Page 77 of Road to Redemption

She laughed, running to Leo for protection.“I don’t want to die in that death trap ‘cause you’re feeling stubborn.”

Dom had her helmet off next. “Engine oil? Why haven’t you brought that in yet?”

Before he could answer, she whipped her head around to Spencer. “He needs to bring that into the shop, or you need to let me give him something newer.”

But Spencer just shook her head, clicking open her visor as she helped me off the back of her bike. “He needs to learn how to take care of his things. If he wants a nice car, he’s got perfectly good bones for one right there, and an aunt that is willing to help him with the car anytime.”

She narrowed her eyes at him briefly before pulling off her helmet. “But we can deal with scheduling later. First, we’ve got a very special birthday to celebrate.”

Caleb smirked at his aunt as she approached him for a hug, and I swear, it was like seeing a teenage version of Spencer. Same goofy grin, same shaggy hair, but younger and with the gender swapped.

It made me wonder what Spence had been like when she was younger. Was she always so playful and sweet, or was that something she’d grown into with some space from her tumultuous childhood?

While Caleb was busy greeting Spencer, Abi had already moved on to Dom, climbing all over her bike and playing with her helmet. Usually, Dom was so cagey about other people touching her shit — I half expected her to snatch the helmet back or bark at Abi to get off the bike.

But she was completely unfazed by Abi’s invasive approach. In fact, she seemed to welcome it, showing her how to place her grip on the handlebars and tilting the bike so she could pretend to take a curve.

As the girl’s laughter echoed through the parking lot, a heart-melting smile pulled at Dom’s lips. Her tenderness unlocked a wave of memories of my own childhood, all the times Dom had been this sweet with me.

Isaac’s presence had always evoked a certain level of stress and broodiness from her, but despite it, Dom managed to be so thoughtful and kind with me back then.

I’m glad she can still do that for Abi. Even if she insists on acting like a brute with the rest of us.

Before I could get too lost in my spectating, Spencer pulled away from Caleb, gesturing toward me on her bike. “Caleb, I’d like you to meet Kiera.”

“Kiera,” I parroted nervously, holding out my hand for a stiff shake.

A handshake? What is wrong with me?

Caleb glanced down at my hand with a smirk before taking it. “Caleb.”

His eyes seemed to flicker over my face when he looked at me, and my chest instantly tightened. Did he recognize me from the news? Usually, people couldn’t place me without the red hair.

But then Spencer cleared her throat, lowering her voice as she leaned toward my ear. “You can take off the helmet, Bunny.”

“Oh, shit!” I muttered, clumsily undoing the chin strap before unveiling my freshly mussed, staticky wig. “Sorry about that. Kiera! Happy birthday!”

The words all came out jumbled, but my eyes were working well enough to see Dom lean in toward Leo. Shaking her head, I could hear her mutter, “Is she having a stroke?”

The heat rising to my face certainly made it feel like I might faint. But as nervous as I was, Caleb seemed nervous too.

“Thanks!” He smiled, rubbing a hand over the back of his neck. “It’s nice to meet you. Aunt Spencer has never brought a girl around before, so this is pretty cool.”

“She must be speeecialllll,” Abi crooned, still dangling off Dom’s bike.

“Abi, don’t be weird,” he glanced back at his sister.

While they bickered back and forth, I tried to reckon with the shock of that news.

I knew that Spencer was protective of the kids, of course. But I also knew that she had quite the dating history before I came around. I supposed I’d quietly assumed that at least one of those people would have gotten close enough to meet the kids, even in passing.

But Spencer just laughed and wrapped an arm around my shoulders. “She’s right, kid. Kiera is special.”

The attention was unbearable. I was honored, but the whole day carried so much more weight now too. What if I fucked this up? I’d already acted like such a weirdo.

But before I could put my foot back into my mouth, Dom whistled for attention. “Alright, let’s get a move on. I’m renting this place by the hour, so less chatter and more shooting lasers!”

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