We’d only exchanged a few texts last night before Nox had to go to work. I didn’t ask what he did. It seemed too personal for something semi-anonymous like Sugar Nest. But this text felt personal. It made me feel warm and tingly, and melted away some of the terribleness from this morning.
Ava
It’s better now that I’ve heard from you
That sounded like an appropriate flirty message to a client. He didn’t need to know how true it was.
Nox
Is anything wrong?
I stared at the text and, for a moment, imagined what it would be like to have someone I could actually tell about my morning. I smiled sadly. That would never be my life.
Ava
Not at all, handsome
I put my phone in my back pocket, pulled on my apron, and pasted on a smile as I walked back to the front of the bakery.
I leftthe big box store, helmet in hand. I’d found one that fit me in a pretty mauve color. The rebellious part of me still didn’t want to wear it, but I put it on. For safety, I tried to convince myself. It wasn’t just because I wantedhisattention.
My legs ached, my palms stung, and my head pounded as I skated down the much quieter sidewalk. I should have gone straight home—there was no reason for me to stay out with how terrible I was feeling—but I found myself skating back towards Main Street and a certain bike shop.
Bear might not even be there. It was after six. The shop was probably closed. But I’d had such a shit day I couldn’t handle the thought of going back to my cold, empty house alone. I wanted to see someone who might look happy to see me.
I came to a stop in front of the shop. The light was still on. I dug deep inside myself, trying to find the carefree facade of the girl who didn’t let anything bother her, but I couldn’t quite muster it.
I opened the door and skated into the tiny, ugly front room. My heart sank at the unknown beta sitting at the front desk.
“Hey, can I help you?” He had a friendly smile and it made me brave enough to ask my question.
“I was just wondering if Bear was around.”
“Oh yeah, he’s in the back.” He gestured at the door to the warehouse.
“Oh, okay.” I bit my lip, suddenly anxious. I should probably just leave, but the allure of being close to the gruff alpha again was too strong to deny. I awkwardly shuffled over the brown carpeted floor until I got to the door and pulled it open.
The warehouse was busier than the other day, with several guys working at their respective stations. A burly alpha working on a bike whistled at me. “Hey sexy mama. Do you need help with something? Because I’d be happy to servicewhateveryou wanted.”
“Who the fuck are you talking to?” The growly voice sent a happy thrill through me as Bear rounded the corner. His eyes widened as he saw me, and then he turned to the alpha who had spoken.
“You ever speak to her like that again, you won’t have a fucking tongue anymore,” he snarled.
I shouldn’t have found that hot, but fuck if it didn’t set me on fire.
Bear turned back to me. “What are you doing here?”
His firm tone took me aback, and heat rose in my face. Why the fuck was I here? Coming to show him my helmet? What was I thinking?
He frowned as his eyes ran down my body. “Do you need to sit down, baby?”
Baby. That single word soothed the anxiety inside me. I would do anything to hear it again.
“I’m okay,” I said. I wasn’t. My legs were on fire but if I sat down, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to get back up again.
Bear’s scowl deepened as he snagged my hand, running his thumb gently down the bandages. I’d been forced to show Josie my hands when she asked me to make a batch of cinnamon rolls. I told her about my skates and laughed off the accident, poking fun at my uncoordinated state, but I hadn’t been thrilled to put my skates back on at the end of the day.
“I got a helmet.” I had to tilt my head back to meet his gaze.
