His eyebrows shoot up to the sky. “Are you drunk?”
A weary sigh escapes me. “Not nearly enough for the shit night I’ve had.”
He joins me on the curb. “Yeah, you sounded pretty upset on the phone when you called.” I can feel him studying me, worry etching his features. “What happened?”
I shake my head. “I don’t really want to talk about it.”
Because if I do? I’m afraid I’ll crack wide open and he’ll see everything I’ve been keeping inside.
Like the fact that I’ve spent so much time hating and resenting my former self instead of trying to figure out why I became that way in the first place.
Most people would push, but Oakley doesn’t. He cocks his head to the side, looking around. “Nice neighborhood.”
“Yeah.” I touch his arm to get his attention. “Can we get out of here? Stone’s still in the house and I don’t want him to come out here and...”
“See me?” he finishes for me.
“Yeah.” I look down, wondering how the hell I can even begin to untangle the mess I’m trapped in. “We got into a big fight and I kind of, sort of…ended the engagement.”
Welp. The cat’s out of the bag now.
I’m not sure what to make of his expression, but Oakley’s definitely not upset about the news. “Oh.”
“I’m not ready to get married yet,” I explain, even though he didn’t ask for one. “I don’t know what that means or where that leaves things between Stone and I, but I feel like a gigantic weight’s been lifted off my chest.”
Like I’m no longer drowning.
He gives my hand a small squeeze. The contact causes a shiver to run down my spine. “Then you know you did the right thing.”
That may be true, but right now it just hurts.
Like an open wound that won’t heal.
Oakley stands and reaches for my hand to help me up. “Let’s get you home.” He pauses. “Shit.”
“Shit? What’s shit? Nothing’s shit.”
Well, other than my life at the moment.
His jaw hardens. “I have my bike.”
I shrug, not understanding. “So?”
I’ve never been on a motorcycle before, but it seems like a lot of fun.
Heat rushes over my face when his eyes peruse my body from head to toe.
“That dress might be an issue.” A frown pulls at his mouth and his entire demeanor changes. “I don’t want you on my bike.”
Color me confused. “Why?”
Those blue orbs harden. “Because the last time I drove with you I almost—”
“But you didn’t,” I argue before he can finish that sentence. “Sure, I have a few scars, but someone once told me that scars meant I was stronger than what tried to kill me.” Rising on my tiptoes, I fold my arms around his neck and look deep into his eyes. “I forgive you, Oakley.”
His nostrils flare as pain illuminates his face. “Don’t.”
Not the reaction I was hoping for. “Don’t what?”
“Don’t say shit like that when you don’t even know what it is you’re forgiving me for.”
“Then tell me.” A groan of frustration leaves me. “Tell me everything that happened between us.”
I’m so tired of not knowing.
He unlocks my arms from his neck and walks over to his bike.
I open my mouth to argue some more, but he chucks his helmet at me. “Put this on.”
I hold up the shiny black helmet. “Do you have one for you?”
“Let’s go,” he grunts as he straddles the bike, ignoring my concern.
After securing the helmet on my head, I hop on and wrap my arms around his waist.
I’m not prepared for how it feels to have our bodies so close or the way it makes my heart race.
Looking over his shoulder, he grinds out, “Hold on tight.”
Pressing my cheek against his back, I constrict my grip…
Holding on to him with everything I have.
“We’re gonna get arrested,” Oakley warns.
I launch another egg at the car then duck behind the bushes. “Not if no one sees us.”
He gestures to the carton of eggs on the ground. “Why are we doing this again?”
I pick up another egg. “Because Stone’s mom is a bitch, but it would be wrong to punch her. Plus, this is way more fun.” I wind my arm back. “This is for forcing me to go with lilies instead of roses like I wanted.”
I squeal in delight when the egg goes splat against her windshield.
Take that, bitch.
I pick up another one. “This is for saying it would be weird and attention-seeking to have both my brothers and my dad walk me down the aisle.”
Oakley picks up the next egg. “This is for driving a Ford when everyone knows they suck.”
When I give him a look, he shrugs. “What? It’s all I got.”
I laugh when he throws it and it lands on the Ford emblem.
“Nice shot.”
He flexes. “Thanks, I’ve been practicing.” He points to her car. “She has giant dice hanging from her mirror.”
“Basic bitch move,” I note.
We throw our eggs at the same time.
Only they don’t hit her car…
They hit the car pulling up beside it.
Which happens to belong to her son.
Well, shit.
Oakley yanks me behind the bush just as Stone exits his vehicle.
When I see Oakley’s lips twitch, I place a finger over mine, reminding him to be quiet.
A moment later we hear, “What the fuck?” Followed by, “Goddamn kids.”
And that’s all it takes.
I start laughing so hard it hurts.
“Who’s there?” Stone barks.
Next thing I know, I’m on my back and Oakley’s hovering above me. “You’re gonna get us caught, chuckles.”
I’m honest to God trying to stop, but I can’t. I haven’t had this much fun in forever.
“I can hear you laughing, you little shit,” Stone yells.
A snort escapes me.
Shooting me a warning look, Oakley places his hand over my mouth, but I can tell he’s close to giving in himself.
“Next time you punks pull this crap, I’m calling your parents,” Stone gripes.
The moment his footsteps fade away, the laughter we were both trying to suppress breaks free.
“It’s not funny,” I say through laughter.
“It’s not funny,” Oakley agrees as his head dips to the crook of my neck and he starts laughing so hard he shakes. “It’s fucking hysterical.”
Another round hits us and I start wheezing…
And then I feel it.
His cock growing hard and heavy against my thigh.
A tremble runs through my body when he shifts so he’s nestled between my legs, brushing right against my core. When I take a breath to gather my bearings, our lips almost touch.
Blood rushes in my ears and my heart thuds in my ribcage like a warning drum.
“Oakley.”
It comes out like a plea, but I don’t know if it’s to beg him to stop or to keep going.
His voice is pure gravel. “Tell me what you need.”