Ryder POV
The sound of metal on metal draws me to the garage three days later.
Jolie is bent over Phoenix's bike, her small hands buried in the engine compartment. Doc stands beside her, pointing out different components while she nods and asks quiet questions.
"Hand me that socket wrench," she says without looking up, her voice focused and sure.
Phoenix passes it over, looking nervous as hell. His bike has been giving him trouble for weeks—stalling out at the worst possible times, refusing to start when he needs it most. For a kid who relies on being able to run fast and run far, a broken bike might as well be a death sentence.
"There." Jolie sits back on her heels, wiping grease from her fingers with a rag. "Try it now."
Phoenix kicks the starter. The engine turns over smooth as si
