Part 20 (1/2)
”How's that all going by the way?”
”It's...better.” I thought back to last night's dinner, holding J.'s hand under the table to keep him calm. ”He's trying, I have to give him that. And Randall's really gone above and beyond. Did you know he was over every week while J. was in prison doing house repairs for Mrs. Johnson?”
”Dang, no wonder Janelle fell for him. I love a man who's good with his hands.”
”You just love men period,” I clarified.
”Good point.”
”It's just that it's bad memories. But every day is a little better. His mom keeps trying to guilt trip him into staying there, but he waves her off saying there's no room. Cause of me.” I smiled at the memory of Mrs. Johnson clutching her side in a dramatic display of phantom pain. Since I'd convinced J. to see her again, all of her dire symptoms had cleared up overnight. ”Luckily they all seem to like me.”
”And the,” Sammie made flapping motions with her hands, ”...thing? That's not a problem?”
I squinted. ”You mean the race thing?”
She sighed dramatically. ”Yes, a.s.shole. Make me say it why don't you.”
I laughed again. ”I will. No one else does. It's almost eerie how quick people are to avoid it. I mean come on, it's obviously right there in front of you. I mean, I'm practically translucent and he's got that...”
”That skin,” she finished for me, trailing off and looking dreamy. ”When's he coming to see the new place?” she asked pointedly.
”Very subtle. Actually he'll be coming by in a few minutes. He's taking me on my first mandatory ride!”
”The f.u.c.k is that?”
”Sorry, biker club s.h.i.+t. The club's going on a ride. All the way to Cape May.”
She arched her eyebrows. ”And you're going to have to hold on to J. the while way there?”
”Uh huh, poor me right?”
She huffed past me in a pretend pout. ”I thought I was going to be renting with this meek little farm girl who stays in every night and wouldn't say boo to a ghost. Turns out she's actually a bada.s.s biker chick with a hot slab of meat for a boyfriend.”
”Who're you calling a slab of meat?”
Sammie froze mid flounce, then burst out in open mouthed laughter to see J. at the door.
”Clearly you, Johnson. Jesus, don't you get tired of looking like a superhero in that leather outfit?”
”Never,” he grinned. ”It's got all my powers.”
”Clearly,” she drawled, poking her tongue into her cheek and letting her eyes wander down his frame.
”Okay, simmer down Samara June,” I said, tugging her back from the door. ”Hi J. Sorry about her.”
”Used to it by now. Hey this place ain't bad.” He ducked through the doorway and stepped into our tiny kitchen, looking extremely out of place.
”Not that she's going to be here at all,” Sammie mumbled.
”I'll be here,” I soothed. ”Women aren't allowed to attend official club business. They kick me out.”
”s.e.xist pigs.”
”Ha!” J. scoffed. ”Freakin' Emmy over here knows more about what's going on than I do. She's the one who reminded me of the ride this morning, I would have totally forgotten and got my a.s.s beat for it.” He turned to me. ”Speaking of which, are you ready Em?”
I ran over to the corner where I had stashed my overnight bag. ”I am, but we had a few more boxes....”
”Oh whatever, I meant it when I said there were only a few.” Sammie sighed dramatically. ”Far be it for me to stand in the way of 'official club business.'”
J. strode over to where she stood and looked her in the eye with mock seriousness. ”Thank you Samara. I owe you. How can I ever repay you?”