The siren wailed, I looked into my rearview mirror just as the sheriff’s car closed in behind me and flipped on its lights. Shit. I slowed and drove just past the turnoff to my subdivision, the last thing I needed was someone seeing me get pulled over. Glancing at the clock on the giant center gauge in my MINI Cooper, it was barely past midnight, but it was officially my birthday. I put my car in park and waited for his approach. Looking around I had this sinking feeling in my stomach, that sense of apprehension that something was about to happen. This part of the road was deserted with no streetlights. For a second, I seriously considered calling Carter; he was a deputy, after all. Then I remembered that he wasn’t working this area tonight, so he wouldn’t be much help.

Damn it, Sophie, you should’ve stayed in a well-lit area. I was bitching myself out about my bad decision, knowing full well that it was too little too late. My mental lecture was interrupted by the man’s voice that came across a PA system. “Turn off the engine and step out of your car.”

My legs went numb, I threw my head back against the headrest and tried to take this all in as I fumbled to unbuckle my seatbelt. Oh, my God. This wasn’t right. It couldn’t be. Something was wrong. This wasn’t normal protocol. Unclasping my seatbelt was one of those things I did without thinking, but tonight it took every bit of brainpower just to find the damn button. Free from the restraint, I slid out from my vehicle.

“Close the door. Place your hands on your head and face away from me,” the steely voice ordered across the PA.

The beat of my heart increased, and I was positive that at any moment it was going to explode. I’d seen cops do things like that in movies just before they hauled the person off to jail. Only, I hadn’t done anything. There had to be some mistake. As I stood waiting in the dark with only the flickering lights behind me, eeriness seemed to surround me, and I started to panic at the thought that the man who just ordered me out of my car might not be an actual cop. Maybe he was a serial killer. I’d read about stuff like that happening, where some guy stole a car and then pulled over innocent people just to rape them or chop them up. I silently pleaded for God to please not let anything happen to me. I’d do anything—I’d be a better person, I’d start volunteering more, I’d go to church every week—if only I didn’t end up in jail or dead.

Feet crunched on the gravel shoulder of the road as the officer got closer. My body was electrified with the combination of fear and anticipation. Would he handcuff me? Taser me?

In an instant, his hands were on me, spinning me around until I was face to face with Officer Carter Lang. “Happy eighteenth birthday, Sophie,” he whispered as he pulled a small wrapped box from his pocket . . .

Another voice came across a PA system, this one waking me up. “Ladies and gentleman, please return your seats and tray tables to their upright position as we prepare for our descent into the Orlando International Airport.”

Apparently, I’d slept the entire flight from California. Pressing my hands against the armrests, I took several rapid breaths. That damn flight attendant. That motherfucking flight attendant. My dream was just getting to the good part. I rocked in my seat, remembering Carter’s smooth hand as he slid it into my—

The plane jerked as it touched down, braking to a speed slow enough to roll to the gate. I waited for the chime that signaled it was safe to remove my seatbelt before standing and grabbing my overhead bag. I stood in the aisle fidgeting, shifting my weight from leg to leg waiting for the slow-as-fuck attendants to open the damn plane door.

I couldn’t believe myself, that dream, even after ten years, he still filled my every fucking fantasy.

Maneuvering my way off the plane, I headed for the tram that would take me to the main concourse. People raced by me, I never understood why people ran, and scrunched in, climbing over each other as if this were the very last tram of the fucking day. Trying to keep my carry-on close against me, some asshat jumped in just as the doors were closing, causing the surrounding people to stumble. As everyone righted themselves and held on, the doors closed and we moved. A buzzing sound echoed around us filling the small acoustic car.

Buzzzzzzzz.

Heads turned as we all tried to find the culprit. A slow burn crept up my cheeks for whoever’s bag was going off, I could only imagine the humiliation boiling inside of them at this very moment. I mean, come on, it was obviously a vibrator. A quick glance around lets me know that clearly, I wasn’t the only one who thought so by the number of people grinning. Men in business suits were smirking and women were snickering.

A little boy near me knelt down to the front of my suitcase before looking up at me. And in his little boy voice that was too loud for such a small space said, “Lady, your bag is humming.” I froze as all heads turned to stare at me. What? There was no way. I didn’t travel with a vibrator, there was no way in hell I was having a TSA agent find something like that in my bag.

“Can’t be mine.” I dismissed the kid hoping that he’d go away.

“It’s your bag.” He placed his hand on my suitcase. “Mommy come feel, it’s her bag.”

Everyone watched me as I wracked my brain for what in the fuck could be vibrating, and the realization hit, my toothbrush. My motherfucking Crest Spinbrush toothbrush.

“Oh shit, it’s my toothbrush.”

“Surrre.” I heard one man say as others laughed at his comment.

I shot daggers at him. “No, I’m serious. It really is, it has to be.” Just as I was bending to unzip my bag and pull it out, the monorail came to a stop and people started to file off. In a last-ditch effort, I finally got my hand on the vibrating culprit and pulled it out, waving it in the air as if it were the baton for the relay at the motherfucking Olympics. But unfortunately, most people had moved on, leaving me as the lone survivor in the security area. I was sure there was some agent watching me on camera waving my toothbrush and wondering what the hell I was doing. Turning it off and then shoving it back in my bag, I swore to never travel with a vibrating toothbrush again.

I walked out of the secure area and headed toward ground transportation. Opening my phone, I sent a text to my cousin Ian to let him know that I was there. When I headed through the sliding doors, the squawking honk of a horn had me smiling at the silver sports car pulling up to the curb.

“Look at you, all grown up,” Ian said as he got out of his car and walked around to give me a hug before grabbing my bag and putting it in his trunk.

“You look sharp. It’s amazing how much we change in ten years, isn’t it?” I replied.

As Ian drove, I stared out the window, trying to see if Orlando felt different. Would I recognize everything or would the place be a circus?

“What’s that big Ferris Wheel?”

“The Orlando Eye, kind of like the London Eye. See where it is?”

I nodded. “Yeah, is that International Drive?”

“Yup. What’s someone going to see over there anyway, air conditioner units on the top of buildings? I can’t understand why they built that wheel there. Why not closer to Kennedy Space Center so people can see the ocean, the Space Shuttle, and actual pieces of American history?”

“You wouldn’t happen to be biased because you are a rocket scientist, would you?”

“Be quiet.”

Smiling, I turned back to the window and peered out at the passing landscape. This place, this town that I had always considered home, wasn’t any longer. I was the outsider. Twisting my head back and forth as I tried to take in all of the changes that surrounded me. The construction along Interstate 4 seemed to go on for miles. I wanted to get in my car and drive just to explore the town that at one time was my comfort place.

Ian turned onto Pente Loop. The last time I was here Ian’s dad, George, had just finished building my cousin Damon’s house, and now my other three cousins had homes along this same street as well. About midway down was a new street. I smiled when Ian turned into a driveway. My Uncle owned a construction company and had built my mom a pretty white stone house with pillars and a gray slate roof.

“Your mom has been dying to see you, she’s really missed you.” He put his car in park and opened his door. “Go on in, I’ll bring your bag.”

I looked at my mom’s house, which was where I would be staying until I found a place of my own. She’d always wanted me to live with her until I got married. At one time her dream was for me to stay close and have a house full of children. But it was time for me to grow up and be on my own. I loved her and wanted to live close by so wherever I moved it wouldn’t be far.

I’d stayed with her in California since she bought a large house when I was going through a bad time in my life and wanted to take care of me. But, moving back to Orlando was the perfect time for me to step out on my own.

Twisting the knob on the front door, I walked in and was greeted to the smell of honey, lemon, and Mediterranean spices, which made my stomach grumble even though I wasn’t hungry. It was the fragrance of home. Feeling Ian’s hand on my shoulder he escorted me out of the doorway and toward the back of the house to the kitchen.

“Aunt Dion, we’re here!” he yelled.

“You’re here. How was your flight?”

“Long. Taking the red eye sucks plus losing three hours, ugh.”

“I’ll leave and let you two catch up,” Ian said. “I’ve got to head into the office.” He leaned down and gave my mom a kiss on her cheek and then gave me a hug. “Glad to have you home, Soph.”

“Thanks, it’s good to be home. Thank you for the ride.”

I smiled up at him and it was like looking in a mirror, our eyes were the same shade of brown, our skin the same olive tone. Most of my life people assumed that I was the baby sister of the Christakos family instead of the cousin. But, since I was the only female cousin, I couldn’t imagine being the sister would be much different, the guys were protective and overbearing.

My mom reached for my hand and pulled me to her table. “I took the day off. Are you hungry, I can fix you something.”

“No, I’m fine. How do you like being back in the Orlando office?” I asked. My mom worked for Disney, and ten years ago when she transferred out to Anaheim, it was only supposed to be for a year. I was going to stay in Orlando and start college at UCF until she came back. But life never seemed to work out the way we intended. She ended up staying out there to take care of me. So, when the opportunity for her to move back was offered, I agreed to move with her. If I hadn’t she would had stayed in California and been torn. I couldn’t do that to her, she’d already given up so much for me.

“I love being back. Totally new buildings but so many of the same people. It’s nice being here, it’s home. Plus, I love having our family this close. Your Uncle George and Aunt Christine constantly come by, and I haven’t had to hire anyone to mow the yard since one of the boys always comes by and does it. It’s amazing having guy help and not having to hire it.” She laughed. “And wait until you see your house.”

“My house? I haven’t started looking yet.”

A wide smile spread across my mother’s cheeks from holding back her laughter. “George is an idiot,” Mom said. “But I love him dearly. It seems he took it upon himself to help you with that.”

I followed my mom out her front door and toward her neighbor’s house. It was a two-story yellow Victorian home, a life-size Barbie house with blue shingles that looked like fish scales. There was a giant wrap-around porch complete with a swing and rocking chairs. Peaked turrets were balanced on either side and a balcony in the middle.

“Obviously some full-time princess lives here,” I said, gesturing to the gorgeous monstrosity.

“According to your Uncle, the princess of the family will live here. You. That’s your house.”

“Seriously?” I knew my jaw was hanging open a bit, but I couldn’t help it.

Walking up to the front door, a small pang of loneliness squeezed my heart. This house was so large and it was just me, only me, all by myself, would only ever be me. But at the same time my insides were stirring because this house—oh my God, I had my own house— it was so large. There was no way that I’d ever fill it.

Pushing open the ornate wooden door, the scent of cinnamon and oranges wafted through the air and a pair of familiar green eyes met mine. Frozen at the threshold while I tried to take in the brunette with a pixie cut who was wearing biker boots and a Harley Davidson T-shirt. Although we hadn’t spoken since we graduated from high school, I’d recognize her anywhere. As if no time had passed, I threw my arms around her and basked in the realization that I was home.

My mom scooted around us and headed deeper into the house.

“Before you say anything,” my best friend since kindergarten said, “I had my name legally changed to Leo.”

I took a step back and checked her out from head to toe. “No more hideous skirts?” I asked.

Leo shook her head.

“No more weird religious shit that your mom shoves down our throats?”

Leo shook her head.

“And I can’t call you Leono—” My words were cut off by her hand covering my mouth.

“No. Absolutely not. I am just Leo.”

“I don’t care what you call yourself, I am just happy to see you. I have missed you so much.”

“Come on, let me introduce you to the others.” Leo led me into my house and right past my suitcase, which hadn’t even occurred to me that Ian hadn’t brought it into my mom’s house when he dropped me off.

In a rush of movement, two hands cupped my face and my head was forcibly tilted to the left, right, and back as Aunt Christine examined me close up. “It’s so good to see you! You are too thin.” She kissed my cheeks and walked back to wherever she came from.

Ahh, it was good to be home.

“We’ve been unpacking all of the boxes that your mom said were yours plus all the shit she and your Aunt Christine have bought you. The place is pretty well equipped.”

“Who’s ‘we’?”

A loud cough came from a woman stacking dishes on a shelf. “Sophie, this is Stella.”

“The one and only. I’ve heard a lot about you.” Stella stopped putting stuff away to meet me.

A redhead stood next to her, smile beaming, and I knew exactly who she was. “And you must be Ariel,” I said. “I am so glad to finally meet you. We’ve talked so much on the phone that I feel as if we know each other.” I wrapped her in a tight hug as if we’d been friends forever. She was engaged to my cousin Kayson, to Greeks that made her family.

“Let’s take a break.” Ariel’s Southern drawl was heavy and endearing. It didn’t take much for everyone to abandon their tasks.

I followed Leo and Stella over to a table where boxes of donuts were set out next to a carafe of coffee.

“Leo, you’re here, in my house, with my family and soon to be family, how?” I asked, shocked, never expecting to see my childhood best friend still involved with my family.

“I’m a mechanic. Well, actually a Harley Davidson mechanic. Kayson brought his bike in one day, and we recognized each other from all the times you and I were together.” Leo grabbed a donut and took a bite. “I met Ariel at a Harley event when she and Kayson reconnected and Stella’s brother is a motorcycle deputy with Kayson which is how I met Stella.”

I poured a cup of coffee, I was operating on very little quality sleep, and I didn’t want to be rude and yawn while Leo was explaining how they had all connected so I loaded up on caffeine.

“In fact, it was at that event we decided to form an all-girls motorcycle club.” The three of them laughed at some inside joke that I was obviously missing. “You know had we not met that night and formed our club, I wouldn’t be roped into helping you with your damn ball,” Leo said with a groan to Ariel but I could tell that she was teasing.

“Oh, you love me, admit it.” Ariel puckered up and pretended that she was going to give Leo a giant kiss. “Well, I’m so happy that Sophie agreed to be a participant for the fundraiser at the ball. It is going to be amazing.” Ariel gave Stella a weird look, her excitement over having my help with the ball seemed a little over the top. She reminded me of a spastic Pomeranian at that moment. Maybe it was just me because I was tired but I had this strange feeling that she and Stella were exchanging a silent conversation that I wasn’t privy to.

“I’m honored that you asked,” I replied a little skeptically as I watched her and Stella. “I love doing events, but most of the time, the events are full of kids. It will be a nice change of pace to get to talk to adults.” I'd been rehearsing that line, confident it was how I'd feel under normal circumstances. But not for this ball where Ariel decided it would be fun to hold an auction and the prize was me. I’d already committed to her event and my cousin was so appreciative of me helping her that I didn’t dare back out or I would have found a million and one ways to still be in California until after her ball.

“Not just adults. Adult cops. Let me tell you how hot some of the officers—” Stella was cut off by a sharp elbow to the ribs.

“Cool it, Stella.” Leo smiled and nodded to my mom, who was eyeing us as if she knew exactly what Stella just said.

Ariel just laughed. “Well, they are all excited to meet Kayson’s cousin. You’re apparently the talk of the station.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. Stella’s brother said that the guys have been relentless. They all want to know where he’s been hiding you.”

I fell silent, knowing that I hadn’t really been hiding but that my disappearing without a word was still hard on my whole family.

I managed a smile. “Well, I’m back. So, no more mystery, right?”

“Right,” Leo said. “And you can prove that by coming to Sixes with us tonight.”

“Sounds like a plan.” I had no idea what or where that was, but if my alternative was to hang out at this house alone, then I’d take them up on the invitation.

“Sophie, are you listening?” Ariel waved her hand in front of my face, pulling me from my thoughts.

“I’m sorry, what?”

“I said that you are going to love your office, wait until you see it.” She stood. “Come on, let me show you.” The four of us walked out of the kitchen and down a hall to a room that was clearly part of the turret. Though, from inside it was more of a hexagon shape with windows on every wall except one, that wall held French doors that opened up to the porch with a swing. “I can see you writing your opus there.” Ariel pointed to the desk that overlooked the backyard.

“You do understand that I write children’s books, for little children, right? My books aren’t exactly the great American novels. Little kids don’t have that kind of attention span.”

“I don’t care. It is still an inspiring room. I picked out the furniture,” Ariel defended with a smile, confident that I was going to be inspired here.

“It is gorgeous, thank you. You have excellent taste.”

“Well, I don’t give a rat’s ass about the office.” Stella flicked her wrist dismissing Ariel’s airy thought of writing grandeur. “I want to talk about Sophie officially becoming part of our gang.”

“We’re not a gang,” Ariel and Leo corrected Stella.

“Oh, whatever.” Stella ignored them.

“What is she talking about?” I gave Ariel and Leo a what-the-fuck look because I was totally lost.

“We”—Ariel pointed to herself then to Leo and Stella—“are part of an all ladies motorcycle club called the Iron Orchids. There are six of us right now. But we’re hosting a ladies only class in just over a week. And we’d love for you to come.”

“Yes. Yes. Yes,” Leo pleaded, now she was resembling the spastic Pomeranian.

“It’ll be fun. And since you and Ariel are practically family and you and Leo were obviously super close, that means we will be hanging out together a lot anyway,” Stella explained as if that was reason alone for me to join a gang.

I couldn’t get over the fact that these women rode motorcycles, it seemed so gritty and manly. I was a sundress and three-hundred-dollar ballet flats kind of girl, not a Harley woman.

“Just think about it. Come to class, you never know.” Ariel headed out of my office and back toward the kitchen.

I let out a yawn.

“You are coming with us tonight, right?” Leo questioned.

“Yeah, but I’d like to drive just in case I get exhausted and want to come home early.”

“How about if I come by here and you can follow me?” Ariel asked, offering up the perfect solution since she lived with my cousin Kayson less than a block away.

“Sounds good,” I replied between yawns.

“Let’s get out of here and you can get some rest. I’ll swing by just before seven.”

Hugging the girls goodbye, I escorted them to my front door and waited for them to leave before making my way into the kitchen to where my mom and aunt were busily talking.

“I need to sleep.” I bent and gave each one a kiss on their cheek before heading back out of the kitchen. I stopped in the doorway. “Umm, where’s my bedroom?”

The soft chuckle came from my mom before she said, “Upstairs and to the left.” My mom pointed using two fingers, her trained, Disney-style way of giving directions.

* * *

The best way for me to describe Sixes was to call it a taverna, it was part tavern, part restaurant. It had that distinct smell of fried food, wooden tables, and beer. The sounds of Adele rolled through the air as a DJ stationed up front kept music going. There was a parquet dance floor in the center, and a few pool tables off to one side. Walls held T-shirts from local law enforcement officers and helmets from local fire stations.

Ariel headed for the table in the corner where Leo, Stella, and a few other ladies I hadn’t met yet were already sitting.

“Everyone, this is Sophie; Sophie, this is everyone,” Leo said as way of introduction.

“Hi, I’m Piper, I work with Kayson at the sheriff’s office.” A pretty woman with strawberry blonde hair held out her hand.

Just as I pulled out a chair, a waitress came by and set a tray of shot glasses filled with all kinds of liquid in the center of the table. She informed us that the food would be right out, and then strode away to fill another order.

“Here,” Stella said, as she handed each of us a pink shot before I had a chance to meet the other ladies. “To Sophie coming home.” Everyone clinked their glasses and slammed their drink back. As they say “When in Rome.”

Hot wings and fries were delivered first, followed by cheese sticks and sliders a few minutes later.

“We all chip in at the end, so just grab what you want,” Leo whispered in my ear, obviously reading my confusion of the groups dining etiquette. Thankful, I nodded and then slid an appetizer plate closer before reaching for a slider.

“Hey, I need all of you to give me your advice. There is this new dumbass doctor running the ICU, and he hates me. I think that I need to switch floors.” Stella’s demeanor changed; she looked serious for the first time since I had met her that morning.

“First, just tell me, what did you do now?” Leo asked.

“He told me that I’m intimidating. Me? What the fuck? Me intimidating?”

“What did you say when he told you that?” Ariel’s smirk was enough to tell me that something was up, either Stella got into trouble a lot or there was a punchline coming.

“Nothing, I just stared at him until he apologized.”

I looked around our table, was she serious? I couldn’t contain it any longer, I burst out laughing. “You are whacked.” I leaned across the table and squeezed Stella’s hands.

“How long did it take you to come up with that joke? Girl you have more lines than AT&T,” Ariel said between hoots of laughter.

Any moment I was going to need some Dramamine from the motion sickness of going back and forth. They were a tennis match volleying their quips, but I loved the bond that was clearly evident and was a bit jealous. Leo had always been my best friend but I’d abandoned her just like I had. . .

“Don’t worry about it, Stella’s an acquired taste,” Leo said as she gave Stella a bright smile.

“You know what else is an acquired taste?” Stella replied drawing me back into their banter.

“Nooo.” Leo threw her hands up over her ears. “We’re eating and don’t need to discuss your sexual escapades.”

Stella let out an evil sounding cackle. “Just remember young Padawan, I always get the last word.”

Except for my editor, who lived in New York, I pretty much didn’t talk to anyone in my job, I was alone most of the time. Writing on the whole was a lonely career and it didn’t leave a ton of opportunities to meet people outside of the business. And since my fans were kids, it cut my connections even smaller.

“Are you ready for Saturday night?” Ariel leaned over and bumped my shoulder.

“As ready as a lamb being led to slaughter.” I mean, come on, what did she expect me to say? “Yay, I’m so excited that you are going to be auctioning me off for dinner and dancing to some sheriff’s deputy. Oh, by the way, there is a high probability of one of those guys being Carter, a guy I haven’t talked to in ten years but still dream about.”

Yeah, no. That wasn’t going to happen.