“Read the back of the helmet, Em,” Rick instructed gently.
I turned the helmet over in my hands. Across the bottom edge, written in thick, bold silver marker, were three words:
HONORARY ROAD CAPTAIN
I looked up, clutching the helmet to my chest. The entire army of riders was watching me, waiting.
Rick crossed his massive arms. “So, Emily.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Yes, sir?”
He grinned, a fierce, protective light in his eyes. “Do you want to lead the pack today?”
I stared at him, convinced I had misheard. “Me? Lead the ride?”
“You,” Rick confirmed, as the bikers around him roared their approval.
I looked up at Dad. He was weeping openly now, a massive, proud smile splitting his face. “What do you say, Captain?” he asked, his voice thick with emotion.
I couldn’t stop the radiant smile from taking over my face. “Really? We can really do this?”
“Really,” Rick affirmed, stepping back and gesturing toward Dad’s idling motorcycle.
Minutes later, Dad carefully secured the oversized pink helmet onto my head. It was slightly too large, wobbling slightly, but I didn’t care. I felt like the most invincible, powerful human being on the planet. He lifted me effortlessly onto the passenger seat of his heavy cruiser, then swung his leg over the front, settling in front of me.
