Ride With Me (Paige and Jace) novel Chapter 30

CHAPTER 19-2

CHAPTER 19-2

Uncle Will would’ve answered differently.” I said and Jace looked interested.

“How?” He asked.

“He would’ve told you the story about the lawn mower.” I said.

“The one you set on fire?” He asked and I laughed.

25 Powita

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“No. That was a completely different mechanical disaster.” I said.

“There were multiple?” He asked.

“There were…several.” I said as I settled into a chair opposite him.

“When I was fourteen, I decided I could rebuild the engine on his old riding mower without reading

the manual.” I added.

“I can already tell this ends badly.” He said.

“I put the pistons on backwards.” I said.

“Wow. That’s impressive.” He said.

“I prefer ambitious.” I said.

“I imagine your uncle had another word for it.” He said.

“He walked into the garage, looked at the pile of parts and looked at me and asked if I was inventing a brand new engine. When I admitted what I’d done, he didn’t yell. He handed me the

manual.” I said.

“And?” Jace asked.

“He said, ‘The smartest mechanics aren’t the ones who never make mistakes. They’re the ones

who admit them before the engine explodes.” I said and Jace smiled.

“He sounds like a good man.” Jace said.

“The best.” I said.

For a moment the sadness faded beneath the warmth of the memory. Talking about Uncle Will always did that. He had a way of making even my biggest failures feel like lessons instead of

disasters.

We eventually headed back toward the clubhouse after Hunter texted Jace, claiming there was

leftover pie that would mysteriously disappear if nobody arrived soon.

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CHAPTER 19-2

Hunter wasn’t exaggerating.

By the time we walked through the clubhouse doors, half the dessert was already gone.

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“I leave you people alone for two hours and somehow you’ve demolished three pies.” Jace said

and Hunter pointed at Derek.

“He had two slices.” Hunter said.

“I had one and a half.” Derek said.

“You were negotiating for a third.” Hunter said.

“I was exploring my options.” Derek said.

Laughter echoed around the room while Emma carried another pot of coffee to the table.

As I sat beside Emma, I noticed several amused glances bouncing between me and Jace and

Hunter noticed me noticing.

“What?” I asked and he grinned.

“Nothing.” He said.

“That sounded suspiciously like something.” I said.

“It didn’t.” Hunter said and Derek leaned back in his chair.

“Our president has developed a remarkable interest in motorcycle maintenance.” Derek said and

Jace sighed.

“I own motorcycles.” Jace said and Hunter nodded dramatically.

“And somehow every one of them suddenly needs inspecting twice a week.” Hunter said.

“They’re expensive.” Jace said and I looked over at Jace.

“I think they’re making fun of you.” I said.

“They definitely are.” Jace and and Emma smiled over the rim of her muf.

“It’s about time someone did.” Emma said and Jace simply shook his head while everyone else

laughed.

I couldn’t help joining in and watching the club tease their own president without anyone taking offense reminded me how comfortable they all were with each other.

The teasing wasn’t cruel. It was affection disguised as sarcasm. And I understand that language.

Later that evening I returned to the garage and climbed the stairs to my apartment and notice a

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