“That was a natural reaction. It doesn’t mean I enjoyed it. My body betrayed me.” She tries to argue, but her cheeks flush red. She enjoyed it. I know she did.
I stand. “That’s okay. We will have more opportunities to play soon,” I say as I leave the room and walk toward the front door. I’m not expecting her to follow. She is stubborn, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Chapter 10
Rachel
IT’S BEEN FIVE DAYSsince my date with Alex. He went back home on Monday, and we haven’t spoken since. I don’t blame him; I wouldn’t want me around after that date either. Kai has disappeared too. I haven’t seen him since that night he broke into my house. I installed a new security system that I’m pretty sure has been doing its job, since Kai hasn’t broken in yet. No messages either. Maybe he got bored or died. Maybe he finally got the message that I’m not interested. Who cares?Good riddance.
“Isn’t this nice? We have wine. We have books. We don’t have bikers tied up in your bedroom.” Noah sips his wine happily. “Like the old times, when my best friend wasn’t so unhinged as to kidnap a guy.” He’s basking in the fact that Kai has ghosted me. Have friends, they say. It will be fun, they say. Fun until they’re basking in the fact that the biker you kidnapped is ghosting you.
“Yeah, yeah, it’s great,” I say, annoyed. I turn the page of my book and continue reading, but my mind is anywhere but on the book I’m reading. This guy is ruining my favorite hobby. I used to love reading about bikers. Now, while I’m reading about bikers, I’m thinking of him. It’s a total mood killer. I’m reading about a 6-foot-7, muscular, tattooed, angry biker, and the onlything I can think about is a 6-foot dude with blue hair and a bratty attitude. He’s ruining bikers for me.
“And you know what the best thing about tonight is?” Noah continues, because he clearly wants a black eye.
“No biker?” I say and turn the page again.
“No biker!” he repeats with excitement.
I get the message, buddy. You’re happy the biker is gone. Kind of hypocritical of you, don’t you think? Considering you’re fucking his best friend. But I choose not to say this out loud for the sake of our friendship. Leo and Noah went on three dates during the week, and they have another one planned for this weekend. As much as I love that my friend is dating a guy like Leo—because, let’s face it, Leo is amazing—I really don’t like that his friend is ghosting me.Who in their right mind would ghost me?
“That’s it. No one is ghosting me.” I stand up from my seat, my book falling to the ground as I march out of the room. Noah follows me like a lost puppy, clearly confused.
“Sure, sure. Where are we going, though?” he asks as we exit my house and head to my car.
“We’re going to the fucking bar to find out why he’s ghosting me,” I announce as I open the driver’s side door.
“No, we are not.” Noah runs my way and closes the door before I can get in.
“Yes, we are. No one ghosts me,” I say, opening the door again. To hell with it. I’m not going to sit here like a good girl while Kai is roaming around, feeling good about himself for ghosting me. That asshole is going to pay for this.
“Rachel, you’re drunk.” Noah closes the door again. “You can’t drive.” I think for a minute about what he just said and toss him my keys.
“You’re right. I’m drunk. I shouldn’t drive.” He stands there, my keys in hand, looking at me as I go around the car to the passenger side. “You’re driving,” I tell him as I get in the car.
“Why me?” Noah argues.
“You’re not drunk,” I say as I scroll through my phone to the bar’s Instagram page. Kai’s photo with a blonde customer is on my screen, and all the blood in my body rushes to my head. “Look at him! He’s flirting with that blonde.” I turn to Noah, who has gotten into the car but still looks very unwilling to drive, and shove the phone in his face.
He pushes it away with his hand and sighs. “Rachel, she’s just a customer. I’m sure he’s being polite. We do that all the time with customers.”
“Do you hug your customers in photos?” I argue, showing him another one with the same blonde woman. Kai’s hand is around her shoulders. She's smiling and blushing for the camera, and he’s kissing her cheek. This is not how you treat customers.
“No, I don’t, but my customers aren’t drunk blondes.” He’s not making this better. I scroll more and find another photo with the same blonde. Who the fuck is this woman?
Noah starts the car with a sigh. “This is a bad idea,” he announces as he pulls out of my driveway.
“I don’t care. Be a good friend and drive.” I show him the photo I’m looking at now. “Do you think he’s fucking her?”
“I don’t know,” he admits.
“Has Leo said anything?” I press.
“No. Besides, didn’t you say you’re not his girlfriend anyway?”Rude. Whose side are you on, Noah?
“I’m not,” I say with annoyance.
“Then why are we going to the bar to confront him?” I look out the window, ignoring him.
