Page 150 of Twins for Three Bad Boys

“I don’t paint,” I reply. “I finish.”

He gives me a look like he’s just tasted something good.

“Alright,” he says. “Convince me.”

I stand, wiping my hands on a rag.

“You want mean?” I say. “We black out everything. Powder coat the engine guards. Custom shorty exhaust. Stage two cam kit. Let it breathe.”

He leans in slightly.

“I’m hearing it,” he says. “What else?”

“Bar swap,” I continue. “Slightly lower. More control. Seat rewrapped. Minimal stitch. No chrome. No shine.”

Ashby nods slowly.

“You hear it already,” he says.

“I do.”

He grins.

“I’ll mock up a design,” I say. “Three days for parts. A week for full teardown and rebuild.”

“I’ve got an event in two weeks,” he says.

“It’ll be ready.”

He studies me for a long second. “You always this confident?”

“Only when I know I’m right.”

He laughs once. “Alright, Fletcher. She’s yours.”

We shake on it.

His grip is firm. Testing.

I don’t flinch.

When he leaves, Hank exhales loudly. “That was Ashby Knox.”

“Mm.”

“He’s like… small town famous.”

“Good for him.”

“You’re not even impressed.”

I look at the bike again.

“I’m interested in the machine,” I say.

Hank rolls his eyes.

I get to work.