Page 40 of Jag

Chapter Thirteen

Jag

“There goes our firstcustom bikes, brothers,” Flirt said and snapped the cashier’s check in his hand.

“Yeah, but not our last. Already have a new order. Parts will be in next week, then we can get started,” Crusher said. The six of us and Ally stood in front of Speed’s house and watched as the buyers rode away, followed by two of their wives in the SUV they arrived in.

“Hundred bucks says one of them lays his bike down on the ride home,” Devil commented.

“Not like any of us hasn’t done that at least once,” Speed said, and I chuckled.

“I can laugh now but remember when we were learning to ride, and the dads made us practice on those old dirt bikes first.” At their nods, I continued. “We got tired of them making us stop and start over and over and going through the cones they set up, so we started showing off.”

“Oh yeah, ‘cause we knew everything about riding. What were we, ten?” Coast asked, then chuckled.

“Glad you guys can find humor in that day. I’m the one who had to spend five hours in the ER getting stitched,” Devil replied as we headed back to the garage.

“Umm...because all we did was pick up speed taking the cones until the dads were surrounded by a big dust cloud.Youwere the one who pulled the front of the bike up for a wheelie and flipped it trying to walk it on the back tire,” Crusher said, and everyone laughed except for Devil.

“Uncle Devil, will yous teach me how to do that?” Ally asked, causing all of us to jerk our heads in her direction.

“No, he will not!” Speed snapped, then soften his voice, “You can be hurt badly doing that, Ally. Devil had to have his arm stitched and his forehead because the handlebars clipped him as the bike flipped over him. It could have easily landed on him.”

Ally nodded to her dad, then with her hands on her hips, and a serious look on her face, she scanned her eyes over each of us. I could clearly picture her as a grown woman.

“How come boys do dumb stuff?” she asked. We looked at each other, then focused on Speed, and silently asked for help. After the day Ally hanged out with us at the garage and we let her help—we learned moms don’t find their little girls caked in oil funny.

“Women around the world ask that daily. I’m not sure there is an answer,” Speed said to her, and she nodded as if that statement alone made all the sense.

“Okay. Am I going to stay with Shakes while yous go to Church?” she asked.

“Yes. Shakes is at the clubhouse with Neely, and you’ll go home with them, then I’ll pick you up when we’re done. You and Neely behave for Shakes, okay?” Speed said.

“‘K,” Ally said.

I closed one bay door, and Coast closed the other. After Crusher locked the garage, we headed to the clubhouse.

We didn’t talk club business in front of Ally, so the walk to the clubhouse was relatively quiet. And with Ally around that was rare and also didn’t last long. She left her dad’s side and moved to mine. I pulled on her ponytail, and she giggled.

“Uncle Jag, do yous love me?” she asked, and I smiled when I looked down at her.

“You know I love you, Ally. Why are you asking?” I looked at Speed, and he shrugged. And when I glanced at the others, they were frowning with looks of confusion. I couldn’t imagine why she would have any doubt about my feelings for her or any of the others’.

“Then how come River gets to have a sleepover and not me?”

Out of the mouth of babes came to mind, and when I heard snickers, I knew my brothers weren’t going to offer any help. I looked over to Speed.

“Welcome to my world, brother,” he said and smirked.

Wasn’t the first time I thought I needed new friends.

I bent, grabbed Ally under the arms, and swung her until she sat on my shoulders.

“I’ve never had you over for a sleepover because I didn’t want your other uncles to think you liked me more or for your dad to think you didn’t like that awesome motorcycle bed you have,” I said and squeezed her knees where I held her in place. When I glanced at the others, I smiled, and they sneered. I would no doubt hear their responses once Ally was out of earshot.

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