A faint, startled laugh escaped Landon before he could stop it.
That did it.
The tension on the playground broke like a cracked dam.
Teachers lowered their shoulders. Deputy Ellis exhaled slowly and let his hand fall from his radio. Principal Lawson pressed a hand to her chest.
Duke remained on one knee. “We don’t kneel for many things,” he said. “We kneel for fallen riders. And we kneel for their kids.”
Landon stepped forward fully now. He picked up the wooden box with careful hands. His fingers trembled, but not from fear.
“Okay,” he said quietly.
Duke raised an eyebrow. “Okay?”
“You can come to my soccer game,” Landon clarified.
For the first time since arriving, several of the bikers smiled openly.
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