his gaze. "Trauma. You've been through a lot and this is one of the ways your body releases it. I haven't known many who have had lasting effects of tremor in your condition. But you should bring it up with your doctor when you see him. He should be around shortly. Anything else I can get you?"
Slowly shaking his head, he lay back and closed his eyes. He hoped LuAnn would be here soon. He needed to see her.
Deep in his subconscious he heard a door open. It was quiet, but yet a sound he could recognize. Quiet footsteps came closer to him and he imagined an aftershave similar to his own.
"I see you're still laying around napping."
He opened his eyes to see JT smiling down at him.
"Fuck off." He teased back.
"Are you feeling better today?"
"Yeah, some. Head still throbs like a bitch, would love for that to go away."
JT sat in the chair alongside his bed. "You hit your head pretty good." He was quiet for a moment then said. "I saw your notebook. I like the drawings of the bike. Sexy."
Chase studied his friend for a long time to see if he was serious or giving him shit.
"Thanks. I'm going to build it."
JT nodded. "I showed Dad. He liked it, too, but said it strayed too much from the usual Rolling Thunder bikes. He said it was too provocative and he wasn't sure he'd stand behind it. It took him a long time to accept my bikes, too. But, you and I can build it in your garage. Once he sees it, maybe he'll change his mind. "
Disappointment sat heavy in his chest. That was what he'd feared would happen; somehow he knew it deep in his bones. Recalling the many times JT and Dog had argued over JT wanting to build the bikes he dreamed of and Dog's resistance to his design made his heart feel heavier than ever. Dog was a great businessman, but he didn't embrace change or new bike ideas easily unless JT as Head Designer and his son pitched them and took most of the credit despite both of them designing the bikes. Chase had a tough decision to make now.
The door opened and Chase twisted his head. A cleaning woman came in and lay towels on the dresser across the room. Only nodding once and quietly leaving, Chase sank down into the mattress in disappointment. Seemed as though that was the theme today.
"Who did you expect to see or don't I want to know."
Looking his friend in the eyes Chase pushed the button on his bed and slowly raised his head up to more of a sitting position, pleased that it didn't cause the pain to shoot through his temples.
"I thought LuAnn would be here by now. Sorry if you didn't want to know, but you asked."
Clearing his throat, JT sat forward, his elbows on his knees and stared directly into Chase's eyes.
"She was here earlier, but Dad told her to go away and not come back."
Tears sprang to his eyes and he sniffed as his nose started running. It was the instant pang of hurt that hit him hard.
"He had no business to tell her to go away. It's my business. She is my business. Not yours. Not his. Not Ryder's. Not Gunnar's. Mine."
"Look Chase, you know what's she's done..."
"Yes, I do. And, for the record, no one could be sorrier than she is. But, of course none of you will ever give her the chance to prove..."
The door opened and Dog stepped in. "I didn't hear an apology from her."
"Did you give her the chance, or did you just butt in where you don't belong and tell her to leave without so much as asking me if I wanted her here?"
Dog straightened his shoulders, his eyes darted to JT's then back to his.
"What do you see in her? Doesn't it matter to you that she almost killed Joci and Maddy?"
"I can't explain what I see in her, all I know is that I love her. Of course, it matters what almost happened to Joci and Maddy. But, for the record, and I know it's like splitting hairs, she never meant for anyone to get hurt. She thought someone would see the brake fluid on the floor and have to refix the bike. An inconvenience. She also knows how stupid, destructive and immature that was. And, she's paid the price."
Dog scraped his hand down his face, frustration and exasperation was clear