A motorcycle and a pickup truck sit parked in the drive.
Utah stands in the gravel with his arms folded; a prospect stands next to him.
When I step outside, Utah lifts his eyes to mine. “Hey, Maggie. Lola and my ol’ lady went by your apartment and grabbed you some clothes. I put the bag inside for you.”
“Thanks,” I say and look at Keno, not entirely sure what’s going on.
Keno lifts his mug toward the prospect. “This is Woody. He’s going to stay with you while I’m gone.”
“You’re leaving?” Panic fills me.
“Got some club business, Six. Woody will keep you safe.”
“Yes, ma’am,” the kid says.
“C’mere. Got something to show you.” Keno snags my hand and leads me down the stairs and to the back of the pickup. There’s a motocross bike loaded in the bed.
It’s not mine. In fact, it looks brand-new.
Utah tosses a set of keys to Keno, and Keno climbs up into the bed of the truck, then holds a hand out. “Come on. Have a look.”
I take his hand, and he pulls me up.
“Do you like it? It’s nice, right?” Keno says, running a palm over the seat.
“Wow. It’sreally nice.”
Keno holds out the keys. “It’s yours.”
“What?”
“You need a bike for the race, and yours would never be fixed in time. Besides, it was time for an upgrade.”
“You bought me a motocross bike?”
“You like it?”
My eyes fill. “For real?”
“For real, baby.” He cups my cheek. “I’m not leaving it here, because I don’t want you riding it in these woods. But I knew you were worried about your bike, and I just wanted you to see this one.”
“But how did you do this? You were up here with me.”
“I made a call. Utah did the rest.”
I look at Utah. “Thank you.”
He grins. “I hope you like it. The guy said it was the best.”
“It’s perfect.” I look at Keno, then hug him. “Thank you.”
An hour later, Utah and Keno pull out, leaving Woody with me.
We watch television, and he tells me about a girl he’s seeing. He yawns and says he was up until 3:00am.
I put on a romantic comedy and soon hear him snoring. His head drops against the cushion, and his mouth opens.
My eyes fall to his cell phone lying on his thigh.
