My Life Coaches are the Seven Deadly Sins

A few minutes later Larry walked in. Scrubs just… didn't make him look any less intimidating. I tried to estimate his height, he had to be closer to seven feet. He wasn't built like a brick house… but like God himself melted all the excess fat off him. God probably added extra intimidation and respect to so there was no mistaking this man would snap someone's neck if the need arose.

"Come." Larry ordered as he swiped his badge then walked out.

I scrambled to follow. I did check to see if he had to duck under the frame of the door as we left. He cleared it with barely… if I had to guess two inches. I tried to inconspicuously check the average door dimensions. 82 inches tall. Math, dang, okay, 82 divided by 12 is just two inches shy of seven feet. So, that meant Larry had to be like… 80 inches… which was 7'8 ish. Jesus…

I barely noticed the car we stopped at. A jeep, no doubt Larry needed something without a top otherwise he wouldn't fit…

"Hurry up."

I scrambled to the passenger side, then hesitated… should I get in the back? It's not like there were doors?

"Climb up."

Passenger seat it was! I climbed up, making sure to keep hold of my backpack. Larry didn't even bother to buckle in as he practically took off. I did in fact buckle my seat. Something told me Larry might survive being hit by a train, I was a little more… squishy.

I was eternally grateful Larry reached to turn the radio on. The silence was… suffocating. As the classical instrumental started to play I almost lost the bottom half of my jaw.

"You'll catch bugs." Larry reminded as he gunned it through a yellow light. It turned red the second we crossed into the intersection.

I snapped my mouth shut as I clung to the seatbelt and oh shit handle. My body swayed with each turn. The only thing keeping me in this vehicle was the seatbelt… it if snapped I was 100% going to die.

When Larry turned so hard I was sure two of the wheels lost contact with the street, I could finally see our destination. Pulling into a parking spot must have been too easy. Instead, Larry whipped the jeep into reverse so fast I my seatbelt locked. Before I could catch my breath, we were backing in like he planned to ram the doors! The sudden stop gave me whiplash. I was so stiff I needed a moment to let go of the oh shit handle.

Larry was already jumping out as I remembered how my body worked. Unbuckle… how did I unbuckle again? Actually… was it even safe to unbuckle yet? I glanced at the ignition, yes, the keys had been removed.

I half slid, half hopped out of the Jeep. The world swaying just enough that I had to hold onto the hood of the jeep to stay upright.

"Weak."

I glanced up, no doubt my face was greener than his army green scrubs. Thankfully, Larry didn't seem to be mocking me, more like teasing. Still, it was a bit embarrassing.

"Come."

Larry didn't wait as he walked in. I shakily followed. I felt like a newborn calf. Or a born again calf after that experience.

When I finally walked in, I had to take a double take… the bikes ranged from mountain, to street, leisure, to bikes I wasn't even sure about. Some didn't even have rubber wheels, they had fancy hard plastic with holes…

"Bike for the kid." Larry was saying as he spoke to someone at the counter. The girl gave me a beaming smile.

"Hello sir, do you know what kind of bike you're looking for?" She asked.

I hesitated, hearing Pride cough from behind me, I glanced back, Reed was also standing there as he looked around. "A bike for around the town, something to get me to work mostly." I explained after I caught myself. Trying to stand taller… yeah nothing about me was tall with Larry towering over us.

She nodded walking around the counter to some very thin frame, thin wheeled bikes. She went into a long explanation comparing three different bikes… no… she was actually casting a confusion spell. Critical hit.

I pretended like I knew exactly what she was talking about as I nodded along. I glanced at the price tag… that frame alone was over $800… it was also a city racing bike.

"Max, take a deep breath to draw her attention, then say something." Pride reminded.

I gave a short cough, as I took in a deep breath. She politely paused, smile still wider than my wallet. "I was looking for something a little more sturdy, racing bikes are great, but not exactly what I'm looking for."

"Price range." Reed added quickly.

"This will be my first street bike, so I'm still finding what I want… can you show me bikes between…" Reed cut back in.

"Up to, not between. Give yourself wiggle room to go up."

"Up to $400." I corrected. Larry turned away as he coughed. I glanced back as he waved us away.

"Going to look at kits. Back soon." Larry announced before he walked away… were his shoulders shaking? Was he laughing at me?

"WEAK!" Was all I heard as he walked away.

I followed her to several other bikes, I hated to be that guy but I started checking reviews online for two of the bikes she was showing me. Eventually settling on a bike that was just shy of $300. The entire time Pride and Reed popping up to give advice, or point out things that could be issues. Like, foot straps… did not want those.

I did of course have to add insurance, which would cover maintenance checks every three months. I also found myself picking up an extra chain, kit for tires, and a replacement tire… well… she got me to the $400 I'd state.

"We should practice haggling at some farmer's markets." Reed stated absentmindedly as I was checking out.

I wanted to complain shoot back I did my best! I wasn't expecting to make a decision today! I'd also… never haggled over anything except Arianna's ring… I sighed. Practice wouldn't hurt… especially before I tried to sell the ring.

I nearly had a heart attack when the bike started levitating!

Larry was lifting the bike by the frame… one handed. Now it wasn't a heavy bike… but… it was awkward…

"Test before you buy." Larry reminded raising a brow at the girl who'd been helping me. She flushed.

"Of course, we also offer to assemble the bike here in store if you'd like sir." She offered.

Dang it. Tring to take me for a fool. It was nice to have so many intimidating giants around… "I would appreciate that, thank you."

"Of course sir, just a moment. We'll also adjust the height and reach as needed." She added with a smile that was a little more forced.

"Good." Larry stated setting the bike frame on the ground. Two guys came out as if on cue to start assembling the bike.

They took my height before lifting the seat. Then I had to hop on three times to get the height just right. The handle bars were good on the first try.

No doubt the guys were extra attentive with Larry looming over us. He circled around once for a final inspection as I rode around just enough to test the pedals.

"Good." Larry nodded in approval. Then he leaned on the counter that barely came up to his hip as he crossed his arms.

"Thanks Larry," I whispered as the girl started ringing up my purchases again. He only nodded as he glanced around.

I was half expecting to ride by shiny new bike home.

"I'll take it out." Larry announced carrying my bike out. "First ride shouldn't be over three miles." Larry added no doubt seeing my utter confusion.

I hesitated, that made sense. Like not wearing new boots on a long hike. You had to break them in.

I followed him out… dreading the ride back.

For the first time in my life… I thought I would be car sick. I don't know how the bike didn't go flying. I was so shaky on my feet Larry pulled my bike out of the back.

"Thank you Larry, for the ride, and taking me to get a bike." I added now that my stomach wasn't in my throat.

"See you all tomorrow." Larry said with a nod after starting his jeep up again. With that he whipped out of the parking lot like a bat out of hell.

I stared… see us all tomorrow. Had Larry… seen Pride and Reed?