“Good,” I said.

“Good?” he asked as he moved closer to the counter.

I nodded my head and considered what I should say next. As I searched my mind for the right words, he began to speak.

“I didn’t have a dad growing up. My mom and my aunt raised me. She drilled it into my head; you know, waiting for sex and making sure it was the right person when it happened. She didn’t so much get hung up on the need for marriage, but she said giving yourself to someone should be special, and if you gave yourself away freely, you must not consider yourself worth much,” he half-whispered.

I considered what he said. After giving myself to anyone who had a $10 bill for four years, I felt worthless, cheap, and dirty. Now, having gone the longest period in my life without actually having sex, I was beginning to feel as if I was truly worth something, and with each passing day, my value increased.

“I couldn’t agree with her more,” I said as I opened my arms.

As we embraced, I moved my mouth to his ear.

“Cade,” I whispered.

“Yeah,” he responded.

“You’re priceless,” I breathed.

And I meant every word I said.

ETHAN

Ever since I punched Jake in the jaw, my Saturdays had become filled with more work. In the past, we had left Saturdays open, allowing customers to come in at will for repair and service. Now, it was almost as if the policy had changed, having repairs scheduled well beyond the half-days we were supposed to be opened. Additionally, Jake and I were to alternate Saturdays, leaving one of us off work every other weekend. I had, however, worked all three Saturdays since our incident.

I glanced up at the clock. It was 9:30. After coming in two hours early, I had finished the installation of new exhaust and replacing a starter on the bike he had scheduled. Another customer had brought his bike in for an oil leak, and was waiting patiently as I pulled the first bike out onto the lot.

I walked to the customer’s bike and bent down looking at the underside for a leak. The only leak that was apparent was a terrible leak from the primary.

“Looks like a primary leak. I’ll need to pull the outer and inner primary and reseal them. It may take a shaft seal, but I’ll just have to see,” I said as I stood.

There was a poker run with the last bike out at 10:30, and if there was a way, I sure wanted to try and go.

“When can you have it?” he asked.

“Monday, say 10:30 in the morning?” I asked, “I’ll come in early.”

“Sounds good to me. My wife followed me. Can I just leave it?” he asked.

I nodded my head, “Absolutely. Just leave the keys with me and I’ll put it inside.”

“The ignition’s unlocked, but here’s the key,” he said as he handed me the key.

“Sounds good. Just stop in Monday, I’ll have it ready,” I said.

As I walked into the shop, I smiled at the customer waiting on the repair of the first bike.

“Okay, exhaust is on, and the starter is replaced. Sounds good and the starter hits every time. No worries,” I said.

“Well, you brought in the starter and the exhaust, let’s call it $300 even,” I said.

“Sounds good,” he said as he reached into his wallet.

After paying me three one hundred dollar bills, he walked out to his bike, started it, and sped off. I looked around the shop and into the parking lot. After a quick check of the clock provided a time of day, I pushed the second bike into the bay and glanced around the shop.

I desperately wanted to ask Rain if she wanted to go with me to the poker run, but hadn’t done so yet. Her not having a phone was somewhat of an inconvenience, but very understandable considering all things. After washing my hands and locking the shop, I started my bike, and began the twenty minute ride home.

If everything went well, I should have a few minutes to spare.

The ride home was a typical traffic-free Saturday, and after a quick elevator ride, I was unlocking the door with thirty minutes left.

When I stepped into the house, Rain and Cade were sitting on the couch watching television.

“You fucking bums, it’s gorgeous outside,” I sighed.

“We’re watching Ink Masters on Netflix,” Cade said over his shoulder.

“Seems kind of ironic, neither of you have tattoos,” I laughed.

“Rain, I’ve got a poker run in thirty minutes. I was wondering if you wanted to come with me,” I asked as I walked in front of the couch.

She continued to stare at the television blankly.

“What’s a poker run,” she asked.

I stepped between her and the television.

“It’s a bunch of motorcycles in a run from city to city. Roughly, I don’t know, 200 miles. Takes about 6 hours. You ride to each town and get a random card assigned to you from a deck of cards, and when you’re done, the best poker hand wins. It’s a lot of fun, and right now, it’s 85 degrees, no wind, and sunny. Perfect day,” I explained.

“Oh, wow. Sounds fun,” she said as she turned to face Cade.

As she waited for what seemed to be Cade’s approval, I shrugged my shoulder and took a step rearward.

“Okay with you if she misses the Ink Masters, Bro?” I asked sarcastically.

“Okay by me,” Cade shrugged.

“You sure,” Rain asked.

“Sure. Go, have fun,” Cade said as he switched the television off.

“I’ll go for a run. I need to anyway,” he said as he stood from the couch.

“You sure?” she asked again.

Jesus, seriously?

“Sure. Go,” he responded.

She jumped from the couch, ran across the living room and up the stairs.

“What do I wear?” she asked over the handrail.

I considered her options. Although we had made it to the mall and got her some new underwear, she had yet to get to the DAV and get any shorts or jeans.

“Your black pants,” I responded, “I like those.”

“Okay, me too,” she responded as she disappeared into the room.

After no more than a minute, she came running down the stairs with her hair in a ponytail; wearing one of my V-neck tee shirts, her black pants, and sneakers. She looked adorable. With her tattered aviator sunglasses, she was ready to go. It amazed me that although every other woman I had ever known needed to carry a purse chock full of everything under the sun, Rain didn’t so much as need to even carry anything other than what she chose to wear.

“Ready?” I asked as she came to a stop at my feet.

She extended her arms and spun in a circle, “Yep.”

“See you about four o’clock or so,” I said toward Cade’s room.

“See you in a bit,” Rain yelled.

“Sounds good,” Cade responded.

After riding to the gas station a block away and filling up with gas, we rode three blocks to the Biker’s Edge shop. What appeared to be roughly 100 bikes filled the lot. As we pulled in, all heads turned in our direction.

Nothing against bikers or their respective Ol’ Ladies, but there weren’t many places Rain could go that she wouldn’t be considered the cutest woman in attendance. She was without a doubt the most attractive woman I had ever seen. I’d told myself early on it was her eyes, but even seeing her from afar caused me to stare. No one could dispute the fact she was beautiful, but that perception of beauty would be based primarily on her facial features. To witness her living life, however, one would have to agree - she was simply adorable.

The people who were gawking in our direction as I parked the bike were a perfect example of what I expected Rain would have to deal with for her entire adult life. All eyes were fixed on her.

“I think they like your bike,” she said as I switched off the ignition.

“No, it’s you they’re staring at,” I said as she got off the bike and moved to my left.

“I don’t think so,” she sighed as she peered over her shoulder and into the crowd of bikers.