Little D
I watch as my dad walks in, he sees me and smiles.
He walks to me and hugs me.
“Your early, you’re never early, princess.” He laughs and I nod.
“That’s what studying causes Daddy, makes you get used to being at places on time.” We both laugh, and he pulls me along to sit at a table with him and Jasper.
“Right, well little D will be here soon, we call him that as he is called Diesel, so to make it easier he’s little D.”
“Okay, and what do you need me to daddy?” I smile at him.
“Go out with him on the bike, help him get used to the area. Just be a friend, his mum died when he was young, his dad in the last year princess and he has no family.”
“You’re letting your little princess sit on the back of a bike with a guy?” Jasper looks at him shocked.
“He needs to learn Jasper, what else can she do?” My dad looks at him. waiting for a suggestion.
“Ride a bike herself and use earpieces. Send her out with someone who knows the area, so if she messes up, and quickly changes directions. there’s no risk. Get her used to it first.” Jasper speaks and I want to call. him a child but I won’t. “Look, giving directions is hard, especially when you’re on the back of a bike, and doing it from memory. He’s
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new, if she says left then quickly changes to right, he could crash.”
My dad nods at him.
“Daddy, you thought it was a good idea, so you must trust him enough.” I won’t let Jasper control this.
“I know princess, but I didn’t think, and Jasper is right. So, you will meet him tonight, but for two hours tonight and tomorrow you go with Jasper on his bike and then you will be used to it.”
“Daddy no!” I look at him shocked.
“I’m not sure either, Rooster.” Jasper looks at him.
“You suggested it, and the only person I can trust fully with my princess is you. So, she goes with you on your bike for a few days, then she will go with him but on one of my bikes, not the back of his.” My dad explains and I nod.
“So, I go on your bike with Uncle Jasper?” I say Uncle in a way that has Jasper glare at me.
“No, you go on Jaspers’s bike. He’s here so I will explain the plan to him, princess.”
I turn and look towards the door. My eyes look at him, he’s maybe a year younger than me, already covered in tattoos with a beard, and piercings as well. He looks hot, and he clearly isn’t small and works out. He reaches the table and I smile at him.
“Little D, this is Harley, my princess.” I roll my eyes.
“Daddy, really?”
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He laughs and nods.
“I’m Harley, his princess.” I roll my eyes and shake little D’s hand as he introduces himself before sitting next to me. My dad explains things to him, before leaving me with maps and taking Jasper away.
I can see Jasper hates that.
“So, you ride bikes?” Little D looks at me and I shrug my shoulders.
“I can, and while my daddy would let me have a bike, my mum would cut his balls off no doubt so I don’t have one.” It’s a shame, a bike would be amazing, but I know if I bought one, I would be in hell. My dad was pissed I went elsewhere for a tattoo, so I can only imagine his reaction to me buying a bike without his input.
I open a map and sit with him, telling him the plan for when we do go. out. I get him used to the street names, and which streets connect. Starting with a few main routes, an hour later we’re sat talking.
“So you’re still studying?” He looks at me and I nod.
“Yeah. final year though.” I am so lying through my fucking ass.
“Your dad was telling me, I was studying the same course. However, I only did it because my dad wanted me to have some form of qualification. Where are you going?” He looks at me.
“Broad river of fine arts.” He’s probably never heard of it, it’s nowhere near here. He looks at me confused, did I say something wrong? I say it back in my mind, that is definitely the name.
“I can’t say I saw you. I transferred there two years ago, usually, the students from all levels of the course have days together working.”
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Little D
“Maybe we just missed each other?” I shrug and he looks at me like he isn’t falling for it, shit, I should have asked where he went first.
“Look, my dad doesn’t know, please don’t say anything.”
Now he looks worried, his eyes go to my dad.
“I changed location, I got a job offer part–time and moved and signed up at another location.”
“But you’re still doing it, right?”
“Yeah! I wouldn’t throw away years of my life doing part of it to quit. I just wanted that job and moved locations. I’m planning to tell my dad anyway, just not yet, I’ve only just got back and haven’t seen him in years.”
“I won’t say, don’t worry.” He smiles and I relax.
“Thank you, so how long do you think you’re staying around here?”
“I don’t know. I was just riding my bike, nowhere in mind and I stopped at a bike club. Your dad was there and we got talking, he invited me to stay here.
“I’m sorry he told me about your mum and dad.”
“It’s fine. To be fair, I’m glad, sounds cruel but my dad has been ill for. years, so it’s good he’s no longer living like that.”
“Sorry, I didn’t know. So, have you met anyone else around here?”
He laughs and nods. “I have met a lot of the guys. They are welcoming, Lucas
stays here so I spend a lot of time with him. It’s like family in some ways, you have a sister don’t you?” He looks at me and I nod.
“Yeah, your dad was ranting about her starting trouble as soon as she
saw you.”
W
I laugh. “We’re opposites. I like bikes, parties, and all that. I’m like my dad, I need my freedom. Ivy is my mum, she has no interest in bikes, tattoos and parties. She wants to live at home as long as she can, and is saving herself for her husband.”
“And you’re not?” He looks at me shocked and I laugh too much, Jasper glares at me.
“No, my dad makes out like I’m his little princess and innocent but I’m sure he knows I’m not that innocent.” If he still believes it, more fool.
him.
“Yeah, the way he talked was like you still have your virtue and innocence.” He laughs and we sit talking, and I find him interesting, more than I expected him to be. Hours later I leave and drive home.
I walk through to the kitchen and see my mum.
“Harley, is your dad coming home?” She looks at me and I shrug my shoulders.
“No idea mum, I didn’t ask. I wasn’t really with him, I was with one of the new kids he picked up.”
She looks at me angrily. “I told him not to bring you two girls into it. How many times? Stop going there Harley, it isn’t safe, or a place for a girl!”
“Mum!” What the hell?
“Look at you! You already dress badly, black ripped jeans, leather skirts, and shit. Your dad may be fine with you looking like a
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prostitute but I’m not!”
Wow.
“Dawn! What the fuck?” I turn and see my dad, he stares at her, Jasper shaking his head. “You want to complain about me taking her there and introducing her fine, but calling your daughter a prostitute?”
“Daddy it’s fine.” I don’t want them falling out.
“No, it isn’t, she’s back twenty–four hours and you have barely spoken to her. You have stayed with Ivy, and left every chance you could.”
“Don’t start Damon! It’s no place for a young woman, and you know why I think that.” I stare at my mum.
“Rooster, consider this.” I hear Jasper behind me. “Harley is standing right there, think.” I turn and look at him, why does he not want my dad to argue with her in front of me?
“Oh, that shut you up, didn’t it Damon! Next time you want to argue, remember the facts.” My mum storms out and I stand shocked.
“What did she mean?” What facts, why does my mum feel that way?
“Nothing princess. We argued a few months ago about this, she doesn’t think it’s a place for young ladies, and in some ways, I agree.” I stare at him shocked.
“Daddy, that is bullshit!”
“Harley!” I jump at the loudness of his voice. “Sorry, princess but don’t speak like that. Get some sleep, me and your mum will be fine, we always are. You spent too much time with little D so tomorrow go out with Jasper. You two seemed to get along well.” My dad looks at me
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and I nod.
“We did, he’s nice Daddy, so I will try not to scare him away.” We both laugh and I hug him before walking out, not missing the hushed whispers of him and Jasper as I do.
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