Knuckles (Dragon Riders MC #4) - Savannah Rylan Page 0,40
I felt guilt waft up and down my body.
It wasn’t that I hated Ma and Pa. I mean they weren’t the greatest human beings on the planet. But they did put a roof over our head when they didn’t have to. I knew this was the part in my conversation to myself where JayJay would say—
“They did it for the money, and you know that.”
I slowly looked over at him. “Get the hell out of my head.”
He grinned. “Never, beautiful. You’ve always been easy to read, though.”
I scoffed playfully. “I’ll have you know I’m the Fort Knox of secrets.”
He nodded. “Okay, okay. Well, how about that time when you were sneaking out of the house and you told me you were going out with some friends?”
“Pfft. Everyone gives that answer when they’re sneaking out.”
“Except, you really did go out with friends that night. And judging by the state of you when you got in and the food you were carrying, I’d say you went to a block party before hitting up Sal’s All-Night Pizzeria afterward.”
My jaw dropped open. “All right, you little wizard. Get out of my head and stop reading me so damn much.”
He kissed the back of my hand. “I’ll always do it if I feel it’s necessary. It’s how I care about someone.”
“And if there’s something I don’t want you to know?”
He paused. “Is there something you don’t want me to know?”
I pointed. “Look! It’s the campground!”
As if the forestry around us parted and came to life, the trees stopped bombarding us as a massive foray of dirty and jimmy-rigged parking spaces emerged. There was a massive pit in the middle of the trucks and campers that sat together in a circle, hooked up to some sort of pumping system deep within the ground itself. Justin released my hand so he could guide our truck into its parking space, and the two of us couldn’t even get out of our seatbelts before we were bombarded.
“Simone! It’s so good to see you!”
“Get down here. Give me a hug. We have yet to meet.”
“The guys have been telling us all about you. We’re really glad you made it safely.”
I furrowed my brow at the girls. “Uh, hi?”
Another blonde one giggled. “Sorry. Forgive us. We’ve been waiting on pins and needles for you and Knuckles to join us.”
I blinked. “You guys call him ‘Knuckles,’ too?”
A dark-featured one blinked. “What do you call him?”
I felt a hand on the small of my back before JayJay’s voice sounded. “I see you’ve met the girls. This is Joanna, she’s with Link. And this is Hope, her sister. She’s with Bowser. And this here is Hannah. She’s pretty recent herself. She’s with Ash.”
“It’s really nice to meet you!” they all said in unison.
I nodded slowly. “Riiiight.”
Everyone rushed me with hugs and kisses to my cheeks. But I was too busy taking in the campground around us to pay attention to much. I mean, there wasn’t a bike in sight. There were a few lawn chairs set up around a fire that, shockingly enough, wasn’t producing smoke? That was a new one for me. There were roasting sticks on the ground with marshmallows that would go uneaten, and everyone seemed to be dressed in comfortable, casual, heat-enduring clothing.
“I think we both need to change,” I murmured to Justin.
He chuckled, kissing the top of my head. “I have church with the guys. Be back in a bit.”
I looked up at him. “Wait, you go to church? Since when?”
He barked with laughter before he pressed one last kiss to my forehead. And then, he was off with the guys. They sauntered away, talking softly amongst themselves as I watched after them, more confused than ever before. I saw the girls head back to the fire pit and one of them—I think it was Hannah? —waved me over. So, I decided not to be rude and figured sitting with them was better than sitting alone in the camper trailer.
With running water.
And air conditioning.
“So! Tell us about yourself.”
I eased myself into the only other empty chair and found myself sitting beside…
“Joanna, right?” I asked.
She nodded. “Right.”
I gazed over her shoulder. “What is that metal structure over there?”
I pointed toward this massive open drum-looking thing that had a pointed little roof on it. And some sort of spigot at its base so that people could use whatever was inside, I suppose.
“Oh! That. That’s our fresh water. You know, in case we get thirsty,” she said.
Another voice piped up. “Or run