Page 26 of Ride or Die
"I got that name in Arizona," he smirks.
"What's the story behind it?"
"I rolled up to my first race night with only my pink slip like Brian did in Fast and the Furious. It started as a joke then kind of stuck," he tells me. "It took a few races to prove myself to the guys out there, but once I did, they accepted me like family."
"Clutch and Shade seem like good people," I say.
"Diesel came to Texas with us too. You'll meet him soon. We still have some guys in Arizona. They're all good guys. You would like being around them." He smiles at me.
"I'm glad you had good people around you out there. I always worried about you," I admit to him. He hangs his head.
"I should have called."
"Stop, we're not going there. It's in the past, we're moving forward," I tell him. He lifts my hand to his mouth and kisses it.
"It sounds like you met Clutch last week," Ryan says, changing the subject. I shake my head.
"Emma did. She was walking around with Rivet while I was talking with Minx. He must have seen her and me together," I explain to him.
"You were talking with Minx? Were the two of you sitting at one of the picnic tables by the bonfire?"
"Yeah, how'd you know," I ask. A huge smile spreads across his face.
"You have a tattoo on your shoulder." It's not a question.
"I do. It's a bouquet of chamomile," I tell him.
"I saw you. I didn't know it was you, but I felt drawn to you. I was going to come talk to you after I lit the bonfire, but when I went to the table, you were gone." He's frowning now.
"I had gotten a call from Wren and had to leave," I explain.
"I like it. It looks good on you." The corner of his mouth tugs up in a half-smile. It's a smile I loved getting from him before and I love it even more now. He's always been a good looking guy, but he has definitely matured some over the years and is somehow even sexier.
"Thanks," I say quietly. We fall into a comfortable conversation. Almost like the last five years never happened. It makes me happy we can talk like we used to, but I can't let my walls down so easily.
After a while, Minx, Rivet, Emma, and some of the guys come out and join us. I'm talking with Rivet when a cut bunny walks by, going straight to Ryan and sits on his lap. She whispers something in his ear and he tries to scoot her off his lap.
"Lexus, get up," he tells her. He clenches his teeth, and I can tell he's pissed.
"Come on, baby," she draws out.
"Hey, he said to get the fuck up," I say to her. "Or should I help you up?"
"And who the fuck are you?" She stands. I mirror her and stand my ground.
"I'm his girl," I tell her. He grabs my hand and pulls me into his lap. I'm not the kind of girl who would ever fight over a guy, but I will fight for what Ryan and I have. I grab his face and kiss him, staking a claim for everyone around us. The girls and some of the guys hoot and holler. We both smile and break our kiss.
"I definitely wasn't expecting that," he whispers to me. I shrug my shoulder.
"I'm full of the unexpected." I wink at him. Lexus must have walked away while we were kissing because she's nowhere in sight now. Ryan wraps his arms around my waist like he could sense I was going to get up. I smile and lean into him. We spend the rest of the night cuddled up, laughing with all of our friends.
17
Cali
It’sSunday and the club is getting ready for their weekly BBQ. I offered to help Minx and Rivet get things prepped or to bake something, but they told me to take it easy and enjoy my time off. Ryan is trying to teach me how to play pool for like the millionth time since we were kids. I understand how to play, I've never been any good. We're laughing and having fun when the clubhouse door opens. We both glance up to see who it is, but the sun is shining so bright we can't make out who it is until the door closes behind them.
"Papa? What are you doing here," I ask walking over to him, Ryan right behind me.
