“And he can’t afford to lose us. This isn’t about Gabriel, so don’t use him as an excuse. It’s not about Liv, either, because you like her just fine. So what is the problem?”

“I just don’t think this is wise—”

“That’s not good enough. I need a reason. A real one.”

“You don’t belong with her.”

“What the fuck does that mean?”

When Don pulled his gaze away, Ricky sidestepped to catch it again.

“No, seriously,” Ricky said. “What does that mean?”

“I have a bad feeling . . .”

“A bad feeling? You want me to dump a girl that I’m crazy about because you have a bad feeling?”

Don’s jaw set. “I don’t like this relationship. Does that work better? I just don’t like it, and I want you to end it.”

“Is that an order?”

His father gave ground as Ricky tried to close the gap between them.

“No, really,” Ricky said. “You’re the boss. You can give me the ultimatum: end it or walk away from the club. Is that what you’re doing?”

“I’m asking—”

“Quit pissing around, Dad. You’re always telling me I need to be decisive. So make up your mind. Are you telling me?”

Don met his gaze. “Yes, I am.”

“All right, then.” Ricky shucked his jacket and held it out to him. “Here’s my answer.”

When his dad didn’t take the jacket, he dropped it at Don’s feet and walked out.

—

Ricky climbed off his bike, then sat there, one foot on the curb, as he shivered. The night wasn’t cold, but without his jacket he felt . . . Well, he felt a lot of things.

He rubbed the goose bumps on his arms and looked at Gabriel’s condo tower. Liv was up there. All he had to do was park the bike, walk into the lobby, and buzz.

Where’s your jacket? That’s the first thing she’d say, and then he’d tell her, and her eyes would widen in alarm. Are you crazy?

Yes, maybe.

You don’t want to do this, she’d say.

I know . . .

Has he called?

He’d nod and tell her yes, a half-dozen calls and texts from his father, none of which he’d read, let alone answered.

Call him and tell him if he wants to talk, he can meet at your place. Now. I mean it. You don’t want to run back to him, but you need to talk about this. You need to fix this.

I know.

She’d hug him and he’d feel her heart pounding, worried for him, and that would calm his own racing heart, reassure him that this could be fixed, that she’d make sure he fixed it.

He knew exactly what she’d say and what she’d do. All the right things.