from Di, he stopped to read it.

Maddy just phoned! She’s home with E&E and looking into starting up classes again!!!!!!!!

She added about a dozen double pink hearts and smiley-faces with hearts surrounding them and ended with about two dozen women dancing.

He was hepped up about what was about to happen, but even so, at that news, he grinned and returned, Great news, baby. She phones again, tell her I said hey.

He got, Already did that, when he was halfway through the Compound on his way to the meet room.

He stopped moving again and sent her a blowing-kiss face.

After he did that, he looked around.

The curved bar. The beat-up leather couches. The pool table.

His mom had to find places for them to live where the landlord would take cash and not ask questions. These kinds of people weren’t steady, and often weren’t law-abiding, so they moved often.

Therefore, it was then he realized for the first time in his life, this was home.

It didn’t just feel like home.

It was his home.

The Compound.

---