“Nah, I’m trying to quit. It makes me jittery.”

He pulls two bottles of water out of the refrigerator and tosses one at me. “Let’s ride up to Cathedral Ledge. I got a new camera and I want to take some pictures.”

“Dude, every year you buy a new camera.”

“I know. I think I have some bizarre camera fetish. Do you want one of my old ones? I’ve got about five I think.”

“Thanks, but I’m good. If I want a picture of something I’ll just use my cell phone. I can’t deal with all those buttons and settings,” I wander across the kitchen to look out the window while I wait for him to put his boots on, and that’s when I see Kenzi, Chloe and Rayne sitting out by the pool, laughing like girls do. I have to force myself not to stare at Kenzi in cut off faded denim shorts, bright apple red bikini top, sunglasses on top of her head pushing her hair off her face, and black motorcycle boots on her feet. It’s the little black leather boots that get to me the most and make my body twitch in ways it definitely shouldn’t be. Fuck. I can’t escape this shit.

She looks like she just stepped right out of one of Tristan’s biker chick calendars he’s got hanging in his work area. As hard as I try, my eyes disobey me and take in the swell of her breasts cradled in the thin material, the perfect curve of her waist, to her belly button just above the hem of her low cut shorts.

She’s not hot. She’s not hot. She’s not hot.

“She’s cute, but way too young, man,” Asher says, coming up behind me and slapping my back.

I blink rapidly. “Huh? Who?”

“Chloe.”

Shit. “I wasn’t looking at her. She’s got the body of a twelve year old.” Unlike Kenzi who suddenly has the body of a twenty-something year old who’s got my blood pumping wildly.

Why can’t she be one of those giggly, annoying teens with a horrible attitude that hates everyone? Why does she have to be so sweet and smart and beautiful and caring and independent and such a great listener and –

“Well, you better not be looking at my little sister.”

– and everything I want.

I quickly turn away from the window. “I wasn’t looking at anyone. I was spacing out wondering if that dog is trashing my house. Can we go? You take longer than a chick to get ready.” A thin sheen of sweat has covered my body as I fight my physical and emotional reaction to her. I’ve got a Kenzi-induced fever and I need to get out of here and away from her before I pass out.

Riding all day helps settle my mind and body. Something about the mountain air, the roar of my engine, and the endless clear blue sky always puts me in a good mood. Asher rides in front and I follow a few lengths behind. About three hours into the ride we stop for lunch at an old roadside burger place, and I come damn close to coming clean and spilling my guts out to Asher about what happened with Kenzi. I feel like pure scum betraying the trust of the guy who’s been my best friend for twenty-five years, who’s done more for me than anyone else, and trusted me with the most precious thing in his life. It’s eating at me day and night and I want this monster out of me.

“How’s the shop doing?” He asks.

“Great. The past two years have been the best we’ve ever done for profits. I was actually able to give my brothers a raise for once, so they’re happy.”

He nods around his burger. “Good deal. I think the new sign out front and painting the building really helped, it kinda breathed new life into it. People like that.”

“You’re right, it made a big difference. Pop never thought about things like that.”

“Marketing can be a bitch. Our PR team is on us to change our logo. I told them to go get fucked. I’m not changing it.”

Ash and I designed the scrolling A&E Ashes & Embers logo when we first started the band way back in high school. I never cared that the band name was a play on his and Ember’s names. It fit perfectly.

“I don’t blame ya. It’s been the brand since day one. The fans recognize it. Shit, how many people have it tattooed on them that we’ve seen?”

“Exactly. The logo stays. It’s us.”

“It’s you.”

He leans back in his chair and shakes his head. “No, man. It’s always us. Just because you and Ember aren’t in the band anymore doesn’t mean shit to me. We started it. It’s our baby. I’d have none of this without you. Don’t think I ever forget that, because I don’t.”