CHAPTER 26
LUCKY
We stopped at a truck stop, just outside of Sacramento.
With seventeen bikers, Becky, a few drivers, the crew and myself, we formed a circus of entertainment for the truckers and other customers. Some of the guys stretched their legs outside, smoking and huddling up in a circle to chat. Others strolled around the store, stocking up on candy bars and beef jerky and whatever else huge hunky guys used for fuel. Outside of Ryder, Riot and Ziggy, the others were keeping their distance, offering not much more than a polite nod or smile.
Ziggy followed me around like a puppy dog at my heels.
“I love truck stop coffee,” I said, watching as a thick, dark stream of the stuff poured into a styrofoam cup. “It’s like speed.”
Ziggy smiled at me briefly, then went back to scanning the store like a dutiful bodyguard. Grabbing my coffee, I walked up and down the aisles, filling my arms with snacks until I couldn’t carry any more.
“Here,” I said, shoving them towards Ziggy. His hands and arms were so much bigger than mine, therefore able to hold a lot more. He took them with a disgruntled smile.
“It’s only gentlemanly,” I said, winking at him.
“I’d rather keep my hands free for combat,” he said.
“Combat?” I burst out laughing, despite the fact that I knew he was dead serious.
“I told you I don’t intend on making any more mistakes.”
“Right,” I nodded. I grabbed a nearby hand basket and began taking the items from him and placing them in the basket.
“Thanks,” he said.
“Of course,” I said, shoving the basket into his hands now and turning away.
“Where are you going?” he asked.
“To the ladies room,” I said, laughing over my shoulder. “Go pay for that stuff. I’ll be right out.”
“Lucky, I’m not leaving you alone,” he said.
I stopped and turned around to face him.
“You’re going to come in the bathroom with me?”
“Well, no!” he replied.
“Then unless you want to call for a clean-up on aisle three, I’m going to the ladies room.” I turned away and started walking again.
“I’ll stand outside,” he said, shuffling behind me. I rolled my eyes, but kept going. When I reached the door of the ladies room, he stopped behind me.
“I’ll be a few minutes,” I said. “Don’t come in unless I scream.”
“Right,” he nodded. “I’ll be right here.”
I walked in and couldn’t help but smile. He was so fucking adorably earnest that it only made me like him more.
The door opened and a blonde woman walked in, flashing me a movie-star smile. She walked up to the mirror beside me and pulled out a tube of bubblegum pink lipstick. Pursing her lips she smeared it on her bottom lip, then her top, looking over at me afterwards and smiling again.
“Did you see those guys? With the leather?”
I nodded.
“The one right outside the door? Holy shit, I’d like to take a ride on his bike, if you know what I mean.”
I laughed and nodded, “I know what you mean.”
She laughed and turned to me, cocking her head to the side.
“You look familiar,” she said. “Are you famous or something?”
“Nope,” I replied, shaking my head, “not really.”
I didn’t have any makeup on and my hair was up in a messy bun, and sometimes in the right light, I looked like a completely different person than my stage persona.
“Well, if you get a chance to jump on that big boy’s bike, you should take it,” she winked.
I nodded, again, remembering what it felt like to ride Ziggy’s bike. Literally and figuratively. A blush crept up my cheeks as the woman walked back to the door. She turned back to me, flashing me that million-dollar smile again.
“Life is short, you know? You gotta take all the opportunities you can get.”
“That’s true,” I agreed.
“Have a good day,” she said, blowing me a quick kiss and letting the door close behind her. I turned back to the mirror, looking at my reflection, wishing for just one day I could go out without someone recognizing me.
Longing for the seclusion of the tour bus, I finished up and walked back outside to find Ziggy standing exactly where I’d left him.
“I’ll be in the bus,” I said. “Can you bring that stuff with you?”
“Wait,” he said, rushing away, shoving all the stuff in Blade’s hands, barking orders at him to pay for it, and then rushing back to my side. “Let’s go.”
“You weren’t kidding by sticking by me.”
“Do I look like a man who doesn’t keep his word?”
“No, you do not,” I laughed, threading my arm through his and walking back to the bus with him.