Page 19 of Cruise

“Jerk driving a little sports car cut me off in traffic. I had to go onto the shoulder to miss running into the back of him. Soft shoulder had me laying my bike down.”

“Ouch, man. How’s the bike?” Brew asked.

Compass grinned. “Better than this old man. I have it being worked on and picked up my spare from a storage facility I keep.”

“Why didn’t you let us know? We could have at least helped,” Bootstrap asked.

Compass shook his head. “You can’t keep a secret to save your life if it involves a brother, Bootstrap. You would have let Regina and the women know. This was the first time I’ve gotten hurt since I lost my Lucille. I couldn’t handle the smothering from a woman who wasn’t my Lucille.”

Booker motioned for more coffee for all of them.

“I’ve never lost someone like you did, but I understand you wanting to deal with this as you wanted. Can’t control much but you can control at least who you let in.”

Compass nodded. “Being on the road has been good but I don’t know if that’s where I want to stay. I just don’t know.”

“I think Twist can tell you that I can be a pretty quiet companion. I like to read and don’t need to talk much.”

“He’s not kidding. When we first went on the road, there were days he’d say three or four words, and that was if we asked questions,” Twist said.

Booker stared directly at Compass. “What I’m saying is how about until you get to feeling better, we all plan on staying together? Whether that means renting a cabin for you to recuperate or riding somewhere because you’re doing better, let us help you. It’s what your brothers are for.”

Booker hoped Compass would allow them to help him.

“I thought you just found your girl?” Compass questioned.

“She invited all of us to lunch and said she’d explain everything. I get the feeling something is going on that she can’t handle, but I’m sure I can make it all work.”

Compass nodded. “Okay, I’ll listen and agree to maybe having you around until I’m a hundred percent.”

Booker looked down at his plate before taking another bite. It wouldn’t do for Compass to see that Booker was having a hard time not laughing. Not at Compass’s predicament but at his tone. Booker had heard Locks and Baron, two of the Bluff Creek originals, both use that tone multiple times when they knew they should do something but still wanted to sound like they were in control.

Booker felt for Compass. He couldn’t imagine dealing with the loss Compass had, but War had requested Booker check on Compass. Booker planned on doing what his President said and not leaving until he was positive Compass was okay.

But he had to admit, he had a feeling in the pit of his stomach that he wasn’t going to like what Lexi had to tell him. If it wasn’t a big deal, she would have just blurted it out yesterday.

If everything was okay, her mom wouldn’t feel the need to travel with Lexi. What could worry Lexi and her mom enough to have her mom leave her home?

Chapter Six

Lexi and her mom parked by her RV and got out. The guys parked their motorcycles in her area. She waited until the guys were with them, then led them into her RV. She walked to the back, unlocked her patio, and started to lower it. Suddenly, two of the guys were doing it for her. It was a little sweet and funny. She did it all by herself all the time, but they weren’t going to stand around while she worked. She showed them how tofold down her tables and pointed out her under-RV storage for her outdoor chairs. Her mom had grabbed some items and was going to use their outdoor grill to cook lunch.

One of the guys had opened the awning to shade where her mom was cooking outdoors. They had plenty of hamburgers and hot dogs, so they’d decided on that.

Booker’s arms wrapped around her while she was getting chips out of the cabinet.

“This is a kick-ass RV. I had no idea you could have this much stuff in it.”

She turned around and let him hold her against his chest. “Yep. I can even fit a couple motorcycles in my garage area if needed.”

“I thought you didn’t ride?” he asked.

“I don’t, but the salesman pointed out how my garage area could hold two motorcycles, multiple bicycles, and other things. I use it as my office, but it also has the bed that comes down and can sleep two people. Did I tell you how happy I am you’re here?”

He leaned back, smiling at her, then kissed her nose. “Nope, but I’m just as happy to be here. What can I do to help?”

“Grab some drinks and the condiments. We can eat on the patio or the table in the garage area.”

Lexi set the items on the table and then walked out to the grill to see if her mom needed help. She kept from giggling. Her mom was standing to the side. Bootstrap and Compass were arguing over whether you pressed the burgers down while you cooked them. Lexi slid her arm around her mom.

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