“Man. I’ll be glad to. When you opening up?” His tone was urgent.
“Anxious to get her back on the road, huh?” I asked.
“Yes, I am. It’s been a good little while. I want to take her out to the national park. Been dying to go. Me and a few fellas love that.”
“Come in. I want to start getting a few rides together, now I’m in town too. I’m part of a club called Outlaw Souls. I don’t know if you’ve heard of them.” I figured I would recruit via word of mouth. That would be the best way to get the chapter on track.
“Small world after all. I got a cousin who’s part of the La Playa chapter. Loves it. Says he should have signed up years ago,” he chuckled.
“Rick, my man. We got a lot to talk about. Bring your bike by tomorrow. I’ll be here from nine a.m.”
“No problem. Look forward to seeing what you can do for her,” he replied.
I didn’t even ask him what the issue was. I knew I’d be able to fix it. I had my tools which I had shipped up. I used to fix bikes in my backyard when I was a kid. I remembered my time with my father.
“Hey, son, pass me that wrench over there, would ya?” Such fun memories. Dad and Mom had since retired to San Bernardino. Both of them were the wild and free hippie types. My father used to always say to me, “Let your soul be free, kid, let it be free.”
My phone rang again. I didn’t recognize the number on the screen. I answered as I surveyed what I’d need to get the place ready for business.
“Hello, it’s your favorite retired stripper,” a sultry tone said on the other end of the line.
I grinned. “Crystal, baby. How you doing?”
“I’m good. I wanted to take you up on your offer to hang out. I need to get away for a little bit anyway,” she admitted. Guilt set in on me. I didn’t for a million years think Crystal would actually come all this way to see me.
“So why are you calling now, Crystal?”
“I know. I just-” She stopped speaking abruptly.
I was leaning on the sink with my arms crossed, listening. “You just what?”
“Umm. I want to see you for old time’s sake. I don’t want anything from you. I just wanted to see if we could build a friendship somehow. I realize we’re not together. Just a friendship, that’s it.”
She rambled on as I looked down at the scuff of my biker boots. The laces were undone. That was how I liked them. “Look. I’m seeing somebody now and if you’re coming up here, you gotta know that. So just chill when you get here,” I said firmly.
“Awesome. You can tell me all about her. I want to tell you what I’m doing now. I can’t wait to see you! How does your calendar look in a couple of weeks? We can do brunch.”
I smiled. Her bubbly nature was always one of my favorite things about her. “Okay, Crystal. You’re on. I’ll take you to a cool burger spot. You’ll like it.”
“Awesome. See you, Diego.”
I hung up and shook my head at the randomness of the call. Just as I was about to change clothes and get to work cleaning up the place, Ryder’s number popped up on the phone.
“Hey, Diego. I wanted to be the first to congratulate you,” his rich deep voice boomed. Ryder was the epitome of a rider, a muscular, proud man with a strong profile and real presence. He was the right man to lead the charge at Outlaw Souls.
“Thanks, Ryder, so far, so good. I met a guy today who’s bringing his bike in tomorrow. He’s interested in the chapter. I didn’t catch the name but he has a cousin who's part of La Playa.”
“That’s great news. Listen, I was talking to the guys in the last meeting. We want to come up there and support. Help you get some movement going. We thought we might do a community opening and introduce ourselves. What do you think? If we come up there in a few weeks, would you be ready?” Ryder asked.
“That timing would be good. I’m confident I can get a few things moving by then as well.”
“I know you can. I haven’t taken that ride up there for almost a year, would you believe. Might ride along the coastline,” Ryder mused.
“I wish I rode the coastline. I’m kicking myself,” I said.
“Yeah, you should have, it’s real pretty. Next time though. It’s not going anywhere,” Ryder advised.
“For sure. I’m here in the warehouse right now, cleaning up and getting things set up.”
