Ride With Me (Paige and Jace) novel Chapter 89

CHAPTER 55

ursday afternoon disappeared faster than I expected. Lawson Customs had been busy since opening and by the time I tightened the final bolt on an old touring motorcycle, my shoulders reminded me I’d been bent over engines for most of the day.

I wiped my hands on a clean rag just as Mia appeared in the workshop doorway with an amused smile.

“You’ve got plans tonight.” Mia said and I looked up.

“I do?” I asked and she held up her phone.

“You’ve received six messages.” She said.

“I’ve been working.” I said.

“I noticed. The wives have decided you’re coming whether you agree or not.” She laughed.

I pulled my phone from my back pocket and immediately understood what she meant. Emma,

Sophia, Rachel and Claire, two group messages and every one of them carried the same basic

instruction.

Be ready by six.

I smiled to myself.

“They’re very subtle.” I said and Mia nodded.

“It’s honestly impressive.” She said.

Ben wandered over carrying an air filter.

“What’s going on?” Ben asked.

“Girls’ night.” I said and he looked genuinely relieved.

“Excellent.” He said and I raised an eyebrow.

“Why are you saying excellent?” I asked.

“Because Hunter has been complaining all week that the club wives never organize anything.” He said and I frowned.

“That doesn’t explain why you’re happy.” I said.

“It means Hunter has to survive an evening with the rest of us.” Ben said and I laughed.

“Now I understand.” I said.

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AMPTER 55

By five thirty the garage was spotless, the day’s paperwork had been finished and Diesel had

already decided he was coming upstairs whether I invited him or not.

Ilimbed the stairs to my apartment, showered away a day’s worth of grease and dust, brushed my teeth and stood in front of my wardrobe wondering why choosing clothes suddenly felt more difficult than rebuilding an engine.

Diesel watched me from the bed with obvious confusion.

“What?” I asked and he tilted his head.

“I know jeans are easier.” I said and another head tilt.

“I also know Emma will complain if I wear workshop boots.” I said so his tail wagged once.

“I can’t believe you’re judging my fashion choices.” I said.

Twenty minutes later I settled on dark jeans, a soft blue sweater and white sneakers. Comfortable)

simple and exactly the way I liked it.

A horn sounded outside. Emma. So I locked the apartment and hurried downstairs where Emma

leaned out of the driver’s window.

“There she is.” Emma said.

“I was on time.” I said.

“You were. You even changed out of mechanic mode.” She said and she looked me up and down

dramatically.

“I own more than one outfit.” I said.

“I’ve heard rumors.” She said as I climbed into the passenger seat laughing.

“So where are we going?” I asked and Emma grinned.

“Bowling.” She said.

“I haven’t bowled in years.” I said.

“Perfect.” She said.

“Why?” I asked.

“It means we’ll probably beat you.” She said.

The bowling alley buzzed with music, conversation and the sound of bowling balls crashing into

pins.

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CHAPTER 55

Sophia stood near the entrance waving both arms dramatically the moment she spotted us.

“Finally. We’ve been waiting forever.” She said and Emma looked at her watch.

“We’re three minutes early.” Emma said.

“I know. I was excited.” She said and Rachel laughed.

“She’s had two lemonades and thinks she’s hosting a television show.” Rachel said.

“I absolutely am.” Sophia said as she pointed toward the lanes.

“Ladies, welcome to the First Annual Escape the Boys Championship.” She continued and Claire folded her arms.

“Did you make that title up in the car?” Claire asked.

“I’ve been planning it since breakfast.” Sophia said and I couldn’t stop smiling.

It had been years since I’d spent an evening like this. No engines, no invoices, no family drama. Just women enjoying each other’s company. Sophia tossed me a pair of bowling shoes.

“Rule number one.” Sophia said as I slipped them on.

“There’s a rule book?” I asked.

“There is now. No talking about work.” She said as she held up one finger and Emma nodded.

“Agreed.” Emma said so Sophia held up a second finger.

“No apologizing for having fun.” Sophia said and Rachel pointed at me.

“That one’s specifically for Paige.” Rachel said and I laughed.

“I feel attacked.” I said.

“You should.” Rachel said.

The first game began with exactly the level of dignity everyone expected. None.

Emma celebrated knocking down seven pins as though she’d won an international championship. Claire somehow bowled a gutter ball that bounced back and nearly hit Hunter’s imaginary pride, according to Sophia. When my turn arrived, I carefully lined up the shot and Sophia leaned toward Emma.

“Watch this.” Sophia said.

“What?” Emma asked.

“Mechanics calculate everything.” Sophia said.

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CHAPTER 55

I rolled my eyes before sending the ball smoothly down the lane. It struck cleanly. Strike. And the women groaned dramatically.

“knew it. She measured the lane.” Sophia declared.

“I absolutely did not.” I said.

“You definitely looked like you were solving algebra.” She said.

“I was aiming.” I said.

“Same thing.” She said.

Laughter echoed around the lane, and for the first time in what felt like forever, my sides genuinely hurt from smiling.

By the second game, the scores hardly mattered anymore. Emma celebrated every spare like she

had won the lottery, Sophia developed.a dramatic victory dance that somehow became more

ridiculous every time she used it and Claire laughed so hard after accidentally bowling into the

gutter three turns in a row that she nearly dropped the next ball before reaching the lane.

I couldn’t remember the last time I’d laughed this much.

While we shared a basket of hot chips and soft drinks between games, Sophia looked across the

table with a grin that immediately made me suspicious.

“You know what Paige hasn’t heard yet?” Sophia asked and Emma smiled knowingly.

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