Page 13 of Why Not Us?

“We don’t do it quite that often,” Taylor says. “More like once a month. And every year we try to get out to the Chief and do the full hike at least once.”

“Isn’t that a really long one?” she asks, looking at me. She’s done this a few times, looking at me for an answer as though trying to draw me into the conversation.

“The whole thing takes about seven hours round trip,” I answer.

“But Nate likes to do a little more extreme things sometimes,” Taylor says. “Tell her what you like to do, Nate.”

I roll my eyes. “It’s not a big deal.”

But with Adalie looking at me, her green eyes sparkling with interest, a smile on her lips, I tell her—all the while thinking that smile is going to get me in trouble.

I clear my throat. “I’ve been bungee jumping a few times.”

Taylor scoffs. “A few. He goes up there and everyone knows him by name.”

“Really?” Adalie asks. “Where do you go?”

“Whistler. It’s just south of the ski resort.”

“I didn’t even know there was bungee jumping in Whistler. I know there’s one in Nanaimo.” Her smile is playful when she says, “I heard people go naked there. Doyoujump naked?”

Taylor laughs, but I’m suddenly imagining Adalie naked and can’t seem to move past the thought.

“No,” Taylor answers, getting up. “They don’t do that in Whistler.”

He goes over and locks the front door. We still have a couple customers finishing their drinks, but to make sure no one else comes in, we lock the doors at closing. Taylor stops by the table where the last customers are, chatting with them, while I get the image of Adalie, naked, out of my mind.

“Are you sure you want to give me a ride?” she asks. “I can just order an Uber.”

The idea of having her pressed against my back, her arms wrapped around me as we ride, has my dick twitching in my pants. Dangerous thoughts, certainly, but I’m not going to try to lie to myself and say I don’t want to do it.

“I’ll give you a ride.” I raise my eyebrows. “Unless you’re chickening out?”

She narrows her eyes. “I’m not.” She fluffs her curls, seeming completely unconcerned. “I just don’t want you to go out of your way if you don’t want to.”

I shrug. “I like riding. It’s a nice night, and I haven’t been out much over the last few months. I’ll take you home.”

The excuse works because it’s all true. Idolike riding, itisa nice night, and Idon’tride much during the winter months. Though the real reason I want to take her has nothing to do with wanting the extra time on my bike.

When Taylor leads the last customers out the door, I take Adalie upstairs, rummaging in one of the closets.

“What is this place?” she asks, wandering throughout the space.

“It’s an office and storage area now. But when we started Hops Scotch, Taylor and I lived up here. For the first three years after we started the business. Then Katie settled on a neighbourhood she wanted to raise Dani, and Hops Scotch was going well enough that Taylor and I could afford a mortgage if we went in together, so we bought our house.”

“Katie is Dani’s mom?”

I find what I’m looking for and turn to her. “Yeah. We still keep a few things here we don’t need often. I use the storage space at home for my home brewing system. Try these on.”

I hand her a pair of leather pants. She takes them skeptically.

“Whose were these?”

“They were mine and then Taylor’s a long time ago. We’ve been saving them for when Dani’s a bit bigger, but they should fit you okay.”

She sits and pulls them on, and I watch as those sinful legs disappear beneath the black leather. I can admit to myself I’m sad to see them go. She stands to pull the pants up under her skirt and I turn back to the closet, finding the padded leather jacket and helmet we’ve also kept for Dani.

“You’re not going to get Dani all new things if she wants to ride your motorcycle?”

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