“Good. I made it through town without falling over or stalling the bike, so a win all around.”
His chest shook with a small laugh against my back. “I’d say that’s a very good ride then. You know, we could ride together?”
“I needed a minute on my own.”
He kissed the top of my head, pulling me harder against him. “I know, angel. You’re doing great, though. With everything.”
I let out a slow breath, my fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt. “It doesn’t feel like I am.”
Aiden’s grip on me tightened. “I think you don’t see yourself the way I do.”
I blinked, shifting against him so I could look up, caught off guard by the unshakable certainty in his voice.
He dragged a knuckle along my jaw, slow, deliberate. “You’ve taken hit after hit, and you’re still standing. Still fighting.” His thumb brushed the corner of my lips. “That’s what makes you so amazing.”
I swallowed, my throat tight as I huffed a quiet laugh, shaking my head. “I think that’s hard to believe when everyone around me thinks I’m psychotic.”
Aiden’s grip on my waist tightened, his grin slow, deliberate. “I’m the only one that calls you psycho, so that’s different.”
“Oh? And how exactly is that different?” I asked, raising a brow.
He leaned in, his breath warm against my neck. “Because when I say it, it’s a compliment of how smart and brave you are.” His teeth nipped at my ear, making a shiver run down my spine. “And now it’s even a little reminder about how wild you like to get on my bike.”
My breath caught, as his grin widened. What an arrogant bastard.
Not that he was wrong.
I rolled my eyes, but before I could respond, Hero let out an exaggerated gag from across the room.
“Can we all collectively agree that Aiden and Evie need a time-out from each other? It’s been, what? Five minutes? And they are somehow getting worse by the second,” Hero said, grinning.
Harper grinned, showing teeth before biting into her stolen doughnut. “You just wish someone would call you cute pet names.”
Hero scoffed. “Please. If someone calls me a pet name in that tone, I’m leaving town.”
“Noted,” Harper said, her grin widening.
Aiden exhaled against my skin, like he was barely restraining himself from throwing me over his shoulder and getting out of there. The tension between us had been a constant thing—always simmering, always pulling—but he wasn’t rushing anything right now. Neither of us were.
I think both of us were savoring every second of this new life.
I was still processing the fact that I could have this—that this was mine.
The thought settled deep, warm, something I hadn’t let myself feel in a long time.
Aiden seemed to sense it, his hand skimming up my spine. “Do you want to go for a ride later?”
I exhaled slowly, letting the warmth of his touch anchor me. “Yes, of course I do.”
“I do? Are you dropping hints about getting married again? Wow, Evie, so eager. I love it.”
I huffed. “You are terrible.”
“Terrible?” His brow quirked, eyes flashing. “I’m only here begging to be yours forever.”
I twisted in his arms, my lips inches from his now, but before I could argue, the roar of an engine split through the moment.
I turned in time to see Mason revving his bike, the sound reverberating off the garage walls.
