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Chapter Sixteen
Bridges
A persistent buzzing woke me, but I didn’t want to move to make it stop. Weston was resting on me, and my hand was on his supple, muscular ass. It was the best way I’d ever been woken in... hell, forever. His head was in the middle of my chest, and his hand was on my belly. He was almost like a kitten as he continued to rub his face against me.
Turn off the alarm, dumbass. “Time to get up, West.” I slid my middle finger down his tempting crease before moving to silence the annoying sound so as not to jolt him awake. That would be grounds for him to smack me in my morning wood.
He snuffled against my chest before he tilted his head and opened one eye. “It’s still dark.”
I chuckled as he tried to burrow into my neck. “I know, but the sooner we get on the trail, the sooner we can get off it. Alexis and Steph should be here any minute, and Raj will be coming over to ride with us.”
“Yeah. Crap. Okay. May I use the bathroom first? I’ll be quick.” He climbed over me and pecked my lips, which lit me up again.
Was that what I had to look forward to if Weston and I could forge a relationship? God, I missed affection so fucking much and getting it from the hot guy with the sexy ass going into the bathroom was the cherry on top of an I’m-a-lucky-mother-fucker sundae.
It had been too long since I’d hooked up with anyone, and even longer since I’d tried to have a relationship. I’d nearly given up on anything that would make me happy, but there I lay feeling a warm glow sweeping in through the top of my head and radiating to my toes. I’d missed the fuck out of anything remotely close to that feeling.
When West came out of the bathroom, I went inside to do my morning business. When I came out, West was on the bed in his bike shorts.
“Should I go put the bikes together while you get dressed? I can go over to the café and get us some juice and coffee for Alexis and Stephanie? I see lights, so I guess it’s open.”
I nodded before opening my duffel on the bed, thanks to West. He slid his feet into my flip flops and opened the door before grabbing my hooded sweatshirt and slipping it on. My possessive streak took that moment to blaze to life. Fuck, I’ve lost my mind.
As I slid on my familiar old biking shorts and jersey, the door to the RV opened and West stepped inside, wearing the hood. He had a drink holder with four cups of coffee, along with creamers and sugars.
“Thank you, ba—”
“Hey boss. Happy Saturday.” Alexis had a big grin as Steph stepped inside behind her with a hoodie covering her eyes as she held Alexis’ hand.
“Ladies. Good morning.” I took the drink holder from West and held it out for Steph and Alexis. They each took a coffee cup before I offered an orange juice to west and took one for myself.
“Thank you.” I didn’t include the baby, as I’d almost done earlier. Until I knew whether we had a chance, I wasn’t going to advertise the idea of the two of us beginning a relationship.
“So, uh, one bed?” Alexis glanced around the RV to see there wasn’t a second bed in the RV. She smirked. “That’s a tired trope, Bridges.” Alexis studied me more intensely than I’d have liked.
“And you’re ready to drive? Where’d you eat last night?” I changed the subject effectively, or so I hoped. Alexis was damn sharp, and the look on her face told me she was onto my attempt at dodging her question.
Alexis glanced at Steph, who giggled. “I ate at the V. Where’d you eat?”
My eyes rolled at her comment. “Nice. You talk that shit to your mother?”
“I would if she hadn’t disowned me. Are we ready to get this shitshow on the road?”
A gentle touch to my shoulder had me turning to West. “I’m ready.”
West removed my sweatshirt that he was wearing and pulled on his jersey. He was ready.
“Alexis, give us a few minutes to get ourselves ready to roll. Thanks again for doing this.” My friend nodded and smiled as we walked out of the RV.
Just as we were finished readying the bikes, Raj rode up. “We ready, guys?”
A small white SUV arrived behind him, Kayley waving at us with a big grin. I returned her greeting before she spoke. “Watch out for Raj, please.”
I gave her a thumbs up, and she drove away. It was time to start the ride, and I felt the old lightning shoot through me. This time it wasn’t excitement for me. It was for West.
After a quick breakfast of protein bars, Raj settled into the lead with West behind him and me bringing up the rear. Kayley, Stephanie, and Alexis were taking SR 100, a small four lane state highway, and they were planning to meet us in Washington, Missouri, about fifty-odd miles from St. Charles.
The morning temperature was nice—mid-sixties but low humidity for the Midwest in the fall. We were able to get a big chunk of the ride under our belts before we stopped for lunch.
