“Boozer?”
“Yeah. You sat here and drank all night, and then I still couldn’t put alcohol within five feet of you without you chugging it like a soldier on leave.”
The irony. I chuckle deep in my chest. “Coincidentally, I am a soldier on leave.”
I can tell by the way she’s looking at me that she wasn’t expecting me to say that. She isn’t sure if she believes me or not. Grabbing the chain around my neck, I pull out the black dog tags that I wear everywhere. She holds the tags in her hand and asks, “Why are they black? Aren’t they supposed to be silver?” She’s suspicious.
“Not this kind” I say simply.
Jax is still standing nearby, and she turns to look at him. “Should they be black?” He already has a look of surprise on his face. He’s either seen black tags before or knows what they mean. He just slowly nods his head. She looks even more suspicious now as she sees the obvious shock on Jax’s face.
“Look, we really need to get out of here before I pass out. We’ve wasted nearly five minutes, so we have even less time to get to your place. I hope you don’t have stairs.”
“Shit. I have stairs.”
She scrambles off me and grabs my hand, rushing us out the back door. There are several vehicles here. This must be the employee parking lot. She pulls me over to a motorcycle.
Excuse me? I thought she couldn’t possibly get any hotter, but she drives a motorcycle. I can’t believe she trusts me to drive this thing. I could start getting drowsy at any moment. I can’t risk her safety like that. We need an Uber.
She hops on the bike and looks back at me.
“I only have one helmet, and I think it’ll be too small for you. Is that okay? I don’t live far.”
“I can’t drive us on this. I could start getting drowsy any minute now. It isn’t safe.”
She chuckles. “Uh that’s fine because you wouldn’t be driving drugged or not. Nobody drives my bike. I’m driving.” She points to herself with both thumbs in front of her chest.
What did she just say to me?
“I don’t think so. I don’t ride bitch.”
And there it is again.Violins and waves.The most beautiful sound known to man. She laughs. She doubles over and laughs until no sound is even coming out anymore, and her body is shaking with silent amusement.
She finally catches her breath and says, “Either you ride bitch, or you can wait for the cops, and they can take you to the hospital where you belong.” My eyes narrow to slits, and she just stares back at me, waiting for my decision.
“Fine.” I grit out. Begrudgingly, I throw my leg over the back of the bike. She reaches behind her and grabs my hands, placing them around her waist and suddenly, bitch isn’t so bad.
I could get used to bitch.
Chapter 4
Elijah
The ride to her apartment is much more enjoyable than I expected it to be. Her scent is all around me.Cinnamon and sugar.I might have pretended to be scared once or twice so that I could hold her more tightly. It can’t be proven.
We’re here now, and her apartment does in fact have stairs. Unfortunately, I’ve started feeling the effects of whatever that jack wagon tried to give his date. My eyes are unfocused as I get off the bike, and my legs aren’t nearly as sturdy as I remember them being earlier in my life.
I think that Macy loves me. I know that I love her. Drinking that wine was the smartest thing I’ve ever done. Ever done. Ever done? Why does that sound weird? Did I say it out loud? Out loud. Aloud? Allowed. I can see the words I’m thinking. Phew. I’m dizzy.
“Oh shit. Nope. Not yet. You have to get yourself up these stairs.”
That’s right.Macy.“You’re so pretty. Did you know that?”
“Uh huh.” Her voice is strained and clipped.
“Course ya do. You know you. You see you.”
“Yep. Keep moving, soldier.”
