Page 39 of Throttle Therapy

“You’re right.I am tired.But it’s a different tired than I’m used to.I worked double my usual number of hours, but my feet don’t hurt.It’s more mental tired, but I’ll get used to the new schedule.Sure, I guess we can go meet your friend.Is it okay if Lacey’s with us too?”

“Of course.I wouldn’t have suggested it if it weren’t.”He watched as the girl in question burst through the door, running at full speed around to the passenger side of the truck.She’d gotten rid of the overalls and her backpack bounced on one shoulder.She opened the door and climbed in.

“Sorry.That took longer than I thought.”

“No big deal, squirt.”He turned and looked pointedly at the seatbelt, she didn’t need any more hints, but buckled up.He started the truck and backed out of the lot.

Chapter Twenty

Jennaknewsheshouldbe nervous.She should wonder who Roadkill wanted her to meet, but she couldn’t stir the interest.All she could think about was what food they had in the house and what she could make for dinner with it, as quickly, and with as little fuss as possible.

She’d never thought that sitting on her butt most of the day could make her so tired.She hadn’t done anything, or at least nothing like she’d been doing for years.

Talking on the phone, looking things up in a book, or for the last hour or so, online, didn’t look that taxing.Yet all she wanted to do was to put her feet up and not have to think about anything.

Why had she agreed to this?Jenna asked herself as Roadkill pulled the pickup through a manned gate, waving at the man, who looked about her age, who opened the gate to let them in.

“That’s Chase by the way.He’s a prospect.”

Jenna nodded, but didn’t say anything.She didn’t know what to say.And she was too tired to worry about it.

The truck pulled to a stop in front of a large warehouse.To one side was a line of at least thirty motorcycles, all backed into a neat row.

“What’s with the motorcycles?”Lacey asked from the back seat.

“This is the clubhouse.We all ride.”

“Yeah.I get that but why are they all lined up like that and facing out?Why do you back them in?”

“Bikes don’t have a reverse, not like a car, well, most of them at least.The only ones that do are the trikes, like Papa Smurf rides, and its only for parking.It won’t do more than a few feet, and at really slow speeds.”Roadkill twisted around in his seat so he could look at her little sister.“We park facing out so if something happens, we have to move fast, we don’t have to worry.”

As they watched, both Papa Smurf and Joker came in and backed their bikes into line with the others.

“Oh.I guess that makes sense,” Lacey said.

“Come on.”Roadkill opened his door.“Let’s go inside.”

Behind her, Jenna heard Lacey’s door open, then close.Jenna let her head fall back against the seat and looked up at the roof of the cab.

A moment later, the door beside her opened, startling her.

“Are you okay?”Roadkill asked as he stepped up next to her seat.

“Yeah.”Jenna forced a smile.“Just tired.It was an exhausting day, and I was just thinking about dinner and wondering what I have at home to make.”

“Don’t worry about it.”

“I have to.If I don’t, no one will.Then Lacey will go hungry, the school will call DHR and they’ll put her in the system.”She blinked several times, trying to keep the tears pooling in her eyes from falling.

“Hang on there a sec, darlin’.I think you’re getting ahead of yourself.If you’re too tired to cook, we can grab something here.And they’re not going to take your sister away over one missed meal.”He reached over her and hit the release on her seatbelt, then, with his hands on her knees, twisted her in the seat before he wrapped his arms around her and just held her, her face buried in his neck.After a moment, her arms went around his waist “Take a deep breath.I know it’s a long day.Maybe we should put this off.”He let her relax against him for a moment.

“No.I want to meet your friends,” Jenna said after a moment.“Besides, Lace is already inside.It would be rude to make her come back out and leave.”

“I don’t care if it is rude, darlin’.If you’re too tired, I’ll go get her and take you home.You can meet them later.”

She thought about it.If she let him take her home, would she be able to show her face here later, knowing she’d ducked out like that?No,she admitted to herself.It was better that she deal with it now, no matter how tired she was.Besides, if she didn’t have to cook, then it would be easier.

“No.”She sat up, pulling herself out of Roadkill’s arms.“Let’s go inside.I mean, it’s not like I’ll be working.I can do this.”She smiled, this time a little more real.“Come on, let’s go.”She pushed gently on his shoulder.