“I would love that,” I reply, reaching into my back pocket. Where’s my phone? Oh shit! The diner. Knox. I groan.
“I left my phone at Ruby’s. Would you mind if I used yours to make a quick call?”
“Of course.” She readily hands her phone over. I program my number into it first, then dial Knox.
“Hello?”
“Knox.” That’s all it takes.
“Jesus Christ, Aurora! Are you alright? Where the hell are you? Prez, Austin—I’ve got her on the phone,” he shouts. “Baby, tell me where you are.”
“I’m sorry. Please don’t worry. I’m fine. I didn’t realize I left my phone at the diner.”
“Prez has it. Your bike is still at the diner. I’ll send someone to get it. Now, where the hell are you so we can come get you.”
“I’m at Cam’s gravesite. I lost track of time. Cam’s mom is here. We got to talking…” I trail off.
“Oh, thank fuck. Give us ten and we’ll be right there. Don’t you dare leave.”
“You do know how creepy and scary cemeteries are at night.”
“Shit. Hold on.” I hear him talking to the guys.
Mrs. Bollinger taps my arm. “I can drive you to wherever you need to go since I’m heading out anyway.”
“You don’t mind?” She gives me a “mom” look. “Thanks. I’d appreciate that. Knox, Cam’s mom can drive me to the diner so I can get my bike. I’ll meet you at home.”
“You bet your sweet ass you will.”
“You’re cute when you’re angry,” I tease him.
“Aurora.”
“See you at home.” I hang up and hand Mrs. Bollinger her phone back.
“The new boyfriend?” she inquires.
“Yeah.”
She nods. “You’re going to be okay, Aurora. Everything will work out the way it’s supposed to. You’ll see.”
Yeah, I won’t hold my breath on that.
I feel like a teenager who got caught by their parents trying to sneak back into the house at midnight. When I pull up on the bike in front of the house, four sets of male eyes are watching me with matching glares.
I decide to go ahead and turn off the ignition and kick the stand down instead of taking the bike to the garage. As soon as I pull my helmet off, Knox is in front of me. He takes the helmet from me and lays it on the ground at my feet.
“Hey,” is the only word I get out when he hauls me into his arms, my lips besieged with a fierce kiss like he’s staking claim.
Can I blame him? To him, his girlfriend ran into her ex and then she ran off and went radio silent for hours. If our roles were reversed, I would be acting all cavewoman as well, and more than likely, would be feeling overly insecure and jealous on top of that. But, dammit, I’m confused and all muddled up inside. JD’s surprise return has me all fucked up. How can I still feel anything for him anymore after what he did, when I have someone like Knox now?
The heart wants what it wants.
I pull away from Knox and clasp his handsome face. “I’m sorry that I worried you.”
“Prez filled me in. You know we need to talk about this.”
“Later. I’m tired and hungry and desperate for coffee.” I link my fingers with his and walk up the stairs to where Trevor, Prescott, and Austin are standing, still glowering at me.
