“Agree to disagree. Now enough of the heavy shit. Did any of you guys see that they are bringing a reality TV show to the area? One of those can you survive in the mountains type of shit,” Maggie says, changing the subject.
If there is one thing I love, it’s competition reality TV.
For the first time in a while, thoughts of what I went through slip into the back of my mind, and I find myself having a good time with the girls.
I always thought people were lying when they said laughter is the best medicine, but maybe, just maybe, they were onto something.
ASHER
The sounds of music and laughter spill out of the clubhouse. Yak shifts in his chair next to me and pulls a cigarette out of his pocket. Things between us still aren’t great, but they are better than what they were before the run the other day.
I earned more than Panther’s respect with my quick thinking. It turned the tide in my favor where the club is concerned, even though that wasn’t my intention at all.
Yak coughs.
“You know that shit isn’t good for you, right?”
“Yeah, but it keeps me from being a dick…well, more of a dick,” he amends, making me laugh.
He blows out a smoke ring, making me shake my head.
“I don’t know how you can do that shit.”
“I don’t know how you could be a fed, but here we are,” he spits back.
“Was. I’m not anymore,” I remind him.
“How did you even get wrapped up in that bullshit?” he asks.
I shrug. “Hero complex, I don’t know. As long as I can remember, I felt the need to protect and serve.”
“Let me guess, you were that dickhead on the playground who was beating up the bullies.”
“I was actually,” I say, making him laugh.
“I don’t know how the hell you got wrapped up in us when you were supposed to be taking us down,” he says, shaking his head. “It’s why I don’t trust you.”
“When you’re under as long as I was and you see the shit I did, you realize how hard it is to do the one thing you want to do. My hands were always tied because of red tape. Now nothing stands in my way.”
“Still not sure about you, prospect, but even I can admit that you did good work the other day.”
“All I did was consult a map before hitting the road.” I shrug.
“Yeah, yeah, just take the compliment, kid.”
I raise a brow. “You do realize you are only a couple of years older than me, right?”
“Same shit, different day.” He shrugs.
I go to tell him that doesn’t make sense, but the radio crackles between us.
“Hey, you guys busy out there? If not, we could use one of you. Shit’s starting to get rowdy,” Meek says over the comms.
“Go on in. I got this,” Yak says.
“Are you sure? I don’t mind staying out here.”
“Trust me, there isn’t anything in there I want to see right now.”
