AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I ain’t taking the bike,” he snarls, starting the engine with that blank look still on his face as he pulls off.
“Shame, I enjoyed the ride,” I offer him an awkward smile, one that I hope will loosen him up a little.
“At the club, ya don’t put a bitch on your bike unless she means something to ya.” His words come out in an icy tone that feels like a punch to the guts, and I quickly look away before he sees that he’s affected me. Brax drives in silence, while I stroke my hand through Duke’s fur. It’s so much softer now, I can pull my fingers right through it. Brax must have given him a bath at some point.
“We need to talk about last night,” Brax says eventually, his mouth straight and his eyes fixed on the road ahead, and I breathe a sigh of relief. “You're covered, right? I didn’t put a rubber on and that was real stupid of me.” His harsh tone hurts my feelings and I can’t believe I let my guard down with him.
“And if I wasn’t?”
He finally takes his eyes off the road. A horrified look on his face.
“Then I’d get the doc to get ya something, there’s pills for that shit.”
“I’m covered. I get a shot every six months and I’m not due another for a while.” I put him out of his misery. “But thanks for your concern,” I add on sarcastically.
He nods gratefully and gets back to concentrating on the road ahead.
“And you should know I don’t… ya know… I’m always careful. So if ya worried about…” he slides the arch of his hand over his forehead and I can see he’s struggling. “I always rubber up, okay.” He twists the steering wheel in his other hand and I try to hide the satisfaction I get out of watching him be awkward.
The rest of our journey is silent, and I feel even more anxious when Brax pulls off and drives us up a long bumpy track. I’m surprised by what I see. The last thing I expected was a vacation park, the sign reading Blue Spruces Resort still readable despite being a little weathered. There are bikes lined up in front of the huge two-story building, and a fire pit full of ash. My eyes follow the footpath that leads up to a quaint white chapel. Maybe these guys really do go to church.
I wonder how long it’d take Brax to repent all his sins. Still, after last night, who am I to judge?
He drives us past a garage, and some large outhouses, on to a track that circles a huge lake. When we reach a clearing, I notice the long stretch of cabins. Trucks and bikes parked in the huge yard in front of them.
Brax parks in front of one of the better-kept cabins and gets out to knock on the door. I wait with Duke and watch as a pretty blonde girl opens. She nods her head as if she’s taking in his instructions, and I stay put until he makes his way back toward me and opens my door.
“Maddy’s gonna take care of you, she’s Jessie’s old lady.” His head nudges in the direction of the girl who is now waving at me from the door.
“I don’t need looking after,” I tell him, sliding out the car. I stare coldly as I step past him, because I’m done making nice. Brax is being rude and I have no tolerance for rudeness. I smile sweetly at the girl waiting for me as I walk toward her, with Duke following behind me.
I watch Brax from the corner of my eye as he makes his way over to another cabin, before he gets straight on a bike that’s parked outside it.
How many bikes does one guy need?
He starts it up, then revs the engine a few times, before taking off without the courtesy of a nod goodbye.
“Asshole.” I must speak louder than I intended because when I turn back around, Maddy is laughing.
“Brax isn’t known for his people skills. Come on in, I’ll make us some coffee,” she says warmly, and I follow her inside. The place is nowhere near the size of Brax’s cabin, but it’s homely and tidy. Another girl is sitting at the kitchen table, one who’s equally as beautiful as Maddy. She has a baby balanced on her knee, tugging at a strand of her hazel-colored hair.
“Hey.” She untangles herself from his grip and looks up at me with a kind smile.
“Ella, this is Grace,” Maddy introduces me. “Grace, this is Ella, and Dylan, She’s Nyx’s girlfriend, soon to be wife.” I sense the excitement in her tone and it automatically has its effect on me.
“It’s nice to meet you, I’m sorry you guys ended up on babysitting duty.” I roll my eyes, feeling awkward about the whole situation.
“Don’t be silly, take a seat, we’re just gossiping.” Maddy makes her way over to the coffee machine and I take a seat at the table beside Ella. Dylan is sweet, he has big blue eyes and gets a cute grin on his face when I show him some attention.
“We know all about what’s happened, I’m the one Prez has looking for your mom’s old partner,” Maddy explains, handing me a cup before she sits down herself.
“Any luck with that?” I ask, praying for good news. Good news might mean I get to go home and forget any of this happened.
“I found him,” she says, and I don’t miss the way she looks across the table at Ella.
“So I can go visit him, try and get some answers?”
“You could visit him, but I doubt you’ll get a lot out of him,” Maddy says, biting her bottom lip nervously. I stare back at her and eventually, she breaks.
