Page 8 of Hounds Ascend
“Let’s stop and grab a belly bomb before we hit the road. We can eat when we get there,” Cass says, removing my arm from around him so he can stand up. He heads out the door and everyone else follows.
“A belly bomb?” I question, raising one eyebrow at Cass as he clips my helmet under my chin for me.
“Yeah, something small to put in our belly so we can hold off before we eat an actual meal.” He shrugs his shoulders, returning my questioning look.
“Oh. Well, okay then. Sign me up!”
It takes no time at all for everyone to put helmets on and be ready to hit the road. They all line up, bikes pointed in the direction of adventure and mischief. Cass and Scott are in the front of the pack, followed by Old School, Snapper, and Gater in the back.
Cass turns onto the highway, and I lean back against the sissy bar that was placed here just for me, or at least that’s what Cass said last week when he installed it. The thought makes me smile,plus it’s comfortable so it’s a win-win.
For people that have never ridden a motorcycle, whether it be actually riding or simply on the back, I feel a sense of sympathy for them. They will never know how the wind feels blowing in their face without anything to block it out or how everything smells different when you’re out in the open air. I’m falling in love with Cass all over again and the only thing that he’s doing is riding and being himself.
I smile as I outstretch my arms, like I’m flying and lean my head back, soaking up the sun and the fresh air and the rumble of the motorcycles. Cass leads the pack into a truck stop near the interstate and kills the bike.
“You want something to snack on before we get on the road?” he asks as I steady myself with his shoulder.
“Hell yeah. I’m starving.” I smile and grab his hand, dragging him along beside me.
There’s a hot deli inside with fried chicken, meat pies, and stuffed taquito looking things. I decide on one of the taquito looking things and a bottled water. Cass chose the fried chicken paired with an energy drink. Once we’re checked out, we wait outside by the bike for the rest of the crew to get their things.
I climb onto the bike, using Cass’s seat as my table with my feet on the footpegs while I scarf down the taquito things that turn out to be delicious. I’m amazed at how good food from a truck stop can be.
Cass annihilates the two chicken legs he got and stands next to me while I finish my belly bomb. The guys come out ofthe store laughing and I watch as they talk and eat. After they’re done, it’s time to get on the road. I didn’t know it until now, but my favorite part of riding is getting on the interstate, or taking off in general. On the on-ramp, Cass slams the throttle and the gravity of it makes my stomach somersault, but not in an I’m-gonna-puke kinda somersault, more of a holy-shit-this-is-amazing kinda somersault.
The interstate is mostly lax, void of traffic which is odd for a Sunday morning. I figure most people would be heading to church or at least getting ready to. The ride through Louisiana is peaceful and quiet aside from the roar of the engines. I watch as Cass rides, paying attention toeverything. It’s like his head is on a swivel and it has to turn every two point eight seconds. He’s constantly looking at what’s going on around him on both sides of the interstate, although nothing is going on.
Scott doesn’t look around everywhere. He looks like a man driving a nice, comfortable Cadillac. He’s leaned back slightly with his feet on the foot pegs, wind blowing back his beard and eyes dead ahead.
I wonder what he might be thinking. He has to have thoughts. Cass’s head turns again, drawing my attention. I have to quit looking every time his head turns because there isn’t anything in particular that he’s looking at other than everything. I’m fully convinced that if a squirrel moves in a tree that we’re passing, he’d see it.
We ride on the interstate until we reach the Slidell exit. Cass and Scott lead the guys to a gas station right off the interstatewhere eight or ten bikes are parked at. I know by the patches on the front of the men’s cuts who they are. Hounds.
I recognize Shorty and Leo, with Lucy and Carrie riding bitch, and a few of the other men look familiar but I don’t know who they are, and they all have a lady riding with them. I look over the faces of men, and one in particular catches my attention. Linc is here, but that isn’t the one that has stopped my gaze from traveling. Mindy’s riding on the back of Linc’s bike.
I don’t have time to go ask Mindy what she’s doing here before we take off again. Evidently, we only stopped to grab the guys and the one woman out of a car and onto Scott’s bike. Must be one of his pin cushions.
She’s the only woman I get a good look at since Scott is side by side with us while we ride. She’s slim, not too much make-up caked on her face, and she isn’t dressed like a slut.
I catch a glimpse of Carrie and Lucy in Cass’s mirror. They’re both leaned back and enjoying the ride. Old School’s beard is split in half from the wind and is nearly touching his ears, making me chuckle. It isn’t often I see a beard split in half. The day is pretty and warm and we’re riding slower than we normally would if it were just us and Scott, but since they’re pulling a pack, it makes sense. The sound of the rumbling from the engines is comforting and makes me feel at home as we ride down the interstate.
Once we cross into Mississippi, I lean forward so I can talkto Cass.
“Where are we going?” I ask loudly, over the roar of the pipes.
“Benefit in Gulfport for another MC,” he yells back.
Cass says Gulfport but what I heard was beach. I can’t recall the last time I’d been to the beach and now I’m evenmoreexcited. I’m also excited to experience being around another club, especially one that isn’t part of the problem at home.
I sigh in relief and rest my head on Cass’s shoulder for the remainder of the ride, soaking up the sun and Cass’s presence. Cass and Scott lead us off the first Gulfport exit, and we ride through town until we turn left onto Beach Boulevard. Once we make the turn, I know exactly where we are going. There’s a huge park on the right-hand side of the road and the parking lot is packed with motorcycles. It’s a sight to see, so many bikes and clubs in one place.
There must be a thousand bikes out here. Cass and Scott manage to find an open area big enough for everyone to park. I step off the bike, stretching my legs and hoping my ass wakes up from sitting for so damn long.
Thin, feminine arms wrap around my waist and a chin presses into my shoulder. I turn my head to find Mindy looking at me with a grin on her face.
“Things worked out okay between you two last night, I see.”
Mindy’s grin turns into a full-on smile. “I like him so far, so let’s see where this goes. Besides, how could I turn down a road trip on a motorcycle with my best friend?”
