Ford nodded in understanding. “Got it. So, it’s, like, serious?”
“Yeah. I don’t do casual. I’m in it for the long haul, you know?”
“You are one helluva guy, Rezzie. Twenty-three, a homeowner, and already ready to settle down with a wife. What’s next, kids?”
I smiled at the thought and shrugged.
“You really think this girl could be the one?”
“A hundred percent. She’s it for me.”
“Damn,” Ford said with a whistle. “Talk about small world, right? I mean what are the odds that you both left Texas and ended up here in Anchorage?”
I didn’t bother to correct his assumption that Shiloh was from Texas. I knew the backstory was that she was from Oklahoma but correcting him would only add to his questions.
“It was God’s plan, man.”
“Well shit. I’m not really a believer but…” Ford’s face twisted with skepticism.
“I’m telling you man, if I wasn’t already a Christian, this whole thing would’ve had me believing, too. We both had no idea the other was living here, and then when we showed up to the rock gym that she worked at, on a day that she was supposed to be off…There’s no way that was just coincidence.”
Ford blew out a breath, shaking his head. “Damn. Yeah, that would be one hell of a coincidence.”
I nodded in agreement, and he gestured to the tube in my hands.
“You wanna do the honors?”
“Yeah.”
Ford looked at me again, shaking his head. “God or not, I’m happy that things are working out for you, Rez.”
I gave his shoulder a squeeze and knelt onto the floor to caulk the seam where the toilet met the flooring.
There really was no other explanation for how things had turned out. Shiloh and I were meant to be together, and all the bad shit in the world couldn’t keep us apart. Not now, not ever again.
Eighteen
July 9, Thursday
Emory
I slowed my bike to a stop in Enoch’s driveway, waddling the bike until I could put the kickstand down. I switched the engine off and tugged off my gloves and shoved them into my jacket pocket. After turning off the music that was still playing through my helmet’s Bluetooth, I swung my leg down from the bike.
My face twitched at the sight of the scratches on my bike, but I released the tension with a deep breath. Cole had stopped by and thoroughly inspected my bike. Other than the paint scratches and needing to replace one of the footpegs, the bike was in great condition.
I was nervous getting back on my bike today for the first time since the accident. I was questioning whether I should even continue riding at all. Whether I was taking unnecessary risks with my life, especially now that I was, well whatever it was Enoch and I were doing.
I never drove recklessly on the road, apart from the one time I didn’t put on my riding pants and jacket. But now, experiencing a taste of what could happen to me on the road,knowing that it could me away from this reality where Enoch still loved me, the idea of chasing an adrenaline high wasn’t as appealing.
My head was abruptly tugged to the side, and I nearly screamed until I recognized the familiar, brown-eyed man. My eyes quickly scanned his body, taking note of his fitted t-shirt and dark jeans that accentuated all the muscle beneath the fabric. He shifted his weight like he was aware that I was checking him out and my eyes flicked up to his.
“Fuck’s sake, Enoch. You scared me,” I growled with a glare, his hand holding my head hostage by the chin of my helmet.
The corner of his mouth twitched, like he was trying not to smile. His gaze was filled with anger and attraction. And I wasn’t sure what was going to come out of his mouth.
“Seeing you in that, I’m almost willing to ignore the fact that you rode a motorcycle here.”
I blushed at his compliment but tampered the butterflies in my stomach with a frown.
