Juliet scanned the bleachers and I waved to capture her attention. Her gaze finally landed on us and she beamed the brightest smile. Dex was busy taking photos. Thank fuck one of us remembered. At one of the middle rows, Juliet stopped and let a few of her classmates go ahead of her, waiting for Vienna. They giggled and hugged before taking seats next to each other.

  “They swap spots?” Dex asked me.

  “So they could sit together, yeah.”

  He chuckled and snapped a few more pics.

  “Roman?”

  I turned and grinned at Pip who stood in the aisle, nervously shifting from foot to foot and biting his lip. “What’re you doing here?”

  “They let us come to the ceremony to see the older kids.” He flailed his arms toward the field. “But I snuck away to look for you.”

  Guilt washed over me. I should’ve asked Juliet about Pip.

  I stood to make room for him to pass but he flung himself against me, hugging tight. Damn, the kid practically cleared my chin now.

  “Look at you! What’d you do, grow about a foot taller?” I returned the hug, not caring that people were giving us weird looks. “You doing okay?”

  “Yeah. It’s not too bad.”

  “Good.” I patted his back and pulled away, motioning for him to sit next to me.

  I introduced him to Dex and they shook hands. Dex didn’t ask why the kid was sitting with us, just accepted his presence.

  The ceremony dragged and the speakers droned on and on but I managed to tune most of it out. A pang of regret struck me halfway through the speeches. If things hadn’t gone to shit, I would’ve been sitting right next to Juliet waiting to accept my own diploma.

  I shook off the useless regret. What was done was done. I had my GED. That’s all that mattered. It’s not like I had parents or a family who gave a damn about watching me march across some stage.

  “Juliet Hayworth,” the principal announced.

  The three of us stood up and cheered.

  From the stage, Juliet turned and waved in our direction. She smiled wide and said something to the principal before hurrying down the stairs and back to her seat.

  There were a lot of kids to get to between Hayworth and Zimmerman. I squirmed and sweated in my seat, wishing I could scoop Juliet up and run away.

  Finally, it ended. The graduates threw their caps in the air. The noise of people shouting for their kids and students yelling for their friends rose to a thundering cloud around us.

  “Thank fuck,” Dex groaned. “I thought it would never end.”

  “Amen,” I muttered.

  “I better get back before they notice I’m gone.” Pip stood. “I want to congratulate Juliet, so I’ll find you guys in the crowd, okay?”

  “All right, buddy.”

  He gave me another hug before hurrying away.

  “Nice kid,” Dex said.

  “I feel bad I haven’t been around to look out for him.”

  “Well, you’re home now.” He slapped my shoulder and stood. “Come on, grab your purse. Let’s go find our graduate.”

  I rolled my eyes and slung Juliet’s tote bag over my shoulder. Dex easily pushed his way through the crowd, clearly not giving a crap about the people who side-eyed his leather cut and biker patches.

  A short blonde jumped in front of him at the bottom of the bleachers, blocking our path. She hugged him in a way that looked more like a jungle cat marking her territory—rubbing her breasts up against his chest and arms. It was not family-appropriate and awkward as hell to witness.

  “Is this your son?” she asked with wide eyes, pointing at me with one long, red fingernail.

  “No. Good to see you, Courtney. We gotta find someone.” He wrapped an arm around my shoulders and tugged me away without an introduction.

  “Girlfriend?” I asked.

  “No.” He raised an arm and waved. “Juliet!”

  His voice easily carried over the rest of the noise. Juliet turned and ran, dodging her classmates until she reached us. She launched herself into my arms and I caught her, swinging her around wildly. “So proud of you, baby.”

  “I thought I was going to trip when I went down the stairs.” She turned and motioned toward the stage.

  “Couldn’t tell,” I assured her, setting her down. “You want your other shoes?”

  “Not yet.” She beamed at Dex. “Thank you for being here. I’m sure it was boring as heck for you.”

  “Wouldn’t miss this for anything, Julez.” He picked her up and kissed her cheek. “Real proud of you, peanut.”

  “Thank you.”

  Vienna dragged her snooty-looking parents over to greet us. The mom was an older, bonier version of Vienna. Her dad twitched and stared at his daughter—he looked more like a confused grandpa, than a proud father.

  Mr. Broom worked his way through the sea of students and families to greet us. He smiled broadly when his gaze landed on me and held out his hand.

  “Good to see you, Roman.”

  Surprised he even remembered me, I took a moment to shake his hand. “Thanks. Uh, you too.”

  He moved closer and added in a lower voice, “I know things have been unstable and I’m sorry I couldn’t do more…I don’t know what your plans are, but I hope you’ll still find creative outlets. You have a lot of talent, Roman. Don’t forget that.”

  Shock froze my tongue. So many people had let me down in life, I’d lost count. Mr. Broom wasn’t one of them. “Thanks, Mr. Broom. I learned a lot from you. Your classes were my favorite during my short time here.” I hesitated, not sure this would make him feel any better. “Got a motorcycle I’m planning to customize with a little artwork, if that counts.” I mimed painting with a tiny brush in the air and he laughed.

  “That absolutely counts. Feel free to send me pictures.”

  “Thanks, I will.”

  He turned toward Juliet. “I know you’ve got your heart set on nursing but you’re also a fantastic photographer. I hope you’ll find time to keep developing that skill.” His lips quirked at the pun.

  “Thank you, Mr. B.” Juliet blushed and glanced my way. “Sounds like I’ll be taking photos of Roman’s bike.”

  “Excellent.” Mr. Broom let out a hearty laugh. Juliet introduced him to Dex and they shared a few words before he moved on to other students.

  “I don’t think the school knows how lucky they are to have him,” Juliet said as she watched him stop to talk to his students.

  “Probably not,” Dex said. “The good ones usually get shafted in favor of the ass-kissers. I’m sure it’s no different in education.”

  Well, if that didn’t sum up my life experiences so far, I didn’t know what would.

  Chapter Sixty-Two

  Juliet

  High school graduate.

  Somehow it all felt so anti-climactic. The weight of my future and what it might hold pressed down on me as soon as I accepted my diploma. One thing I knew for certain, I wanted Roman in my life.

  “Do you mind if I stop by my locker?” I asked him. “I think I left a few notebooks in it and don’t want them thrown out.”

  Dex glanced at his watch. “I have a reservation for us for dinner—”

  “You do?” I cringed at my shrill tone. But all week long, I’d listened to other students bragging about where their parents were taking them to dinner after graduation.

  “Yes, peanut.” He turned and glanced at Vienna and her family busy talking to the principal. “Do you want to invite your friend and her parents?”

  “No, that’s okay.” I grabbed Roman’s hand. “Just the three of us together would be nice.” I loved that the two most important men in my life got along so well.

  I held Roman’s hand as we made our way through the school’s poorly lit hallways. It seemed so empty and foreign. Yesterday, I belonged. Today, I felt like an intruder.

  When we reached my locker, Roman traced his finger over the scarred black metal. His lips curved. “This is where we met.”

  A warm, happy sensation fluttered in my chest. “How could I forget? You were trying to break into my locker.”

  He let out a rich, rumbling laugh. “Wish I knew who messed up my locker assignment so I could thank them.”

  “We would’ve met anyway.” I squeezed his arm.

  Dex sighed and shifted.

  “Sorry, Uncle Dex. Didn’t mean to get all mushy in front of you.” I laughed and opened my locker. My stack of notebooks was on the top shelf. I grabbed them and stuffed the pile into my tote bag. Even though I had a perfectly clear view of my empty locker, I peered inside, checking the top shelf to make sure I wasn’t missing any stray items.

  “You sad to be leaving high school?” Dex asked.

  I closed my locker door and considered the question. “I don’t know if sad is the right word. It felt like it took forever but also like I was a freshman yesterday.”

  Dex pinched his lips together, like he was trying not to laugh. “Hate to burst your bubble, but that’s a pretty accurate description of life in general.”

  “I guess so.”

  We left the building and headed to the back parking lot. Many of my classmates were celebrating by screaming and running around like animals. Dex’s bike was a few spaces away from my car.

  “We’ll follow you, okay Uncle Dex?”

  “Yup.” He gave Roman the address in case we were separated.

  Roman was quiet as we settled into the car. “Was it weird for you to be here today?” I asked. How had that not occurred to me sooner?

  He blew out a long breath before answering. “A little bit. I’ve been to so many different schools. But at this one, I was actually happy for a while.”

  I reached over and slid my hand over his. “I want to make you as happy as you make me.”

  He squeezed my fingers. “You already do.”

  Roman

  For someone who looked so rough around the edges, Dex sure had expensive taste. The restaurant he’d picked featured a giant fountain out front. The prices on the menu made my eyes bug out.

  We were finishing dessert when Juliet excused herself. “I’ll be right back.” She brushed a quick, sweet kiss against my cheek.

  Dex watched her with an amused smile stretched across his face.

  I waited until she disappeared around the corner, then leaned forward to pull out my wallet. “Let me—”

  “Put that away.” He drilled me with a stern stare and I jammed the wallet back into my pocket.

  “I just—”

  “I appreciate it. But I invited both of you.”

  “Thanks,” I mumbled, feeling stupid. I shifted my gaze to the large window next to our table. The fountain out front was now lit up in a rainbow of colors.

  A couple, maybe a few years older than Juliet and me, stood in front of the fountain. The guy suddenly dropped to one knee and held out his hand to the woman.

  Damn, this would be a nice place to propose. Since finding the ring, I’d been thinking of different ways to ask the question. Once I had the money to actually bring the ring home, anyway.

  Dex must’ve noticed my wistful expression.

  He chuckled. “Don’t tell me you were planning to propose to Juliet tonight, princess.”

  “Nope. Today’s all about her.” I flashed an evil grin. “I picked out a ring and put a deposit on it yesterday, though.”

  “That’s what you did the day you got released from jail?” Even in his hushed voice, his amused disbelief was easy to detect.

  “Damn right.” A slower smile tilted my lips up. “Don’t worry. We celebrated in other ways, too.”

  He scowled. “Don’t make me toss you in that fountain, kid.”

  “I’m hoping to have it paid off by the end of the summer.”

  He nodded but sadness seemed to settle over him, replacing the teasing atmosphere. Desperate to return to our light banter, I asked, “Do I need to get your permission or something, first?”

  One corner of his mouth lifted but the sorrow etched into his face didn’t disappear completely. “Nah. Already told you, I’m not her dad.” He glanced the way Juliet had gone. “Besides, she’s fully capable of making her own decisions.”

  “Yes, she is.”

  Juliet reappeared, hurrying to our table. “Did you see the couple outside getting engaged?” she gushed as she dropped into her chair. “They’re so sweet.” She clasped her hands under her chin, her lips tilting into a dreamy smile.

  Dex caught my eye and smirked.

  Damn, I really wish I had that ring now.

  Chapter Sixty-Three

  Roman

  Beads of sweat crawled down my forehead but I kept working. It was early August and I almost had the ring paid off. Rock’s garage was slammed with people bringing their bikes in for last-minute upgrades before some big rally up north at the end of the month. I didn’t care about the details, I just wanted to keep those sweet dollar bills stacking up.

  Rock worked me hard but treated me fairly. He paid damn well, too.

  “Jesus,” Bricks groaned as he squatted on the cement floor next to me. “What’s this RUB got you doing to his weekend ride now?” He patted the pristine leather seat of the custom orange Street Glide.

  “Cold air intake.”

  He nodded. “Should bring an extra five per cent bump in power or so.”

  “That’s what Rock said.” I tapped the gas tank. “Adding an External Breather System too.”

  “As you should.” He patted my shoulder. “So wise now, little grasshopper.”

  I smirked but kept working. “Thanks, old knowledgeable one.”

  “Gettin’ to be a cocky lil’ shit now too, huh?” He let out a hearty belly laugh. “I like it.”

  “You harassing my guy, Bricks?” Rock called out as he crossed the path that led from the side of his house to the garage we worked out of.

  From what I’d seen, he ran his motorcycle club in a stricter, more hands-on way than Ulfric seemed to run his. The brothers who stopped by Rock’s house on a daily basis seemed more like family than just bikers he shared a patch with.

  Not that it mattered. I still wasn’t ready to patch in myself.

  “Now, how is he gonna learn if I don’t harass him on the regular, boss?” Bricks said.

  Rock circled the bike, studying the work I’d performed. My body tensed, waiting for his verdict.

  His heavy boots stopped beside me. “Looks good.”

  I breathed a sigh of relief. “Thanks.”

  “Bye, Rock,” a high, feminine voice trilled. Heels clacked over the pavement. I glanced up and caught a skinny blonde wiggling her fingers at us. “Hey, Bricks.”

  “Later, Jan,” Rock called without moving an inch.

  “See you tonight?”

  “Maybe, darlin’.”

  A car door slammed and an engine rumbled to life.

  “Such a heartbreaker, Prez,” Bricks said, slapping Rock’s shoulder.

  “Don’t you have to be a pain in the ass somewhere else?” Rock growled.

  “Yeah, I gotta run,” Bricks said. “See you at Crystal Ball later?”

  “Yeah,” Rock answered in a weary tone. For a guy who managed a strip club, he never sounded too thrilled about it. “I’ll be in soon.”

  I finished tightening the last bolt and stood. “Think your customer will be pleased?”

  “Definitely,” he said, still staring at the bike. “You do good work, Vapor. Glad you were able to help me out this summer.”

  Uh-oh, that sounded like I was about to get my pink slip.

  Maybe my expression showed my fear of losing my job. Rock slapped my shoulder. “Relax. I still have plenty of work to keep you occupied.”

  “Thanks.”

  “In fact,” he reached into the inner pocket of his cut and pulled out a white envelope, “here’s what I owe you for this week.”

  Unless he was paying me in singles and fives, it looked like a lot more money than I was actually owed. I didn’t want to pull it out and count it in front of him, though. Lord knew, the ruthless MC president might see that as an insult and slit my throat. I studied the bills quickly, estimating there was enough to pay off Juliet’s ring and add to our nomad travel fund.

  “Figure most of that’ll end up right back here.” Rock’s eyes crinkled at the corners as his lips pulled into a smirk. He nodded toward my bike. “You’ve got a few mods left from what I can tell.”

  “Some upgrades I still want to make,” I agreed. “Custom paint too.” I didn’t want to get crazy like the guys who came to Rock and dropped their entire paychecks on fancy gadgets. I had bigger goals in mind.

  “Whatever you need.” Rock spread his arms, indicating his shop. “You’re welcome to use the space.”

  “Thanks. Appreciate it.” I slapped the envelope against my open palm, feeling the weight of the bills inside. “Right now, I’m going to go pay off my girlfriend’s engagement ring.”

  The easy smile slid off his face. “Dex’s niece, right?” He wobbled his hand from side to side, in what I interpreted as meaning he knew Juliet and Dex weren’t actually blood-related, but niece was the best way to describe their relationship.

  “Yes, sir. Juliet.” I braced myself for the “you’re too young to settle down” speech every other biker seemed to give me whenever I expressed my lack of interest in strippers and random hook-ups.

  “Dex know?” he asked.

  “I mentioned it to him a while back.” I lifted my chin and squared my shoulders, prepared to tell him to mind his own business if he tried to talk me out of proposing to Juliet.

  “You two have been through a lot.” Rock’s solemn voice shook my defiance.

  Some days it still amazed me she didn’t tell me to fuck off when I got out of jail. “Even when I screw up, she has my back.”

  “That’s good. It’s not a crime to be wrong.” He chuckled. “Fuck knows, we go through life being wrong about lots of things. It’s part of being human. Not admitting your mistakes and learning from them is the crime. If she can help you through that, never let her go.”