Chase sucks in a breath. “You know I agree with you that this situation needs more attention, but fixing it is a tall order. Let’s you and I talk about ways to mitigate the blowback, pick this up again next week. Let the crew enjoy today for what it is.”
“Yes to talking next week. Can’t fix it in an afternoon,” I agree and pull out my wallet. “But we can start. Let’s send the mechanics over for a cone. On me. It will get our crew talking with everyone else, and the rest of the gayborhood will see us supporting the ice cream shop. Maybe help them realize they don’t need to make our neighbors our enemy.”
Chase thinks about it and nods, impressed. “Generous of you.”
I huff. “Damn Pride. Messes with even my head.”
Instead of heading to The Scoop with everyone else, I give Chase my card and walk off to prepare for the parade. I tried to apologize and make right with Finn at the bookstore, but as time passes, it still feels like my words were insufficient. Actions have more currency, anyway. Once I’ve come up with a plan to do something substantial, I’ll give it another try.
I’m joining the biker association on the parade route, so I suit up and get on my cruiser. We roll out together, rumbling down the street until we find our place in line on the other side of the main drag. We’ve got people riding on the edges who are handing out flyers about the history of our group alongwith candy and plastic rainbow motorcycle necklaces, as well as some people on foot collecting for the fundraiser. I shove on my helmet and find my place in the middle of it all, eager to disappear in the crowd as I take it in.
Funny, I’ve only been in Allentown a couple months, but I already see plenty of people and places that I recognize, and not just among the bikers. It’s a good crowd here in the gayborhood, and with plenty of real personalities, too. I’ll be on my way when this gig is done. It’s not in my future to be a part of this. But rumbling along the parade route, I can truly see how good it would be for Chase and the rest of Liberty Garage to find their place.
They deserve this, and we all deserve a neighborhood that hasn’t been disrupted and thrown into chaos by feuding neighbors.
MorningEnthusiast must live somewhere nearby. He suggested Buffalo as a place for us to meet. If I really hit things off with him, would that change my future? It’s not my style to alter my plans for another person. I’m happy cruising and doing my own thing. And hell, we haven’t even laid eyes on each other.
But I can’t help but fantasize for a moment that I could stick around, too. That there could be a future with him here, a home for me in Allentown and at Chase’s shop with all these knucklehead mechanics. Maybe I’d even attend one of those book clubs that Finn likes, or help solve puzzles for next year’s scavenger hunt.
Although there’s no way in hell I’ll embarrass myself with a costume.
Once the parade wraps up, the middle of the gayborhood is consumed by a dance party. I slowly make my way back toward the garage, winding through the crowd, forced to idle every time a roaming party crowds the road. The sun is warm with a few soft clouds. After I check in on the garage and store my bike, Imight wander back through just to take in the weather, although I know I’ll retreat to my home soon enough.
There’s only so much good nature a man can take. And that random tentacle horror I picked up at the bookstore is pretty decent. I keep meaning to tell MorningEnthusiast about it.
I try to take a side street, although the crowd is spilling out everywhere. When I roll up in front of my apartment, I decide I might as well stash my bike here and walk the rest of the way to the garage. Soon as I’m back out front, I see that a drag king boy band has set up shop at the intersection, where they’re performing in perfect sync behind a sign declaring themHairy Styles and the Pun Direction.
I look for any way around the crowd, but as the group launches into “Best Dong Ever,” the assembled audience is too big to move through.
“Riley!”
I turn and am surprised to see Finn standing immediately next to me. The flowers in his hair are slightly askew, and his cheeks are glowing, a clear sign he’s been wrapped up in the excitement of the day.
“Oh. Finn.” I rub the back of my head, not sure what to say. “Thought you were working at The Scoop.”
“I’ve been relieved for a few hours. I like to take in the festivities before I work the evening shift.”
I nod as we get pushed a little closer together by the crowd. “Right. Sure.”
Instead of running from me, he lingers. “I noticed Chase used your card to buy ice cream for the mechanics.”
“Yeah. Saw you’re raising money for the theater.” I cough, a little embarrassed. “And wanted to, uh, support you.”
“I appreciate that. And I appreciate the mechanics stopping by, too. With all the tension in the air, it’s hard to know where everyone stands.”
I nod. “I’ve noticed. So has Chase, for what it’s worth, and neither of us want it this way. Treating the mechanics to ice cream doesn’t solve anything, but consider it a first step. It’s taken us long enough, but I think we’re ready to find a real solution.”
Finn considers me. “I’m glad to hear that,” he says. “And I wonder if it wouldn’t make sense for you and I to extend this semi-truce, too. We can probably make more progress together than we can apart.”
Relief floods through me. “I’d like that.”
Finn smiles.
Fuck, it’s nice when he smiles. Wish I were better at making him do that.
“Wonderful,” he says. “After the chaotic weekend comes to a close, let’s get together and try to find a way?—”
We’re interrupted by a sudden yelp. I turn in time to see a man on a bicycle, losing control and careening our way as he tries to balance a large tub on the handlebars. “Incoming!” he hollers as he tumbles to the ground and launches the tub at us, its lid flying off on the way.
