Remember When...

Chapter 5

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The ride to the restaurant is wonderful. It's been 6 months since I have been on a bike. The feeling of the wind on my face and the Harley between my legs, allows me to forget my pain and just revel in the euphoria that being free gives me.

We arrive at Diorama and the place is packed. It feels good to be out of the house and having a somewhat normal dinner with someone other than my kids or Jenna.

I notice a few familiar bikes in the parking lot and I am hesitant to go into the restaurant.

Troy picks up on my vibe "What's wrong Tori?" he asks.

I explain to him that I have lost contact with our friends and he pushes me to tell him why.

"The guys don't know how to act around me and the girls feel threatened," I say with a whimper. I can feel the tears pricking my eyes.

Troy can't believe what I am saying. "You must be mistaken," he says.

I tell him about the conversation I had with Missy a few weeks after Daniels funeral, when she thought to tell me, "as a friend" that the girls had been talking and they didn't want me hanging around as they feel that their husbands were showing me too much affection and now that I was single, I may hook up with one of them.

Troy is livid. I can see the muscles in his jaw working and his fists are balled at his side. "How fucking dare they!!!!" he booms. "Who the hell do they think they are?"

At that instant, Michael and Daria walk through the door with their helmets in hand. Michael and Troy's eyes meet and I can see the excitement in Michael's eyes.

It takes a few minutes for Michael to register that I am standing beside Troy and his eyes flick back to Troy with a worried look in them.

"Hey, Troy, man. How are you? When did you get back?" Michael says too quickly, extending his hand. Daria moves toward me and gives me an awkward hug.

Troy does not answer immediately nor shake Michaels hand and Michael looks from me to Daria and back to Troy for some sort of acknowledgement.

I hear Troy's breathing quicken and see a flash of something in his eyes. I gently place my hand on Troy's arm and I think I see a snicker on Daria's face.

Troy looks at my hand and then at my face. I see the anger building behind his eyes but I am not sure what is spurring him.

I give him a pleading look and I see him start to relax his balled fists. He looks at me and shakes his head.

"Lets get out of here," he says to me, taking my helmet and placing it onto my head. I quickly lace the chinstrap and look at Michael and Daria and shrug my shoulders.

Troy's bike roars to life as I take my place on the back and he guns the bike down the road and I hold on tight. I wonder what's gotten into him. He was in a good mood until we saw Michael and Daria.

I have my own reasons to be pissed at them but I can't think for the life of me, think why Troy would be. I'm sure I will find out.

Troy pulls the bike off the road at Flippers by the Sea. I love Flippers; they do the best fish and chips in the area.

I jump off the bike and remove my helmet as Troy does the same. I can't help but notice that the tension has left his body and he seems relaxed. Although his eyes tell a different story. I can see the confusion behind them.

"What was that back there?" I begin to ask

"Nothing" he says coolly

"Bullshit Troy. That was something. I thought you guys were tight. Did something happen before you left?" I ask, trying to work out what is going on.