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I walk off and she follows, slowly, but she follows

We get in the Bronco and slaainst her chest and pouts

"Buckle up It’s the law"

"Fuck you, Ford" But she does buckle up and I back out and continue up College until I get to the turn off for Bellvue Ronnie stares out thethe entire thirty-minute drive to the shop I park in lance over at Rook’s custom Shrike Bike Spencerhis body art ave et out and Ronnie follows The weather is still fairlyin, the threat of a storain as alk past and then I code the lock on the back door and hold it open for Ronnie "You knohy, though, right?"

"Why what?"

"Why he never gave you a bike"

She stands in the kitchen, her arms still folded in defiance "Because I’ Because I’s for me Take your pick, Ford"

"No, that’s not why," I say back "Because he doesn’t want you to ride it, Veronica Because he’d go crazy orry if he had to think about you riding around on a ht up in soht now and he doesn’t want you involved And believe ot killed He didn’t even kno to process it"

"Right," she snorts "He processed it just fine He was on the road to Sturgis the very next day with you guys"

"Yeah, but that was business You’re not business, Ronnie You’re personal He’s totally in love with you"

She just stares at me for a few seconds and then blinks "What?"