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He deserted us--ers on the wheel "Don’t let any guy treat you like shit, do you hear uy pushes you too far or hurts you, you tell s away from my forehead and when I readjust, my skin audibly peels off the seat Eli watches lance away to confirm he’s still on the road "Did you hear me?"

I really, really wish Eli would drop this conversation

"Eallantry when Monant with me?"

A muscle in his jaw ticks and he visibly tenses I have a friend whose parents divorced when she was younger Her dad bowed out for a couple of years and now that he’s back in her life, she keeps a tally of howtheir visits I’m not like that I don’t want to be like that I’et to act as if he’s a good dad in this scenario

The two htens as we make the same turn "We’re here"

Here would be a warehouse Literally Gray metal walls Brown roof An entire row of motorcycles parked near the front More men in black vests stand around except the bottom part of their patch states Lanesville instead of Snowflake Each uys, is there?" I ask

"We’re in forty states, ten countries and still growing"

"Hmm" Because what else do you say to that?

Eli shuts off the engine "Your Mos I need to take care of in thewith Oz and don’t stray from him"

In other words, Oz is my chosen "escort" for the afternoon "Okay"

I crack open my door and Eli stops me "Hey, Emily"

"Yeah?"

Eli focuses on the keys in his hand and he’s completely still "Follow me and then stick close to Oz" And he leaves the truck, closing the door behind hi when Mom and I needed him the most would have been nice

Oz

I SWING OFF my bike, shove uy I’d be willing to call a best friend other than Chevy The ultra-white three-piece Reign of Terror patch on Razor’s cut is whateveryone else The darker and dirtier the patch, the more honor there is It means years of wear and tear within the club Razor patched in a feeeks ago