We slept in until I heard my phone ring. I looked over on my nightstand and grabbed it. I looked at it and moaned. It was Charley calling me. I answered it.

"Yeah Charley."

"Is Throttle still there?"

"Yeah, but he's asleep right now. He had a hard time getting to sleep last night. What do you need him for?"

"He was suppose to bring his bike in this morning for a tune up."

"Want me to wake him so he can bring it in?"

"No, let him sleep. Sounds like he needs it. Please remind him to bring it by sometime tonight so I can work on it first thing tomorrow morning."

"I'll be sure to tell him when he wakes up, Charley. I think he may have forgotten about that."

"I think so, too. He's been looking worn out everyday when he would show up with the guys. Oh, that reminds me. Did he talk to Vinnie or Modo last night?"

"He called and let Modo know that he was staying at my place for the night. I guess Modo relayed a message to him about his ex and unit leader being mouse napped."

"As long as he got the message. He plan to make a trip to Mars to deal with the problem?"

"Nope. Said something about his ex and unit leader being able to get out of their situation on their own. I try not to pry too much."

"I understand. I didn't mean to wake you, Mike. Especially if Throttle is still asleep. I hear he can be a real grouch if he doesn't get enough sleep."

"Really? I'll remember that. I don't like to be on the receiving end of a grouchy mouse. I'll see you tomorrow, Charley."

"Take the weekend off, Mike. You need it. Cause of you and Modo, I'm all caught up with work, for once."

"Awesome! Thanks Charley. You are the greatest friend I ever had. I'm glad you introduced me to the guys. Throttle and I have a lot in common. We've become great friends real fast."

"Glad to hear it, Mike. Enjoy the weekend. See ya Monday."

"Be safe. Later Charley."

"Later."

After I hung up, Throttle asked me what Charley wanted. I looked at him.

"Eavesdropping, now?"

"Not really. Your volume was all the way up. Couldn't help but overhear the conversation. So, what she want?"

"Wanted to know why you didn't bring your bike in for a tune up this morning. You forget about that?"

"It did slip my mind. If I get it to her right now and she can get it done right away, we can head out on our road trip."

"Then call Charley and see if she can do it right now so we can head out." Then I grabbed my phone and handed it over to him.

He dialed the garage number and waited for her to pick up.

"Hey Charley-girl. Any chance you can get to my bike right now if I stop by?"

"Yeah, I have time, Throttle. I heard you stayed over at Mike's place last night. Talkin' and watchin' movies, huh?"

"Yeah. She even cooked dinner last night. You have a great friend, Charley. Thanks for introducing us."

"No problem. I'll be waiting for you."

"I'll be there shortly. Bye." Then he hung up.

He got out of bed and got dressed then gave me a kiss. "I'll be back soon, beautiful."

"I'll be here, waiting fuzzy. I'll leave the door unlocked."

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Last Chance Garage. Throttle had just arrived. Charley had just gotten the final tool out and laid down on the workbench.

"Sorry for not bringing my bike in this morning. Mike told you I had hard time sleeping last night, right?"

"Yeah, she did. That's why I made time to do it right now. Nice shirt and shorts."

Throttle looked at what he was wearing. "Thanks. Mike suggested I wear shorts during this hot weather. Boy was she right."

While Charley was working on his bike, she was asking him questions concerning his friendship with me. She had a feeling that Throttle was lying. She looked at him.

"Come on, Throttle. I know you two are more than friends now. I can tell. I'm not going to tell the guys. I give you my word."

"Its up to Mike on if she wants me to tell you. I won't go behind her back and lose her trust."

"Then I'll call her right now and put it on speaker phone." Then Charley walked over to her phone and dialed my cell number.

My place. I had just gotten out of the shower, when my cell rang. I picked it up and looked at who was calling. It was Charley,….again.

I answered the call. "Hey Charley. What's up? Throttle show up ok?"

"He showed up in one piece. I know you and Throttle are dating. Before you get mad, he didn't tell me. I figured it out on my own. He said he didn't feel right telling me. Said it was better if I asked you."

I smiled. "Give me your word you won't tell Vinnie and Modo, Charley."

"I already told Throttle I give him my word so I give you my word, too. Is it true?"

"Yeah, its true. He's taking me on a road trip after you're done with his bike. Before I forget, my new bed came today. So, if you wanna come get my twin bed for your loft, better get it before Throttle and I leave."

"I'll follow him to your place. Did you really make dinner for him last night?"

"Yep. How can we get some of his things from the scoreboard without the guys asking questions?"

"Why?"

"He's moving in with me."

"Just buy new stuff for him. I'm glad for you both. I hope you're happy together. I mean that, Mike. Especially after the last guy you dated that lived 2 states away. I told you all he wanted was money and sex."

"I should have listened to you, Charley. You've always been there for me and making sure I was safe. Just like an older sister. Can you put Throttle on, please, but no speakerphone."

"Yeah, sure. Mike wants to talk to you, Throttle. I'm happy for you. I wish you the best. She's my best friend, Throttle. Please don't hurt her in any way."

Throttle smiled. "I won't Charley." Then he picked up the receiver. "Hey babe. What's up?"

"When you and Charley get here, I could use a hand with the new bed. Its sitting at the bottom of the stairs. I can't haul it up on my own. See if Charley has a tent and sleeping bags."

"I'll ask her right now." Then he asked her. She said she had a tent and a couple of sleeping bags. Then he told me.

"Awesome. See you both soon?"

Throttle looked at Charley. She held up her hand indicating 5 mins.

"She'll be done in 5 mins. Then we'll be on our way."

"Ok. I love you, Throttle. You and Charley be careful. Ok."

"We will, Mike. I love you too. See ya in 10 mins." Then he hung up the phone.

Charley had just finished up on Throttle's bike when he hung up the phone.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

10 mins. later, I heard Throttle's bike and Charley's truck pull up downstairs. I went down so we could take my new bed up. I smiled at them as they walked over to me. They smiled back.

"Hey good lookin'. Ready to help me get my new bed upstairs?"

Yep. In fact, why doesn't Charley go hold open your door and you and I will haul it up."

I looked at Charley. "You ok with that, Charley?"

"Yeah, no problem. I meant what I said, Throttle." Then Charley walked upstairs to hold open my door.

I looked at Throttle with a weird look. "What was that about, babe?"

"Charley made me promise not to hurt you in anyway."

We picked up the box spring and carried it upstairs. Then went back down to get the mattress and bring it up.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

After we got my new bed in and the old one out and into Charley's truck, Throttle helped me make the bed. I had gotten new bedding right after ordering the bed.

"Silk sheets, huh? Nice."

"I love the feel of silk against my body. It feels so good. Thank you for not telling Charley without asking me first. Even though she figured it out on her own. I'm glad she's happy for us."

"I am too, Mike. I know you legally changed your name to Mike, but I just can't call you that any more. Can I call you Michelle instead?"

"Yeah, but only you. Do you really wanna learn to cook?"

"Yeah, I do. You shouldn't have to cook all the time. Especially since you work with Charley. I want you to be able to come home and relax while I make dinner."

I walked around to the other side of the bed and hugged him. "You are so sweet, Throttle. I'd be happy to teach you how to cook. You have our camping gear on your bike?"

"Yep. Do you have some clothes packed for the trip?"

"Yep. Its sitting right by the door. Gas tank full?"

"Filled it up before leaving Charley's."

"Awesome, then let's go." I threw the pillow on the bed then headed for the doorway of my room. Throttle followed shortly. He grabbed a hold of my arm to stop me. I looked at him.

"What's up?"

"You ok? I noticed while we were bringing up the bed that you were hurting a bit."

"I'm a bit sore. I think I pulled something. I'll take a couple of aspirins and I'll be fine."

"Go lay down and I'll give you a massage. We can head out later tonight or even early in the morning."

"I told you I'll be fine after I take a couple of aspirins."

"Babe, please. I don't want you hurting on our long trip to California."

I sighed and gave in. "Ok. If it'll make you happy. I don't want you to get upset. You're too hot to be upset." Then I turned around and went and laid on my stomach on my bed.

Throttle came over and started massaging my lower back. I winced and tensed up.

He noticed how bad I was hurting. He felt bad for me. He didn't like to see me in pain.

"Are you glad I made you lay down?"

"Kinda. I'd rather be on the road with the wind in my face."

"I hear ya, but you're more important than the trip right now. Long trip plus back problems equals whining. I get that enough from Vinnie. I know you're in a lot of pain. I feel for ya. Now just relax and I'll do what I can to help your back."

"Just don't make it worse, ok. I hurt enough."

"I'll try not to."

A couple of hours later, Throttle noticed that I had fallen asleep, so he took his boots off and crawled up next to me and snuggled up next to me.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

The next morning, we woke up and looked at each other. "Morning beautiful. How's your back?"

I stretched a bit. "Feels pretty good. Thanks for the massage last night."

I sat up and hung my feet over my bed, then stood up. I got a bit dizzy, so I sat back down.

Throttle sat up and hung his feet over on his side of the bed and stood up. He walked around to my side of the bed. He held his hand out to me. I took it and he pulled me up.

I smiled and gave him a morning kiss. He stood there and smiled back. Then he took his spiked earring off and handed it to me. I looked at him. "Why are you giving me this?"