Page 100 of Rough

Pee Bee nodded. “Yeah, but it’s gotta be quick. We need to get now.”

“People see our colors, they move the fuck over,” the man said. “We’ll get you there in one piece.”

My heart swelled.

Brad nodded.

The man turned around. The back of his jacket had a banner across the top that I’d seen earlier.

Hells Angels.

“Bamma,” Crip said.

The man glanced over his shoulder.

“Appreciate ya,” Crip said.

“Anything for the Fuckers.” Bamma nodded once and turned away. “Angels!” he shouted at the top of his lungs. “Saddle up!”

We ran to the motorcycle, got on, and rode to the entrance of the park. My mind was in a fog, and Brad and I didn’t speak the entire time. When we pulled toward the entrance, my jaw dropped completely.

A line of motorcycles two wide and longer than I could count was waiting for us. One motorcycle was out in the road, stopping traffic.

Bamma was parked sideways in the road leading into the park. We pulled up to his side.

We’ll lead the way,” Bamma said over his shoulder. “I’ll get two out ahead running rabbit. How fast you wanna go?”

“As fast as we can,” Brad said.

Bamma looked at me, nodded once, and turned around. He cupped his hands around his mouth and tilted his head back. “Balls out, Angels!”

The men all shouted in response. “Hooaah!”

A warm tear ran down my cheek.

And we hit the road.

Balls out.

THIRTY

Pee Bee

I gazed down at him, wondering just how much time he had left. He was alive, but he looked like he wasn’t going to be for much longer.

My mother and Tegan had gone to the café for coffee.

The monitor beeped in the background as I surveyed the situation. He had oxygen tubes in his nose, wires and hoses strewn all over him, and various tubes inserted into his arms.

His eyes were closed, his cheeks were gaunt, and the skin on his face had gone thin. I couldn’t understand how so much change could take effect in less than a week.

Unless he was dying.

He was the man I’d spent a lifetime admiring. As long as it took me to become a man, I owed him my all. Through his awkward way of conveying himself, he had finally transformed me from the boy I had always been into the man I was certain I would remain.

I loved him dearly, and the thought of losing him was incomprehensible.

I lowered my head, said a prayer, and then cupped his fingers in the palm of my hand.