Page 58 of Brazen Being It

I kiss her, slow and certain. She melts against me, and the rest of the club, the drama, the history, it all falls away. There’s only us, right here, in the warm light of afternoon.

The next morning, I find Toon in the garage. Something’s off with him. He’s working on a busted carburetor, sleeves pushed up, grease deep in the tattoos on his forearms. He’s wrenching down on a bolt like it personally insulted his mother.

“You gonna break it or fix it?” I joke, grinning.

He looks up, sweat on his brow. “Can’t a man do both?”

“Not if you want it to run after.”

He snorts. “What’re you doin’ in here? Thought you’d be stuck to Cambria’s side like a barnacle.”

I shrug. “She’s with Yesnia. Figured I’d check on you. You been... quiet.”

He doesn’t look at me, just starts wiping his hands on a rag.

“I’m headin’ out soon.”

The words hang heavy in the air. My heart stumbles.

“Out?” I echo.

“Back to Haywood’s Landing.”

I swallow. “Shit. When?”

He shrugs. “Couple days.”

“You serious?”

He nods. “Tripp made the call. I ain’t happy about it. But sometimes the club’s gotta come first.”

My chest tightens. “This place won’t be the same without you.”

He finally meets my eyes, and there’s nothing but sincerity in his gaze. “You don’t need me anymore, Little Foot. You got your place. Your girl. Your brothers. You found what you were lookin’ for.”

I rub the back of my neck. “I didn’t want to find it without you.”

He claps my shoulder, squeezing hard. “We ain’t dead, man. Just takin’ different rides for a while.”

I nod, throat tight. “Yeah, brother. Yeah, I get it.”

But it’s a lie. I don’t get it. Not really. I hate the thought of Toon gone. For years now, he’s been a fixture in my world. The guy who always had my back, who always kept things light even when the shit got thick. The clubhouse won’t sound the same without his laugh echoing through the halls.

That night, Cambria and I are tangled up in my bed, the trailer dim except for the flicker of a candle she lit on the nightstand. She’s curled on her side, one leg draped over mine, her fingers drawing slow circles on my chest.

“Toon told me he’s leaving,” I share, breaking the silence.

She lifts her head, eyes searching mine. “I’m sorry, baby.”

“Tripp called him back. Never heard of that happenin’ before. I’m sure there’s a reason. Somehow, it’s right. He’s doin’ the right thing. I just... shit. I hate goodbyes.”

She brushes a strand of hair from my forehead. “Then don’t say goodbye. Say ‘see you down the road.’”

I grin despite myself. “You get real poetic sometimes.”

She grins back, wide and bright. “Shut up. I’m tryin’ to comfort you.”

I roll her on top of me, hands sliding under her tank. “You always do. And I know how we can both be comforted right this second.”

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