Pee Bee

It was a typical sunny So-Cal morning. We stood in the parking lot, preparing to pull out for the two-hour trip to Palm Springs. Forty bikes, neatly parked side by side, filled the lot.

Crip positioned himself beside the bikes, up against the building. “Listen up, fellas!”

The crowd went silent.

“In today’s traffic, this is going to be a short little run, about two hours up, two there for lunch, and two back. There’ll be no stops. If you’re riding, you know the rules about pulling over, but I’ll remind you anyway, don’t fuckin’ do it. Lunch is meat, served with a side of meat, so if your Ol’ Lady’s a vegan, you’re out of luck. As always, colors in the front, colors in the back. Sicko, you’ve got sweeper duty. Any questions?”

He looked around the crowd and then nodded. “We’ll saddle up in about twenty.”

“What’s sweeper duty? Can I ask that?” Tegan whispered.

“He’ll be in the back, trailing behind the formation. In case someone wrecks or falls out of rank with a broken down bike. Sweeps up the mess. Sweeper duty.”

“And we’re up front here, with Crip?”

“Right behind him. Him and the road captain will be in the front. We’re right behind them.”

Peyton walked up the side of the bike and stood quietly behind Tegan.

“Tegan, I want you to meet someone.”

Tegan smiled. “Okay.”

I gripped her shoulders and turned her around. “This is Peyton. Peyton, this is Tegan.”

Peyton smiled and shook Tegan’s hand. “Nice to meet you.”

“Really nice to meet you, too. Have you been to many of these?”

Peyton nodded. “A few. It’s fun. They call it a short run, it’s not. Two hours solid. But it’s exciting. Wait till you hear all the bikes fire up. It’ll get your blood going.”

“My blood’s already going,” Tegan said. “I’m excited.”

“She’ll be in front of us, riding with Crip,” I said.

“Cool.”

“It was nice to meet you,” Peyton said.

“Nice to meet you, too.”

Tegan turned toward me. “She’s nice.”

“She’s nicer than that,” I said.

“What do you mean?”

“You see. In time. Nobody’s going to be too nice to you today, because they don’t know if you’ll be around for long. They don’t want to try and buddy up to you, and then never see you again.”

“Oh.” She made a pouty face. “Am I going to be around for long?”

She wasn’t going anywhere unless she wanted to, but convincing her seemed impossible. “If I got any say in it, yes.”

“Who else has a say?”

“You.”

“Anybody else?”

I shook my head. “Nope.”

She grinned. “Okay.”

“If you need to use the bathroom, you better do it now.”

“I’m okay.”

“You sure?”

“Positive.”

“We won’t be stopping.”

“Even if I have to pee?”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “Even if you have to pee.”

“Let me see what I can do, then.”

“Far left side of the shop,” I said. “In the back.”

“Be back in a minute.”

Within a few seconds of her walking away, Crip emerged. “That’s her, huh?”

“That’s her.”

“Cute little bitch.”

I nodded. “She ain’t bad.”

“How old is she?”

“Same as Peyton,” I said.

He crossed his arms. “She up for this ride?”

“It’s two fucking hours, Crip. We ain’t going to Canada. She’ll be fine.”

“So, what’s this about?” he asked. “Is this revenge for the bike, or something else?”

I shrugged one shoulder. “Something else.”

He dropped his eyes to the ground, cleared his throat, and looked up. “See it lasting?”

“Yep.”

He glanced over his shoulder. “She isn’t anywhere near here. It’s just you and me, Peeb.” He cocked an eyebrow. “You see it lasting?”

I nodded. “Sure do.”

“Until?”

I glanced toward the shop and then at Crip. “Whether or not it lasts with her, I guess I’ll find out in time. But I’m done being the person I was. I know that.”

“What do you mean?”

“I ain’t screwing around with women like I was.”

He barked out a laugh and shook his head. “Oh really?”

“Yep.”

“And, why’s that?”

I wasn’t in the mood to tell him of the long discussion my father and I had, nor did I think that he’d believe me if I took the time to try and explain. He’d simply criticize me and laugh.

I shrugged. “Lots of reasons.”

“Like?”

“Look, Crip. I like this chick. That’s all that matters. Give me a chance.” I noticed her walking toward us, and tilted my head in her direction. “And give her one too.”

He pursed his lips and gave a shallow nod.

Tegan stopped fifteen feet or so from where we were standing and waited. He must have sensed her.

He glanced over his shoulder. “If you aren’t afraid of him, you’ve got no reason to be afraid of me,” he said flatly.

She stepped to our side and pushed her hands deep into the pockets of her jeans. It was the same nervous gesture she’s made that day on the highway after the wreck. As she forced a slight smile and swiveled her hips back and forth, he turned to face her.

“Name’s Navarro,” he said. “You can call me Crip.”

She nodded once. “Okay.”

He waited a few seconds for her to introduce herself, but she didn’t. She simply stood there and looked at him as if sizing him up. He returned her stare, stone-faced.

I’d warned Tegan of what Crip might call her, and wondered if she was reluctant to introduce herself, only to have Crip call her something else.

The stare-off continued for a few more seconds, but it seemed like forever. I tried to keep from laughing. Whichever one spoke first would be the loser. My money was on Crip walking away without another word. About the time I guessed he’d turn away, his mouth curled into a smirk.

He shook it off.

“You got a name?” he asked dryly.

“Name’s Tegan,” she said straight-faced. “But you can call me Crash.”

I tried to keep a straight face, but couldn’t. As I coughed out a light laugh, he glared at me and then looked at her.

He exchanged glances between us, met her stone-faced stare, and then shook his head. “Fucking comedienne, huh?”

She held his gaze and shrugged. “It just comes naturally.”

He looked at me. “You two are fucking perfect for each other.”

And he walked away.