I replied with hesitation. “They went well. I feel like I did good.” He drove the screwdriver through a pad behind the door panel. “Why are you fixing that, Palo?” I asked.
“No reason.” His eyes darted around and he wouldn’t look me in the eye.
“Palo. I know when you lie to me. Are you beefing up security for some reason? Tell me!” I demanded.
He sighed. “I’m not lying to you. I’m taking precautions. You wanna ride out with me tomorrow? You haven’t ridden for a while now.”
“You’re changing the subject, but that sounds like a plan.”
I floated on a cloud back to my bedroom. Diego texted me back. Maybe the past was the past like Shauna said. I flicked on the TV in my room and watched a movie to relax. I texted Diego back.
“How about tomorrow night? :)”
“Sounds good babe. Miss you.”
“:)”
My dreams that night took me to fantasy land with Diego. The memory of his hands cupping my breasts made me toss and turn in my sleep. His lips plundering into me, the aching need and the passion between us. I couldn’t wait to see him.
I POURED my morning juice when I got up the next morning and waited for Palo to come in.
“Morning,” he yawned. “Are you ready to ride? I thought we might take the coastline today.”
I put my bread in the toaster. “I’d like that. I heard the dolphins are out right now.”
“Yeah, the boys were telling me they saw a few the other day.”
I grimaced at the mention of Las Balas, changing the subject. “I can’t wait to ride.”
“Been a minute, huh? I checked it out, everything looks good.”
“Thanks bro’.” I smiled at him. “My helmet still there?”
“Yep, it is. No spiders in it.” I punched him playfully in the arm.
“Hey!” I yelled.
“Well, I mean you ain’t riding, what do you expect? Let me hit this coffee and we’ll get out on the road early, okay? Let’s head out and cruise to Santa Cruz.” My brother made the gesture of his smooth wave and I smiled at his goofball antics.
“Yup. Sounds good.” Ten minutes later I was strapped up and ready to go on my Honda Shadow Rider. I’d had her custom-sprayed in purple and loved it. I smiled as I ran my fingers over her before I got on. I signaled my brother to lead and flipped my helmet down. The roar of both our bikes combined got my adrenaline pumping.
Boring ride for a little while, until we got out of Merced city limits. It would take us about two and a half hours to get there. The fresh Cali air flowed around me as I followed Palo’s lead, slipping and sliding through the cars. We sliced through the back of Los Banos and San Juan Bautista. I admired the change of scenery through every passing suburb. In the blink of an eye we arrived in Santa Cruz. I stretched my legs out as we parked on the strip close to the beach. I looked out from the town with the rugged coastline hugging the edge of the water. I pulled my phone out and snapped a picture.
“Let me get one of you, doctor-to-be,” Palo demanded, chipper.
I handed him the phone and he snapped a cheesy photo of me. “Thanks, bro’. Let’s go eat.”
“I’m starving.” We headed to a café restaurant and sat down out front.
I gasped suddenly, I couldn’t help it. I saw his bike. Diego was here, in the same restaurant. Nerves struck me as my mind raced about whether to find him and introduce Palo.
“Hey, what’s up with you?” Palo asked. I ignored him.
We walked into a nice family restaurant with modern cuisine and outdoor tables out back and window seats out front.
A blond lady with a pencil behind her head approached us. I looked past her, desperately trying to spot Diego.
“Nice to see you guys. It’s table service here, so pull up a seat and we’ll come to you.” The lady greeted us in a laid-back California way.
