Page 11 of Revv

The engine gives one sad little cough and quits like it’s got no interest in helping her escape me tonight.

I flex my fingers inside my gloves and grin to myself.

Yeah.

I’m not going anywhere yet.

Cece’s head slowly turns toward me through the windshield, and even from here, I can feel the glare.

Beautiful.

I take my helmet back off and hang it from the handlebar before getting off the bike.

“Need help?”

Cece gets out of the car and points at me before I’m even halfway across the lot. “From you? I’d rather die.”

I lift both hands and glance around. “Doesn’t look like you’ve got a whole lot of options, Mama. Lucky for you, I’m still here.”

Her eyes narrow. “Do not start.”

“I wasn’t doing anything,”

“You were smiling.”

“I have a nice smile.”

“You have a punchable smile.”

“Yeah?” My grin pulls wider. “Still got you looking at it.”

Her eyes narrow. “Ay, don’t flatter yourself.”

“Too late. That ship sailed years ago.”

“Clearly.” She shuts the door harder than necessary and steps aside when I reach her car. “It’s probably just being dramatic.”

“The car or you?”

Her mouth drops open. “Excuse me?”

“What? I’m asking for diagnostic purposes.”

“Diagnose this, pendejo.” She flips me off, then points at the hood. “Fix the damn car before I change my mind and make you useful for something else.”

My grin pulls wider. “Careful, Mama. That almost sounded like flirting.”

“That was a threat.”

“From you?” I lean closer, just enough to watch her chin lift. “Same thing.”

Her cheeks flush, but her stare doesn’t budge. “Keep talking and I’ll leave you with matching dents in your bike and your ego.”

“See, that’s the shit I’m talking about.” I laugh, reaching for the hood. “Goddamn entertaining.”

“Revel.”

I hold up both hands. “All right, all right. Pop the hood.”