Soon, we taxi out to the runway and wait our turn to go home.
The flight is basically an up-and-down exercise, and it isn’t long before we’re getting ready to land.I tell Summer that she would see the ranch if she’d just look out the window, but she shakes her head.Her eyes have been shut the whole time.But she was willing to try, and I’m hopeful that she’ll apply the same courage to staying married to me.
We land and I offer her my arm as she steps down the aviation stairs.I remember myself and withdraw my arm, but then I feel her hand touch me.
“Thank you,” she says, grinning.She lets me walk with her down the steps.When we hit the tarmac, she lets out a sigh of relief.“I’msohappy to be home.”
It’s a good thing I told no one when we’d be landing, since neither of us is in the mood for company quite yet.I throw our bags in the Jeep I left parked in the hangar, and then turn to Summer.
“Up for a little ride before we head back?”
She raises her eyebrows at me.
“Motorcycle ride.How’s the Triumph sound?”
“Perfect.”
It’s a clear and windless day, but cold.I’ve got leather pants, gloves, and a jacket she can wear on the bike.I snap her into her helmet and then get myself protected in similar fashion.
I swing my leg over the bike, and Summer hops up behind me.I reach behind and grab both her thighs, pulling her in closer.Holy fuck do I enjoy the feeling of her legs hugging my hips.I start the engine.
She’s no stranger to riding with me.We do it a lot, especially in the summer, when we go into town for a movie or ice cream.It’s kind of funny to think about how we’ve managed it all these years.We hang out together on the regular, often when no one else is around.And there have been hundreds of motorcycle rides like this one, her body pressed close to mine.
We’re two seriously stubborn people.We simply refused to acknowledge the truth of the situation, year after year.Summer’s still fighting it, even now.
I know it’s because of the bass-ackwards way this all went down.We were drunk out of our minds.We didn’t even know we’d done it.It was messed up and convoluted and unplanned.
And I’m so glad it happened.I love Summer.I know we’ll figure it out.
I exit the hangar, and we head out into the afternoon light.
“Go fast, Declan,” Summer whispers in my ear.“You know I love it when you go fast.”
Revving the throttle, we peel out in a scream and launch down the runway, then turn into a side road.It’s a couple hours before sunset, and the sun is low in the sky.I ride directly into the light, as if I’m daring to take on the sun itself.
That’s what it feels like right now.
It’s me against the sun.
It’s me against the world.Because somehow, I have to make Summer my own, permanently and officially.I have to convince her to stay married.
Life is so much better, richer, and sweeter with her in my life.And now that I’ve had a taste of all of her, I’ll never let her go.
CHAPTER 33
Summer
“Did you change your hair?”Phyllis asks me.
I knew it was too good to be true.I knew I wouldn’t be able to escape undetected.I knew I couldn’t avoid a situation where I’d have to look at the people I love and speak an untruth.
Dammit.
A few moments ago, Declan drove his Jeep under the Yosemite Ranch gateway and down the ranch lane toward the compound.We made it past Jamie’s house, then the houses belonging to Cal and Victoria and Finn and Emma, then on past Evander’s home and Special K’s place.
But by the time we came to a stop in Declan’s driveway, Victoria, Emma, and Phyllis were on their way to greet us.Quickly, I crouched down with my back to them, pretending I was tying my shoelaces.
Unfortunately, I forgot that I was wearing my cowboy boots, which are shoelace-free.When I stood, I found six eyeballs fixed on me.
