“Asshole.”
32
Ford
Ihave one night to show Phoebe that I’m the one she should be with, regardless of my lifestyle these days. I thought about asking to borrow Victoria’s new car, but I want her on the back of my bike. I want her to experience the rush of adrenaline as we ride through the city. She will refuse at first but if I can win her round on the bike, my chances are much better all around.
Knocking on her door, I step back and grin when she answers in a tight pair of jeans and skin-tight black top. Her gold earrings and gold cross hanging from her neck glimmers in the streetlamp light.
“I hope you weren’t expecting me to wear a dress,” she snaps.
“Nope. You’re perfect as you are.”
She rolls her eyes, but I don’t say anything. I take her hand, and she tugs it back when we stop at my bike.
“You’re crazy if you think I’m getting on that thing!”
“Come on, since when were you such a chicken?”
She narrows her eyes and crosses her arms over her chest.
“I told you I’d give you one chance, and you want to get me killed before we even eat?”
Rolling my eyes, I assure her, “I’m not going to put you in danger. I ride all the time, I’m still here and in one piece.”
“Your life now isn’t exactly a glowing reference,” she mutters.
I climb on and hold my hand out for her. “I promise, you’ll love it.”
She hesitates but eventually takes my hand and I help her settle behind me. I tell her the dos and do nots. I pull away from her house before she has the chance to change her mind.
She clings to me, and I pick up a little more speed just to keep her real close. Her thighs cling to me and I force myself not to remember how it feels with no clothes on between us.
I park up outside the first stop of the night and kill the engine. Neither of us move and I dare to rest my hand over hers. Savoring it when she doesn’t instantly pull away.
“This is where we went on our first date,” she comments.
I smile, happy she remembered. I worked a shift for my mom to earn enough cash to take her out for a burger and fries. Neither of us were ever interested in restaurants, that was what grown ups did. We were both happy with our burgers and shakes.
“You climb off first,” I instruct her, and I follow suit.
She allows me to take her hand and doesn’t roll her eyes when I open the door for her. So far, so good.
The booth we always sat at is vacant and she slides in one side and I the other. Most of the time back then, we’d sit next to one another, but I know better tonight. I can’t overcrowd her. I need this to go well.
We place our order, and I say, “See, it’s not so bad, is it.” To make sure any silence doesn’t come between us.
“It’s not that I think you’re a bad person now, Ford. I just don’t know the person you’ve become.”
For the next two hours I give her no reason to not know any thing about me again.
“I never thought you’d end up in a biker club.”
“I never thought I’d see you partying at one,” I retort.
She rolls her eyes and then laughs. “Yeah, well, it wasn’t my idea.”
I refuse to think of what could have happened between her and Warren if I had stayed dead to the world.
