Page 72 of Moving to Love
Joci jumped on her bike. Jackie came over and stood next to Joci. “Joci, please don’t take off like this. Ride with the group. We need to be safe out there.”
“Fuck,” Jeremiah swore. “Get that piece of shit on my bike.” He looked at Frog and Ryder.
Joci nodded slightly but refused to watch the guys load a wasted LuAnn onto the back of Jeremiah’s bike. There was something sacred about allowing someone on the back of your bike. Thinking about LuAnn getting her way and riding with Jeremiah stuck in Joci’s throat like a dry rag.
Jeremiah took a deep breath. “Someone stay alongside and behind me and make sure it doesn’t look like she’s going to fall off. When we get back to the hotel, Frog, you take her upstairs to your room and tell Chase to get his ass downstairs, immediately.”
Frog nodded and got on his bike. Everyone else saddled up, and they were off.
Jeremiah’s gut was in turmoil. He was so frustrated by this mess. They had been having a fantastic weekend. Now, once again, because of LuAnn, here they were. Joci was right—why did she constantly have to be the one to do right by everyone else? How was he going to fix this? The first thing he was going to do was kick Chase’s ass for leaving LuAnn. The new motto at the shop is going to be: You bring her, you take care of her.
On the ride back to the hotel, LuAnn stirred a couple of times. Jeremiah could feel her moving around on the back. He looked over at Gunnar, who was riding alongside him, and Gunnar shook his head. When they were within two miles of the hotel, LuAnn woke up and slid her arms around Jeremiah’s waist.
“I knew you would take care of me. I think you love me.” She rested her head on his shoulder.
He stiffened. He didn’t want this bitch touching him, let alone hanging on to him like she was. She started moving her hands down to his crotch, and he grabbed her hand and squeezed hard.
“Don’t!” was all he would say.
“Oh, Dog, don’t be mad at me. I love you so much,” she slurred.
He didn’t say anything. He wasn’t going to have this conversation with her when she was drunk, but they were going to have a serious talk. He had already told her that he was with Joci and that he wouldn’t tolerate LuAnn making snide comments, jumping at him and kissing him, and trying to pull the little shenanigans she had been. Apparently, he needed to be clearer. He didn’t tell her not to get wasted and expect everyone else to take care of her.
* * *
Pulling into the parking lot at the hotel, she moved off her bike and started pulling her things out of her bags. Jackie and Sandi walked over to her and waited patiently for her to be ready to talk to them.
“There’s a swing out back nestled in the landscaping. Would you like to come and swing with us?” Jackie asked hopefully.
She turned and saw them standing there, and her shoulders slumped. The tears started flowing like crazy. Jackie walked forward and hugged her little sister. Then she whispered softly in Joci’s ear, “It’s okay, baby. It’ll all be fine. Come and sit with us, please.”
Joci nodded, and they all walked toward the swing at the back of the hotel. Jackie looked back at David, who nodded at her and started walking upstairs to their room.
As soon as the girls reached the swing, Joci turned and flopped down in the middle. Jackie and Sandi each took a seat next to her. They sat for a long time, slowly rocking back and forth. The silence and rocking were a balm to her frazzled nerves. These past few weeks, just when it seemed things were going well, another bomb dropped in her lap. She took a deep breath and scraped her hands through her hair.
“I’m so tired of all of this. I’m tired of LuAnn and her bullshit. I’m tired of Jeremiah letting her pull it. I’m tired of worrying about Deborah, and I’m just plain tired.”
“Honey, you’ve handled all this bullshit like a champion. What LuAnn’s been pulling and keeps pulling is absolute bullshit. Jeremiah is going to have to deal with it and her, finally. I think you got your point across by telling him off today. You couldn’t have hit him harder if you had kicked him in the balls.” Jackie smiled.
Joci giggled and rubbed under her eyes.
Sandi chuckled. “You should have seen the look on his face, Joci. It was a look I’ve never seen on anyone before. Like he was pissed and hurt and confused at the same time… It was kind of funny.”
Jackie laughed, and then Joci couldn’t help herself; she started laughing, too.
She laid her head back against the swing and closed her eyes. She was exhausted.
Chapter 31
As soon as Jeremiah pulled into the parking lot, he dropped the kickstand down. Frog immediately hopped off his bike and reached over to grab LuAnn. She pushed him away, but he pulled again. She wrapped her arms around Jeremiah tightly.
“Get your fucking hands off me this minute.” His jaw was so tight he had a hard time getting the words out.
“But, Dog. I love you,” LuAnn whined.
He pried her hands away from his waist and jumped off his bike. He looked at Frog, and Frog nodded. Jeremiah turned and saw Joci walking to the back of the hotel with Jackie and Sandi.
He started walking toward Joci and her girls. Gunnar took a breath. “Dad, let them talk a little while. It’ll help her.”
