Page 34 of Verses

“I don’t think you will be, but we’ll cut your time in half so you get inside faster.”

I laughed. “Okay, fine. I’ve never been on a bike. How do I do this?”

“First,” he said, “you should wear a helmet, but I’m bad about wearing one when I drive around town—meaning I don’t have one here. So I’m gonna get on and then you just get on behind me and hold on.”

That made me all nervous and jittery—not being without a helmet, but touching Wolf that way.

Stupid. We were fully clothed and itwascold out. There was nothing intimate about it—and yet, as I straddled that bike and wrapped my arms around Wolf’s midsection, my insides started fluttering.

“Where are we going?”

“I’m on West Main, just past the railroad tracks.”

When he started up the bike, the motor rumbled, vibrating throughout my entire body. I sucked a deep breath in through my nostrils and looked at Charlotte wide-eyed, with its tiny lights futilely battling the darkness. Wolf guided the bike out of the spot so we paused in front of the stop sign. After just a few seconds, he pulled onto Main Street, already asleep except for a few vehicles clustered around the various bars lining the road.

Even though he wasn’t going fast, the breeze on my face was brisk but refreshing. When I looked straight ahead, though, Wolf’s shoulder blocked all but my eyes and forehead and, less than a minute later, he crossed the railroad tracks.

“My place is there on the right—the apartments.”

He gave a short nod before slowing down, pulling in front of the building behind a couple of parked cars. “Do you need help getting off?”

“No, I think I can do it.” Even though the bike was a beast, I managed. “Thanks for the ride, Wolf.”

“Anytime. Next time I’ll bring a helmet.”

Next time?My insides swirled again.

“Hey…I wanted to thank you. You, uh…you saved my band.”

“I wouldn’t gothatfar.”

“Iwould.” But I wasn’t going to debate it.

“You guys have everything you need—but I appreciate the opportunity just the same. It’s a good reminder that I’m not dead yet.”

Almost unable to help myself, I said, “You have my undying gratitude.” Then I hugged him before he could protest or say anything about it. “G’night!” Without another word, I ran inside the building, resisting the urge to turn around to see him still there.

I knew he was, because it wasn’t until I was almost up the stairs that I heard that engine roaring as he sped down the street.

Was Wolf thinking about me the same way I was thinking about him?

And how dare I?

Kyle was my boyfriend. We were in a committed relationship and had been for a while. I had made that unspoken vow to him and he deserved my faithfulness.

I just needed him to find a way to open back up with me, like we used to be.

But why did I think I deserved that anyway? I deserved Kyle and whatever he dished out. I just had to figure out how to deal with it and stop dreaming about being a happy couple. The only happiness I needed to expect would come from my band’s success.

That was all I needed to focus on…so why did my heart keep wanting more?

CHAPTER 10

Every once in a while, I had these reminders that my childhood had been pretty fucking shitty. My first stepdad was a guy I wasn’t sure if my mom had actually married. I thought I could remember a ceremony, but I couldn’t trust my memory.

Anyway, the guy’s name was Jeff, and I was six or seven or something like that. No pubes on my girl parts.

But I remembered him calling medirty.Damaged goods.

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