“How do you know that?”
“Angel happens to be a little petty.”
“A little?”
He shrugs innocently. “Don’t ask questions. Just go get it.”
I could ask more questions, but something tells me he’s just going to be vague. So, I do as he says.
“Give me your keys,” he asks once I’m back out.
“I may be slightly drunk, but I’m not stupid. I wasn’t going to drive there. There’d be nowhere to park and if there are cameras, they’ll catch my car.”
“So what were you planning…” His voice drifts off as I point to my bicycle. “No problem, you can stand on the pegs.”
“No way. You can stand on the?—”
“Jos, I’m over two hundred pounds,” he states matter-of-factly. I know that but I don’t say it out loud because he’ll know, I too didresearchon him. “So we’re done arguing about this. Let’s go.”
I shouldn’t like how deep and affirmative his voice sounds, but I do.
He doesn’t waste time to grab my bicycle and get on it, while I still stand in my same spot. “I know you probably want revenge because he slept with your girlfriend?—”
“Ex,” he emphasizes like he did earlier.
“Right,ex,” I emphasize just the same. “But you can find another way to get back at him for sleeping with her.”
“I’m not doing this because he slept with Amanda. Don’t get me wrong, I was pissed at first, but I genuinely don’t care anymore. I’m doing this because he fucked with you andthat, I’m not okay with,” he gravely says.
I think the flame is burning a little hotter. I need to find a way to put it out.
“Oh.” I amble toward him. “Okay.”
I set the knives in the basket that hangs on the handlebars then stand behind him. I know how to climb on, but it’s the thought of touching and being so close to him that makes me hesitate.
When he peers over his shoulder, I wave off the hesitation and stand on the pegs, my hands on his firm, broad shoulders and my front almost pressed to his back.
In silence, we make our way to his house, but after a few minutes, I break through it.
“If it makes you feel better, she was faking those moans. Though I’m sure you knew that…” I trail off, realizing what I said and not liking the visual that plays in my head. It’s not Bryson and Amanda I’m picturing but Daniel and her. I squeeze my eyes tight, blocking the image. “And I’m certain he was jealous of you now that I think of it.”
“How would you know that?”
“He’d always make a comment in passing about you but I never?—”
“No, not that. I mean her faking the moans. Did you have to fake them too?”
My eyebrows skyrocket at his bold question. “Yeah, I did.”
“Wait.” He comes to a complete stop, and looks over his shoulder and up at me. Our faces are just an inch apart from each other; we’re so close I can feel the warmth of his breath on my chin. “Are you serious?”
Breathe. You’ve been close to a lot of guys before. None like him though.
I nod. “And his dick isn’t as big as she shouted in the video. She really put on a show for him because I promise he’s not that great. I bet you’re better—” I clamp my mouth shut, wincing. “Forget I said that. Let’s go.”
Thankfully, he doesn’t comment and continues pedaling until we arrive at his street. I tell him to leave the bike a few feet away before I climb off.
“I am, by the way,” he quietly says, not looking down at me as we walk side by side.
