Ride with Me by Chelsea Camaron, Ryan Michele Read Free Book Online

parking lot, I count to space fourteen, finding the trailer we will carry back. I check the tires and make sure the tags are a match to the trailer number and registration.
    There are times when laws can be broken and limits can be pushed, but to make careless mistakes puts the entire operation at risk, and not just short-term, but long-term.
    Crews Transports does regular road hauls. We have a legitimate side to our business, and it only takes one slip up to cost us everything … including our freedom.
    I raise my hand to Tripp to signal the trailer we will hitch up to next, and he climbs into our rig. When we see the receiving truck pull up, we know our job is done. It takes no time before we are pulling out onto the open road again.
    Given our recent altercation, we are both on high alert for any suspicious vehicles, and with our attention being on every little thing, the ride passes relatively quietly. The miles pass, and I keep thinking of sinking so deep inside Lux I will forget where I end and she begins.
    Just before we cross back into Texas, Tripp pulls over at a mom and pop store. I look around, double-checking the mirrors, thinking I missed something.
    Climbing out of the rig, I take his six and follow him as we walk toward the store.
    “Wanna tell me why we’re stopping here?” I finally ask when I can’t find a threat.
    “Roundman has more back up en route. Boomer and Danza will clean up the mess back there, but none of us are safe on our own. He told me to make it slow. That said, Doll goes through phases when she likes to cook and shit.”
    I put my hands on hips and stop in place. “What the fuck does this place have to do with Doll and her attempt to cook?”
    Tripp turns back to me, lifts his sunglasses, and wiggles his eyebrows. “Spices.”
    I shake my head. “I’m missing something here.”
    “When you get married and have a kid, you’ve gotta be creative with spicing things up. If I get her some spices for the kitchen, she’ll keep it hot in the bedroom.” He puts his sunglasses back into place and enters the shop.
    “Tripp, I seriously doubt there is any problem with the spice in your bedroom. You’re a fucking Crews.”
    He smirks. “Rex, tangible,” he says, picking up a Tex-Mex mixture. “I take this in and show my woman that I was thinking of her while I was away”—he pauses, grabbing some more spices—“and every day, I have her on my mind. Gotta learn it’s the little things, brother. Actions and shit. I don’t need to tell Doll I love her; I show her. I don’t have to question where we stand when I say we gonna do this. I know the answer. No matter what I’m asking, she’s riding with me. If I leave, she’s got my boy, my business, my brothers, and my house to handle. She holds all that down. I can give her these little things that let her know she’s with me when I’m gone.” He tosses a bottle to me. “Tangible, brother. Learn it.”
    I laugh as we go to the register for him to buy some damn spices that I’m pretty sure will still be unopened five years from now.
    Is this what being married is? Shopping for spices? Women have purse parties, Tupperware parties; surely, they have a spice party. Do I really need to bring home little jars of magic salt for Lux to know she’s got me by the balls?
    This shit seems a little extreme. Then again, what the fuck do I know about relationships?
    I turn around and go back to the shelf, picking up two jars for myself.
    Tripp turns around as he hits the exit door.
    I raise the jar up in the air. “Tangible.” I laugh. “I’m spicin’ shit up.”
     

    I smile over at Doll as I pack my bag. “Am I really doing this?”
    “Fuck yeah, you are!” She laughs as BW starts pulling my clothes out just as fast as I’m putting them in. He picks up a pair of my silk and lace panties and holds them high. “Sorry, Lux, he’s a Crews man.”
    We both laugh as I put the garments back and continue packing.
    “Shit!” I freak