CHAPTER 3
EZRA
I turn the corner in the grocery store and stop when I see Opal, Graycie, and Adam standing in the aisle.
They look up as well and the women shoot me big grins while Adam looks uncomfortable.
I’m sure his first choice for activities this afternoon wasn’t grocery shopping.
From the looks of things, they’re stocking up.
For a moment, fear grips me because I wasn’t really expecting to run into anyone on my grocery run. Which is ridiculous because you always run into someone at the grocery store in town. That’s just how it is.
When I was growing up, Dad would always remind me about what people expected from him and his family. I just happened to be the family he was talking about.
Today I’m in shorts and a T-shirt with my hair thrown up on the top of my head.
My shirt features a drawing of a Victorian era woman standing in front of a mirror and says, ‘cool girls know history’.
It’s one of my favorites. I don’t have any make-up on.
Honestly, I’m happy about putting on moisturizer this morning.
I stayed up way too late worrying about the fundraiser while disco-fying my Liberty Bell and streaming another true crime documentary. Jessi’s not a fan, so we can never watch them together. It’s a shame because I wish I could talk to her about them and dissect the whole case, but I can’t with her.
Needless to say, I didn’t leave my house looking my best today. Hopefully, Dad doesn’t see me. He would have things to say about my less than perfect appearance.
The worst is when he doesn’t say the words, but the judgement is written all over his face. It’s like nothing I’ve done matters in that moment; he forgets it all because I can’t be perfect all the time.
Dealing with it all is exhausting.
I push the thought aside because I’m not going to apologize for dressing with comfort in mind.
“Hey,” I greet the group, my voice sunny. “Fancy meeting you here,” I tease.
“Honestly, it is kind of strange seeing you during the day,” Opal says with a smile on her face as she pushes her cart closer.
“And not in school,” Adam grumbles, his eyes on the floor with a look on his face that screams he would rather be anywhere else at the moment.
“Adam,” I tease him, “I thought for sure you’d be less grumpy during summer. I see that was a bold assumption and completely incorrect.”
“Bolt,” he mumbles.
I lean closer to him, my eyebrows pulling together slightly. “What?”
He clears his throat and looks me in the eye. “It’s Bolt, Ms. Lyons.”
I’m sure I look more than a little confused. Sure, I heard some of the other kids call him Bolt, but I never really thought very much about it.
Opal pipes up while reaching up and pinching Adam, I mean, Bolt’s cheek. “Bolt is now officially a prospect.” She tugs at the leather cut he’s wearing, the one I didn’t even notice, honestly, and taps the patch. “See?”
“Oh,” I say with a nod and a serious look on my face. As if I completely understand. “Okay, Bolt,” I smile, “how’s the summer going so far?”
“It’s been fine. I’ve been working at the clubhouse prospecting, like Opal said.” He glances at the look on my face. “I get all the grunt work,” he explains.
I know a little bit about the club, it’s hard not to hear a thing or two around town. But why would anyone tell the sheriff’s daughter more about how the local motorcycle club—which said sheriff hates—than that? So yeah, I’m more clueless than clued in.
With a smile, I nod with understanding. “At least the fair is coming up. Hopefully, you get some time to have some fun.” I turn my attention toward Opal and Graycie. “I was just thinking about chocolate chunk cookies.”
“I know how much you love them,” Graycie teases me.
It’s my own damn fault that I haven’t talked to her in too long. The end of the school year is hectic and then I hibernate for a little while to regain my strength. Because the push to state testing and finals is kind of ridiculous.
I charge my batteries with junk food, binge watching the shows I’ve missed, and sleeping in a cocoon of blankets like I’ll reemerge as a butterfly. What actually emerges involves a ratty messy bun, clothes with questionable stains, and the need to clean my place.
Seeing Graycie now is kind of like a revelation. She’s glowing. I never truly understood what people meant before when they would say that about someone. But I can see it now in her.
And she doesn’t seem mad at me for my dad’s behavior. Which is a relief. Honestly, I wasn’t sure. I wouldn’t blame her if she did.
My voice goes soft as I step closer to her, “You look really happy, Graycie. I love seeing it.” Regret fills my words, “I heard about your pregnancy.” Can she feel my shame?
It feels suffocating; and it’s all because of my dad’s feelings about the club.
“Congratulations. Hopefully, one day, in many, many years, I’ll have them in my class. ”
I’m thrilled for her. She deserves all the happiness in the world and the fact that she’s no longer looking over her shoulder with fear in her eyes is something I’m grateful for.
Graycie’s smile grows and then before I know what’s happening, she’s hugging me. I don’t think I’ve ever seen this woman initiate contact with someone. When I met her at Bunz Out for the first time, she was skittish. It felt like she was just waiting for someone to jump out and grab her.
Not anymore.
I hug her back and grin like a fool. Opal winks at me when I look up at her from over her best friend’s shoulder. She had a front row seat to everything, and I can’t deny that I’m a little jealous.
“Thank you,” she breathes. “I’m incredibly happy.” Her voice lowers even further as she teases me, “You should think about getting yourself a biker.”
I can’t help but giggle and shake my head at my friend as she lets me go. “I don’t see it happening,” I tell her.
It’s not like I don’t have eyes. I do. The men of the SOMC are hot. It’s kind of unfair and a little unreal.
While I don’t think being handsome is a requirement, I do know there’s a lot of legacy involved when it comes to the club and its members. Bolt is a great example.
His father is a club member and so is his brother, Scratch. Wright, which was the name I knew Scratch by, was a grade ahead of me in school. We didn’t exactly run in the same circles.
Now Bolt will join them.
In a way, I envy what he has. It’s obvious how close everyone is when it comes to the club. They watch each other’s backs. Now Graycie is part of it all; I couldn’t be happier for her.
“You’ll have to have your biker take you to the Monroe County Fair,” I tell Graycie and wiggle my eyebrows.
“I’ve seen the fliers around town,” she tells me, her eyes sparkling. “I’ve been promised a ride on the Ferris Wheel and a funnel cake, which I’m really looking forward to.”
“Yes,” Opal agrees, “I’m going to have one every day.”
“Just one?” Graycie teases.
“At least one,” Opal corrects herself and we share a laugh.
“Ms. Lyons.” The words come from behind me and I turn to find Josiah. He’s a junior now and a member of Youth in Government.
“Hi, Josiah,” I greet him.
He gives a little nod toward Bolt, but then he turns his attention toward Opal and Graycie with a charming look on his face I know well. He’s going to be a heartbreaker or a salesman; I haven’t decided which yet.
I don’t think he has either.
“Hi,” he greets Opal and Graycie, “are you ladies planning on attending the fair coming up?”
One corner of Opal’s mouth twitches and I have to bite my lip to stop myself from giggling. Bolt’s eyes narrow, but I have no doubt that he knows Opal can take care of herself.
“Of course,” Opal chirps, “it’s tradition.”
“I don’t think the summer would be the same without it,” Josiah asserts. “You’ll have to come by the Youth in Government tent. We have a silent auction to raise money for our trip to Nashville to take over the capital. This year we have some really good items to bid on.”
“The choices are usually pretty good,” Opal agrees, amusement dancing in her eyes. “I usually bid on a few things,” she tells him conspiratorially.
Josiah lights up and nods his head excitedly. “Thanks for bidding and helping us go on the trip. It’s always a lot of fun when we go. It was only a few months ago, but I can’t wait to go again next year.”
“It was wonderful,” I agree while giving my student and indulgent smile. “You all worked really hard, to get there and while you were there,” I can’t help but gush a little while my heart is fluttering at the excitement written all over his face.
He doesn’t try to hide it, not even in front of Bolt.
It’s one of the things that makes Josiah such a joy to have in the classroom and in my club—he doesn’t try to pretend he’s anyone other than himself.
It’s refreshing considering the number of grunts and monosyllabic answers I get when I ask questions in class.
When I look into his basket, I’m more than a little surprised that it’s filled with produce, fruit, and meat; ingredients, not snacks. I can’t help but arch an eyebrow as I look up at him. Josiah rubs the back of his neck and gives me a sheepish smile.
Josiah holds a piece of paper up like it is evidence. “I have to get the things on the list first or mom will never let me hear the end of it. Going grocery shopping is one of my weekly chores. I don’t mind because she lets me take the car and I get to add a few things I want too.”
“I think it’s great,” I tell him. “If I ever have kids, I’ll definitely be looking at grocery runs as a major perk.”
Josiah chuckles before shifting his attention back on Opal and Graycie. “As far as the auction items, we’ve been collecting items for months.” The pride in his voice echoes in my chest and I can only shake my head as he shifts back into salesman mode.
“My living room is starting to look like I’m planning a wedding or something,” I joke and the ladies laugh with me.