Page 32 of Bleed Me

Feeling quite awkward, I said, “Thanks, for, uh, everything.” I didn’t want her to think I meant I expected sex, so quickly added, “That you’ve done. Not what, you, uh, don’t need to do.”

With her free hand, Justice slammed it to her forehead.

I laughed. “Shut up!”

She shook her head as if I was a sorry motherfucker, then told Saph, “And you. The gym is off-limits. You’ve been warned.”

Sapphire’s eyes widened. “Oh gosh. I’m sorry—”

I tried, “It’s okay—”

Justice’s head swiveled to look at me with an expression that had my dumbass shutting the fuck up. Then it swiveled back to the bunny who had yet to skedaddle. Which she promptly did.

As soon as we were alone again, I said, “Sorry.”

“Do you want to be washing bikes for the rest of your life?”

“No, ma’am. It’s just, I, uh, have a soft spot for lost souls, I think.”

“Hmmm… And the mystery of James continues.” She ignored her vibrating cell phone. “You gonna let her take care of you?”

“I, uh… I’ve only had one person dote on me before.” Delilah… “It felt right. Make sense? She—Anyways. With Saph, it don’t feel right.”

“Think of it as her just doing her job.”

I leaned forward and rested my forearms on the wall, then my forehead to my bent arms so that the water could hit my back. “Is it mine to fuck her?”

After a pause, she quietly replied, “No, but it will be judged if you don’t.”

“Meaning?”

“Most ‘men’ don’t deny free pussy.”

“Just because I’m not giving her cash hardly means it’s free.”

With my clothes, boots, and towel in her crossed arms, Justice slowly walked backward to lean her back against the wall. “No hang-up, eh? Some would say a young man not taking all that is offered ain’t right in the head.”

A demented chuckle escaped me as I grabbed a fresh bar of soap. “That’s just it, something isn’t.” Staring at her, I lathered up the bar and started scrubbing. “Wasn’t that knowledge in your research?”

“What exactly do you think is wrong with your noggin’?”

“Ain’t got answers to that loaded question but would love to know.”

“That sounds like… a lot of pressure.”

I rinsed off then walked to a shelf with folded towels. “The drowning kind.”

After I dried off, she handed me a new pair of jeans. “Thank you for trusting me.”

Slipping on the jeans, I thought about what I was or was not allowed to say. Zipping up my pants, I kept it simple, yet full of truth. “Thank you for seeing the young man in front of you and not the part of me running from his tragic past.”

With my new biker boots fitting perfectly, we turned off the lights and left the gym behind. Seeing it was already night time, I realized I had somehow lost a whole day, yet none of my memories. Nor would I lose any from this incredible night, as it was when I was officially given my cut. I was now a true Prospect of the Steel Stallions MC. Even after death, no one could have the power to take that memory from me.