My face flushed a deep, brilliant crimson beneath the pink helmet, but I couldn’t stop the massive smile from splitting my face.
Rick sauntered over, pulling his gloves off. “Not a bad showing for your first official ride as Captain.”
I laughed, struggling to unbuckle the helmet strap. “I think I really liked it.”
“You think?” Rick teased, raising an eyebrow.
“Okay, I absolutely loved it.”
He grinned, clapping a heavy hand on Dad’s shoulder. “That is the only acceptable answer, kid.”
One by one, the massive men and women began returning to their machines. Engines sputtered, coughed, and roared back to life. Within seconds, the street was once again deafening. But as they slowly rolled past our driveway, every single rider offered a salute. Some threw a casual two-finger wave; others pointed directly at the pink helmet tucked under my arm. A few shouted final words of fierce encouragement over the exhaust noise.
The thunderous roar echoed across the entire neighborhood. But it no longer sounded scary or chaotic. It sounded like an impenetrable wall of support.
I looked up at Dad. He was watching the last of the riders disappear around the corner, his arm wrapped tightly around my narrow shoulders. I leaned my weight heavily against his side, exhausted but happier than I had been in a year.
