Page 10 of Broken Bonds

Mr. Asshole, in all his biker glory, showed up ten minutes later in the pouring rain. He parked next to the Jeep and tapped on the window as if I hadn’t heardandseen him pull into the driveway. I opened the door, pushing him in the process and knocking him to the side.

He ripped his helmet off, an angry scowl twisting his handsome features. “I’m doing you a favor. You didn’t have to practically knock me off my feet.”

“You’re still standing, aren’t you?” Ace rolled his eyes and walked around to the back of the Jeep to get the spare.

“Are you just going to watch me?” he mocked while I stood there, my makeup running into my eyes and burning them.

I hated him so much.

“I was planning on it,” I shot back, smirking when he slipped on the driveway, almost losing his balance. He glowered at me, anger and annoyance tightening his features.

“Get over here and help before I leave you stranded,” he threatened. I grimaced. As much as I hated him, I hated being alone in this storm even more. Just as I stepped forward to offer my assistance, my phone started ringing again. I quicklyanswered my mom’s call, ignoring Ace’s rising aggravation with me.

“Can’t talk, Mom!” I said when I answered. Ace’s temper died just a little when he realized I wasn’t answering some random phone call and was actually talking to my mom.

“We’re leaving, Celine!”

“What the fuck?” I blurted, my eyes wide in horror. They were leaving me! They couldn’tleaveme!

“Watch your language, young lady!” I flinched at her harsh tone, but also, did shereallyhave a right to scold me about dropping the f-bomb when she was literallyleaving me behind?

“You can’t leave me behind, Mom!” Ace swung startled eyes to me, panic glimmering in the dark depths.

“We aren’t leaving you behind. I just bought you and Ace plane tickets for eight P.M. at the West Palm Beach airport. We’re going to drive up to Georgia and pick you up from the airport. I have a bag for you, so don’t worry about going home. There’s been another update, and the storm will be here later tonight. It’s moving faster now. Hurry, baby! Text me when you leave the house.” She hung up before I could utter another word. I was flabbergasted and completely lost for suitable words.

“You’ve got to be kidding me!” I finally shouted. I kicked the tire near me and instantly regretted it when my toe started to throb. I barely fought back a grimace of pain.

“What now?” Ace asked while looking in the trunk of the Jeep. For what, I didn’t know.

“My family is leaving without us to Georgia, and we have to catch a flight in two hours.”

“Awe, boo-hoo,” he muttered—such a change from the panic I’d seen in his eyes when he thought we’d be stranded here, near the beach, during a hurricane. “What a terrible life you live.” His sarcasm was really grating on my nerves. I turned away from him, trying to keep my anger at bay.

“Can you please hurry, Asshole?” Thankfully, the rain chose that moment to break, offering a slight reprieve but leaving us in thick humidity.

“Trying to, honey bun,” he mocked. I clenched my teeth and moved away from him so I wouldn’t kick him. “Where are the tools?” I turned back to him, seeing he had taken everything out of the trunk.

“What do you mean, tools?” I asked, confused.

“Well, shit.” Heaving a sigh, he ran his hands through his wet, black locks, his blue eyes fixed on mine. “Are there tools in the garage?”

I shook my head. “Nothing.” Dad kept any tools at the shop back home. There was no need for them here.

He frowned, looking conflicted as he glanced at his bike, then back at me. “We can go to the airport on my bike.” I started shaking my head before he even finished that sentence. I was never getting on the back of another bike. Not after Aidan. Not after a stupid bike took him away from me.

“No. No. Just hell no.”He didn’t know, I reminded myself.He couldn’t know. He didn’t need to know.

He looked thoroughly put out with me. “Calm down. It’s not that bad. I can get us there in thirty minutes.” I was not ready to get back on a bike. I was not ready to have that fear again.

I shook my head, my stomach heaving at the mere thought of getting on the back of another bike. Of even goingneara bike again. “It’s okay. I’ll just Uber and meet you there.” He looked relieved. What a dick. I knew I was being a pain in the ass—to him I was, anyway—but he didn’t have to lookhappyabout my refusal.

“Let’s put the Jeep in the garage.” The sky rumbled in agreement, and I nodded, helping him put the wheel back. Then, I hopped into the driver’s seat, slowly steering the car back up the driveway of the house as Ace pushed it.

I tried really hard not to admire the way his muscles flexed and strained, but it was damn near impossible. Why were the jerks always the hottest?

We had to make room for the Jeep in the garage, and by the time we were done, it was six P.M., and we would have to rush to get to the airport and through security. It was raining again, and the wind was picking up, making matters even worse. I turned to him, using every ounce of my will to be kind.

“Thank you for trying to help me.” He looked at me differently, like he was shocked. Fortunately for him, I was just as shocked by my own words. Who knew I could find it in me to be nice to him? To bethankfulhe’d shown up to help me?

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