Blacktop Freedom

by Winter Travers

  I stepped back, and he shut the door.

  “You’re darn right we will,” I snapped. Who was he to tell me that I shouldn’t be the one to help Steph? Helping people was my damn job.

  “I’m not the one you should be mad at right now, Lynn,” he drawled.

  Well, he was right, but whatever. If I wanted to be mad at him, I could. I stuck my tongue out at him and flounced back to my chair.

  “Must not have been too thirsty,” Dad snickered.

  I heard Zephyr open the fridge again, and then he set a bottle of water in front of me. A beer or the bottle of wine I thought of buying would have been much better right now, but I didn’t get the wine and beer was a no-go at Dad’s. Steph took a huge bite of her eggroll and chewed on it like a cow with a hunk of grass in its mouth.

  “You look different,” she drawled. Her eyes were on me, and she looked me up and down.

  When Steph had walked in the door, my appetite had wavered, but now, watching her chew with her mouth full, it was completely gone. “Not really.”

  Steph shrugged. “Must be those fifteen pounds you gained since I last saw you.”

  “Steph,” Dad scolded. “What in the hell is wrong with you?”

  Zephyr laid his hand on my shoulder and squeezed gently.

  I tipped my head to the side and felt myself break just a little bit. “Not my fault I buy steak instead of meth, Steph.”

  Zephyr struggled not to laugh, and Dad’s jaw dropped.

  “You are such a bitch, Lynn,” Steph growled.

  I shrugged and leaned back in my chair. Maybe Zephyr was right. I wasn’t the right person to handle Steph. All I wanted to do was slap her fucking face off and never see her again.

  When Dad was using drugs, I felt hopeless. Watching Steph do the same thing was just infuriating.

  “And you’re an addict,” I snapped. “Are you really for real right now walking through the door high off your ass, and we’re just supposed to act like nothing is happening?”

  “Lynn,” Dad interrupted.

  My eyes darted to him. “What, Dad? What in the hell do you have to say to me right now? You’re a recovering drug addict, and your daughter has the nerve to walk in her acting like a junkie, and you’re going to yell at me?”

  “Just calm down,” Dad said.

  My eyes connected with his, and it hit me. He knew. He knew Steph was using drugs. “You knew about this?”

  His eyes dropped to the table.

  “You knew Steph was using drugs, and you haven’t done anything?” What in the ever-living hell was going on?

  “He didn’t know,” Steph drawled. “And I’m not using drugs.”

  I rolled my eyes. “You seem to forget I spend my day with addicts, Steph. I know when someone is using.”

  “Holier than thou, Lynn.” Steph waved her hands in the air. “Knows fucking everything and is better than everyone.”

  Zephyr moved to my side.

  “Knock it off, Steph,” I warned.

  “Or what, Lynn? What are you going to do if I don’t knock it off?” Steph pushed off the table and stood up. “What in the hell are you going to do!” she screamed.

  Zephyr grabbed my chair, scooted me back, and put himself between Steph and me.

  “Steph, stop doing this,” Dad pleaded.

  “Do what?” Steph shouted. “Why can Lynn say and do whatever she wants, and I have to keep my mouth shut?”

  I stood and tried to step around Zephyr.

  He stuck his arm out and held me behind him. “I never did anything to you, Steph. I did everything I could to make sure you had a good life, and you have the nerve to stand here and talk to me like this.”

  Steph rolled her eyes. “You think you have all of the answers, Lynn, but you don’t know jack shit about me. None of you do.”

  “Maybe if you came around more, we would know you,” I retorted. How was Steph going to try to make me look like the bad person in all of this?

  “I think maybe it’s time for us to leave,” Zephyr interrupted.

  “Bullshit,” Steph spat. “You have your boyfriend fighting your battles for you now, Lynn?”

  I tried again to step around Zephyr, but he held me behind him. “Let’s go, darlin’.”

  “I’m not going anywhere,” I insisted. “Not while Steph is here. My dad can’t be around someone like her.”

  “Someone like his daughter, you mean?” Steph shouted. “I’m his daughter, too, Lynn.”

  “You’re high, Steph. You shouldn’t be here.” What the hell was Steph thinking?

  Zephyr pulled out his phone and pressed a few buttons.

  “I’ll leave when you leave,” Steph growled.

  “And just how are you going to leave when you got dropped off?” Jesus. Steph was being ridiculous.

  “I’ll take Daddy’s car.”

  I cringed at her calling him daddy. “And then how are you going to get his car back to him, Steph? You aren’t freaking thinking.”

  “Yo,” Zephyr muttered into his phone. “I need some help.” He rattled off Dad’s address. Someone on the other end of the phone grunted, “Be there in ten,” and the call ended.

  Zephyr shoved his phone back in his pocket. “Finish your dinner. Your ride will be here in ten minutes.” He pointed to Steph. “They’ll take you home.”

  “What?” Steph and I shouted in unison.

  Dad stayed seated at the table; his head bounced back and forth between the three of us.

  “We’re leaving, and Steph is leaving, too,” Zephyr ordered. “Quinn, one of the guys, will be here in ten,” he repeated.

  I rolled my eyes. “Why did you involve the club in this?”

  “Because God knows I can’t handle the two of you on my own,” Zephyr mumbled.

  Dad grabbed his glass of water and raised it to Zephyr. “Cheers to that. These two are a handful.”

  “You don’t need to handle me,” I growled.

  “Me, either!” Steph added.

  Zephyr pointed at Steph. “Sit your ass down and eat. You now have eight minutes.”

  Steph plopped down in the chair and folded her arms over her chest. “Whatever.” She grabbed her fork and shoveled a mound of rice into her mouth.

  Zephyr turned to face me. “You wanna wait here or by my bike?”

  I pursed my lips. “I’m not leaving my dad with Steph. Not when she is like this.”

  “Not like this is the first time,” she mumbled around a mouthful of food.

  Zephyr took a deep breath. “Seven minutes, darlin’, and then, we’re out of here.”

  He was taking control of the situation, and I had to admit that I was okay with it. For once, I didn’t have to be the one trying to fix shit.

  “You’re stupid, Steph,” I retorted. That might have been a little too much.

  “Darlin’,” Zephyr chuckled.

  “And we’re taking eggrolls home with us.” And now I was stepping into petty territory.

  By the time I had five eggrolls in a baggie and had glared at Steph for a solid two minutes, a knock sounded on the door. Zephyr opened it, and I was thankful it was one of the guys and not one of Steph’s stoner friends. The last time the door had opened, my night had gone from good to bad.

  Brick and Quinn stood in the open door.

  Quinn laughed. “What the hell are you doing in an elderly apartment?”

  Zephyr held open the door and motioned for them to come in. “It’s a long story, brother. I just need your help getting Lynn’s sister home. I got the bike.”

  Quinn nodded to me, and Brick gave me a two-finger salute. Not exactly the way I wanted to see them again, but whatever. It was nice of them to come so quickly to help Zephyr with just one phone call. I assume that was one of the perks of being a member of the Kings of Vengeance.

  Steph froze mid-chew and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. “Where the hell did you find these gorgeous guys, and how are they friends with you?”

  I rolled my eyes
and grabbed my purse. “They’re both taken, Steph.” Well, I didn’t think Brick was since he just got out of prison, but I was doing him a favor by running Steph off. “Grab your stuff, and let’s go,” I ordered.

  Steph narrowed her eyes at me and finished chewing. “You’re not going to tell me what to do.”

  I threw up my hands in the air. “Fine. I’m leaving. Do whatever you want with your life, Steph. I obviously can’t talk to you when you’re like this.” I snatched the bag of eggrolls off the counter and stormed out of the apartment.

  “I’ll call you tomorrow, Lynn,” Dad returned.

  I didn’t reply. I didn’t want to talk to him tomorrow. I didn’t want to talk to anyone.

  I jogged down the three flights of stairs, stomping on each step, and burst out the front door of the building.

  “Gah!” I shouted into the night sky. What in the hell was going on? Everything was falling apart, and I had no idea how to stop it or make it better.

  I paced up and down the walkway from the parking lot to the apartment, trying not to scream again.

  “You’re gonna burn a hole in the sidewalk,” Zephyr laughed.

  I spun around and clutched my hand to my chest. “Jesus, you scared the hell out of me.” It had been shitty of me to leave Zephyr up there, but I couldn’t stand another minute being in the same room as Steph. My head told me all of the things I needed to do or say, but my heart said “fuck that” and made me run.

  “Sorry, darlin’.”

  “I’m sorry I ran out. I just couldn’t take it anymore.”

  Zephyr shrugged and put his hand in his pocket. “You held it together better than I would have. That line about buying steak instead of meth was fucking golden, though.”

  I sighed and tipped my head back. “Jesus. I should not have said that. Can you imagine if I said that to my patients at work? I wouldn’t have a job anymore.”

  “This isn’t your work, Lynn. That up there was your life, and you reacted the way you needed to. Steph probably won’t even remember it.”

  But I would. “I don’t know what to do, Zephyr. I thought I was over dealing with addiction in my life. For eight years, my dad has been clean, and now I have to deal with Steph doing this?” I closed my eyes and felt the tears rise to the surface. “And now all I’m doing is talking about myself when I should be focusing on Steph and getting her help.”

  What a fucking whirlwind I was on.

  Zephyr’s arms closed around me and pulled me to his chest. “Darlin’, you gotta take a breath. I can’t keep up with you.”

  “Try being in my brain,” I muttered into his chest.

  He squeezed me tight, and I finally took a deep breath.

  “As much as I’m digging you being in my arms, I think we need to get out of here. Quinn said he’s giving us a couple of minutes head start, so you didn’t have to see Steph again.”

  “Good Lord,” I muttered. “And now I’m sad that I need a head start, so I don’t see my sister.”

  “Stop thinking about it. Quinn and Brick are taking care of her, and your dad seems like he is fine.”

  But was he fine? Was my sister fine? Who was to say that as soon as Quinn and Brick dropped Steph off that she wouldn’t get high again? “Take me home, Zephyr. I need a drink and a tranquilizer.”

  Zephyr laced his fingers with mine and pulled me toward his bike. “Let’s skip the tranquilizer, darlin’. I’m pretty sure you don’t need that.”

  I glanced around the parking lot but didn’t see any other motorcycles. “Where did Quinn and Brick park?”

  Zephyr chuckled and inclined his head toward a huge van. “Right there. They brought the creeper van to take Steph home.”

  “Oh, God,” I laughed. “I can bet you Steph thought she was going to plaster herself to either Quinn or Brick. I wish I could see her face when she lays eyes on that van.” I was pretty sure Steph would shit herself when they tell her to get in the back.

  “You can ask Quinn and Brick about it later.” Zephyr threw his leg over his bike and motioned for me to climb on behind him.

  “They better be descriptive with their words, Zephyr. I want to be able to feel her disappointment when they tell me.” I slid on behind him and laid my hands on his waist.

  “They’re guys, Lynn. I wouldn’t expect a lot.” He cranked up the bike and knocked up the kickstand.

  We roared out of the parking lot and headed in the direction of my house. The sky was dark, and the stars were starting to come out. Riding on the back of a bike at night was one of the most beautiful things. Well, minus the occasional bug pegging you in the face.

  Zephyr reached a hand back and laid it on my thigh. “You wanna take the long way home, darlin’?”

  The warmth of his hand radiated through my jeans, and I scooted forward a bit. “Whatever you want,” I shouted back.

  My life was a hot mess right now, but none of that seemed to matter when I was on the back of Zephyr’s bike.

  We could drive until we ran out of gas, and I wouldn’t mind one bit.

  *

  Chapter Eight

  Knock knock...

  Zephyr

  “What are we doing here?”

  I knocked down the kickstand and killed the engine. “I need a drink, and I bet you don’t have anything stronger than beer at your house.”

  “I have amaretto and vanilla vodka.”

  I slid off the bike and shook my head. “Girl shit.”

  Lynn rolled her eyes. “It’ll get you drunk, and it actually tastes good.”

  I grabbed her hand and pulled her off the bike. We were in and out of the liquor store in five minutes. I knew exactly what I wanted, grabbed it, paid, and then we were back on the bike.

  An hour later, after driving the country roads around Whitmore, we pulled into Lynn’s driveway.

  “I would definitely say that was the long way.” Lynn slid off the bike and stretched her arms over her head.

  I stood and grabbed the bottle of whiskey from the saddlebag. “Sometimes, all you need to do is just ride.” I couldn’t tell you how many times I had just driven around to clear my head. It worked every time.

  “And you felt that was what I needed?” Lynn laughed.

  I shrugged. “It didn’t hurt, did it?” She could have told me to turn around at any time. It wasn’t like she was being held hostage. Hell, the longer we rode, the closer she got to me. Our bodies fit together like pieces of a puzzle.

  She grabbed her ass and laughed. “Ask me tomorrow. My butt is not used to riding.” She nodded to the bottle in my hand. “Are you assuming you’re coming in for a drink?”

  “I was hoping.” Hell, I was hoping I wouldn’t even have to ask.

  She giggled and headed toward the front door. “Well, seeing as you saved me tonight, I guess I could invite you in for a drink.” She rummaged around in her purse and pulled out her keys.

  My eyes were trained on her ass, and I watched the rhythmic sway of her hips.

  “Are you looking at my ass, Zephyr?” she questioned.

  “Yeah.” The word was out of my mouth before I could even think. “I mean, no.”

  Her laughter floated around me. “You’re a putz, Zephyr.” She unlocked the front door and walked in. “Bring your bottle of booze in and shut the door behind you.”

  That was the invitation I was hoping for.

  Lynn flopped down on the couch and waved her hand toward the kitchen. “I’m too exhausted to entertain you and be a good hostess. You know where the glasses are.”

  I chuckled and headed to the kitchen. “Make sure you get those eggrolls out of your purse. I don’t think you want to find them in there in the morning.”

  Lynn held up her purse. “Got them right here. Make sure you grab the sweet and sour from the fridge on your way back.”

  “You got it, darlin’.”

  “And a plate,” she added.

  “Do you want a drink?” I asked.

  “Uh,” she mumbled. “A gi
rly one, or one of your manly ones?”

  I set the bottle of whiskey on the counter and grabbed two glasses from the cabinet. “Whichever one you want.” I didn’t care what she drank as long as it was what she wanted.

  “It was a shit night. Give me the strong shit.”

  I chuckled and grabbed a few ice cubes from the freezer. “Coming right up.” I made two drinks and walked into the living room with the glasses and a plate with the sweet and sour sauce tucked under my arm. “Grab something.”

  Lynn reached up and grabbed the drinks. “This is going to make me cringe, isn’t it?” She sniffed the dark brown liquid and wrinkled her nose.

  I set the plate and sauce on the coffee table. “It’ll fog your mind enough to where you won’t even remember what happened.”

  “So you’re trying to get me blackout drunk, huh?” She handed me a glass and clinked hers against it. “I’m down with that.”

  I watched as she took a sip and instantly gagged. “So smooth,” she gasped. She set her glass on the table and shoved an eggroll into her mouth. “I bet that will put hair on my chest.”

  “I’ll check later,” I drawled. I grabbed an eggroll and sat back on the couch.

  “We’ll see,” Lynn mumbled.

  She didn’t know it, but I didn’t plan on leaving tonight. I had watched Lynn firsthand the past few days, and she was spreading herself way too thin. She was doing everything for everyone, and no one was doing anything for her.

  That was going to change.

  “So, you wanna tell me the story of your dad or watch TV?” She had a choice because I didn’t want to stress her out any more than she already was. If she didn’t want to talk tonight, there was always tomorrow.

  Lynn grabbed the bottle of sweet and sour and squirted a blob onto the plate. “I told you the story with my dad.”

  “You gave me the twenty-second condensed story, Lynn. I wanna hear the rest.”

  She rolled her eyes and grabbed the plate. She dropped her eggroll onto it and sat back on the couch. She kicked her feet up on the coffee table and sighed. “If I say I want to watch TV, are you going to be mad at me?”

  I chuckled, finished my eggroll, and took a sip of my drink. “You’re the boss, darlin’. We can do whatever you want.”

  She scoffed. “Your laidbackness is surprising.”