Page 66 of The Fates We Tame

“Thank fuck because while I would totally have done it, I wasn’t up to teaching you the birds and the bees all over again.”

“You know I only lost the last ten years, right? I didn’t get a frontal lobotomy or anything.”

I enter the code. There are keys there. But there’s also a Glock, bullets, and cash. Good to know. But I focus on the key fobs. With the electronic ignition, it takes a minute to figure out which fob goes with which bike.

“The three-wheeler is your dad’s,” Niro says. “He leaves it here to use when they come visit. Might be a safer bet for todaygiven your arm is still fucked and you want to take Sophia out with you. I can go home and get my three-wheeler and take Avery out on mine.”

I want to argue. I’ve been craving my own bike. But Niro is right. I need to make sure I accommodate Sophia. I want her to be comfortable, and I don’t want her to worry about being able to hold on. There is a proper second seat on Dad’s bike with a back rest. She can get comfortable knowing the bike is totally stable.

I sit on the bike and start the electronic ignition. Dad’s bike rumbles beneath me. The sound is so utterly familiar. The throaty roar rumbles through the garage, bouncing off the concrete walls.

On autopilot, I back it out of the garage and turn it around on the drive.

“Helmet,” Niro calls out, pulling one off the shelf. “And take your mom’s for Sophia.”

I grip the handlebars, and the vibrations rattle through my fingers.

I close my eyes and sit here.

Fuck. It’s been a journey to get here.

I’m proud of how far I’ve come.

It’s cold but sunny. There’s a breeze on my face.

“You coming in your jeans right now, or do you want to take these helmets from me?” Niro asks.

I open my eyes and take the helmet. “Putting this on feels a bit like closing the gate after the horse has bolted.”

“Put it this way, your brain is only lightly scrambled. Another smash and you could end up with custard. So, let’s go with the helmet until we’re sure you’re as capable as you ever were on a bike.”

I don’t want to admit he’s right, but I put it on.

He tucks the spare in the hard case on the back of the bike. “I’ll lock up your garage and meet you back at the clubhouse in fifteen when I’ve got my bike. You remember the way?”

“I got it.”

“Good. Drive safe.”

And I set off, but as soon as I pull out of the driveway, I speed up. I want the feel of air pressure hitting my chest. I want the pummel of it against the exposed part of my face.

God, I missed this. The road stretches out in front of me, and I open the bike up further. My reflexes are quick. My grip on my left hand is a little looser than my right. Thankfully, my front brakes are on my right, and my rear brakes are controlled by my foot.

I can feel the stress get blown away. I have no idea what state my mental health was in before the incident, but I’ve got to believe being out on my bike will speed up my recovery.

The ride in Niro’s truck was a good refresher on the directions, and it appears that I must have a fairly good sense of location as not only do I remember it, but there is a sense of familiarity to it.

When I pull into the clubhouse, I’m smiling, but that smile turns into a grin when I see Sophia standing outside the clubhouse with Catalina, who has obviously loaned Sophia a set of leathers.

“You need to get your wife some protective clothing of her own, Switch.”

“Why would I when she looks so good in yours?” I jump off the bike and remove my helmet. “Hey, Sparrow.”

“I’ll leave you guys to it,” Catalina says.

“You look hot as fuck in these,” I say, running my finger down her zipped-up front. She’s curvier than Catalina, so the leather hugs her tightly. She’s shorter too, so the pants are rolled up near the top of her hiking boots.

“They’re too small.”