"You disappear at your own party a lot," Hawk said.
"I need breaks from people."
"Fair."
They stood side by side.
"Lauren likes you," Hawk said.
"I like her."
"She said you are too good for me."
"Smart woman."
"I raised her well from a distance."
Emily smiled.
Hawk became serious. "I need to ask something."
"That sounds dangerous."
"Probably."
He turned toward her.
"I do not want to assume that because I keep showing up, I get a permanent place here."
Emily's heart began to beat faster.
"I am not asking you to marry me in front of four hundred people. I am not that cruel."
"Thank God."
"I am asking whether you want me to keep coming back. Not because of the debt. Not because of the club. Because of us."
Emily looked at the rebuilt garage.
At the Open Door Center.
At Daniel's shelter hatch beyond the bay.
At the highway where motorcycles had first appeared through rain.
Then she looked at Hawk.
"Yes."
He waited.
Emily laughed. "You need more?"
"I spent months being careful. I want the complete answer."
She took his hand.
"Yes, Michael Reynolds. I want you to keep coming back. I want you to leave tools in the wrong place and drink terrible coffee and argue with me about measurements. I want to see what happens next."
His face changed in a way Emily had never seen before.
Relief.
Not victory.
Relief.
"Okay," he said.
"That is all you have?"
"I had a speech. Forgot it."
"Good."
She kissed him.
The last riders leaving the lot noticed and honked.
Emily pulled away laughing and hid her face against Hawk's chest.
"I hate every one of them."