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“I can’t wear flip flops in the winter,” she pointed out as she followed et wet”

“You got a change of clothes in that backpack?” I asked as I locked up behind us The sun was already shining, and I inhaled the scent of cut grass, enjoying that first whiff of fresh air

“Yeah,” she said, clearing the front steps in one juainst her back as she landed

“Then you can wear shorts and flip flops all day until I pick you up”

“I don’t knohy I have to go to Trix’s,” she grumbled as she expertly tucked her hair back and shoved her helmet on “I’m twelve I don’t need a babysitter”

“We’ve had this conversation,” I replied, checking her chin strap, even though she’d buckled it herself about a thousand tione for a few hours, you can stay hoone all day”

“Everyone in my class stays home while their parents work,” she pointed out for the millionth time as I climbed on my bike and waited for her to climb on behind me She had to practically yell so that I could hear her through the helh to take care of myself”

I chuckled as I fired up the bike and let the pipes drown out her cohtly on the side in annoyance

Maybe I was overprotective Hell, I kneas overprotective I just didn’t give a shit When your wife kills herself in a bathtub full of water, leaving your five year old to fend for herself for God kno long before you got hoes your perspective I knew Kara could fend for herself She was set into trouble That didn’talone all damn day

As we rode toward the compound, I felt Kara relax behind me She looked a lot like her mother, she had her eyes and her set her love of the open road fro on the back of h days e’d spent hours cruising down back roads with no destination in sight

As we pulled up to Cam and Trix’s house on the property next to the coreet us

“Be good,” I told Kara as she climbed off the bike and pulled her helet ya”

“Sounds good,” she said, kissing the side of my helmet like she’d done since she was a toddler “Love you”