Ride With Me (Paige and Jace) novel Chapter 147

CHAPTER 91-1

Saturday morning arrived with a completely different kind of energy and for the first time in weeks, I woke up thinking about something other than danger.

The regional motorcycle show was happening at the fairgrounds and Lawson Customs had been preparing for it for days.

I climbed out of bed, showered, brushed my teeth, and pulled my hair into a neat ponytail before getting dressed in jeans and a clean Lawson Customs shirt.

When I walked downstairs, Jace was already waiting with coffee.

“You ready?” He asked as I took the cup from him.

“I think so.” I said.

“You’ve been working on this bike for weeks.” He said.

“I know.” I said.

“You should be proud.” He said and I smiled.

“I am.” I said.

The motorcycle belonged to Uncle Will. It had been sitting in storage for years before I decided to restore it and every part of the process had brought back memories of him.

I had spent countless evenings cleaning parts, replacing damaged components, polishing metal and searching for pieces that were difficult to find.

It wasn’t just a motorcycle anymore. It was a piece of him.

We loaded it onto the trailer, secured everything carefully and drove toward the fairgrounds.

By the time we arrived, the parking area was already packed. Motorcycles lined the roads, vendors, had filled the outdoor spaces and music drifted through the air while hundreds of people moved between displays.

I stepped out of the truck and stared around me.

“That’s a lot of people.” I said and Jace smiled.

“You’re nervous.” He said.

“I’m not nervous.” I said.

“You are.” He said.

“I’m excited.” I said.

“You’re definitely nervous.” He said and I elbowed him.

“Stop.” I said and he laughed.

13

CHAPTER

+25 Pomts

We unloaded Uncle Will’s motorcycle and rolled it toward our assigned display area. The bike looked incredible beneath the morning sunlight.

The restored chrome gleamed, the leather seat looked almost new and every mechanical detail had been carefully repaired. Mia came and stood beside me.

“Your uncle would love this.” She said.

“I hope so.” I said and she smiled.

“He’d be proud.” She said and I looked at the motorcycle.

“I’d like to think he would.” I said.

Throughout the morning, people stopped constantly. Some admired the paintwork. Others asked about the engine and several older riders recognized the model and began telling stories about similar motorcycles they had owned.

One man spent almost fifteen minutes examining the restoration.

“Who did this?” He asked and I smiled.

“I did.” I said and he looked surprised.

“You’re the mechanic?” He asked.

“Yes.” I said.

“That’s impressive.” He said.

“Thank you.” I said.

Another couple stopped and asked about the history of the bike. I told them about Uncle Will, and they listened carefully.

“He must have meant a lot to you.” The woman said.

“He did.” I said and she smiled.

“Then you’ve restored more than a motorcycle.” She said as her words stayed with me after they walked

away.

Jace remained nearby for most of the afternoon, although he deliberately kept his distance because he wanted me to enjoy the event without constantly feeling watched.

Every time I looked toward the crowd, I found him there.

Proud. Supportive and smiling. At one point, I walked over to him.

“You keep staring at me.” I said.

“I like watching you.” He said.

“You’ve been doing it all day.” I said.

< CHAPTERST

I’m not cornplaining.” He said and I laughed.

“You know you’re supposed to be looking at the motorcycle.” I said.

“I’ve already seen the motorcycle.” He said.

“And?” I asked.

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