Page 73 of All The Happily Ever Afters

She turned me down. Well technically she didn’t,since I never even asked.

I went there to finally get the girl I’ve been lusting after. The girl I've been working hard to be good enough for. It's been two years, but I've been working steadily toward that goal. And as soon as it got rough, I walked away.

Fuck. I run a hand down my face. I can’t believe I fucked this up.

My forehead pinches and I kick my bike back to life. The loud rumble fills the air as I make a left out of the gas station and head back to the party.

I’m tired of not being good enough. I want her.

I’m going to make sure she knows it.

As determination sets in and I rev my bike up, I almost crash the damn thing.

Catherine’s alone and on the left side of the road. Her arms are crossed like she’s cold, and she looks upset.

My heart sinks in my chest. What happened?

I have to wait to make a U-turn at the next light and pull up behind her.

I left her, again.

I need to make sure she forgives me. I need to make this right and most importantly, I need to get my girl.

CATHERINE

Ihear the dull roar of a motorcycle, and I have to close my eyes and push out the image of Ryker on his bike. I don’t think I’ll ever not see him when I hear a motorcycle.

The rumble gets closer and closer, but then softer as whoever it is pulls up close to me.

My heart thuds in my chest, and suddenly I’m scared I’m here alone at night.

This is a good area of town, but crime happens everywhere. I’m too scared to even turn around as I walk quicker and closer to the edge of the sidewalk. But then I hear his voice.

“You need a ride.”

My head whips around at the sound, and I stand dumbfounded.

“Ryker?” My blood heats, and anxiety washes through me. I take several steps closer to him, gripping my clutch tight in my hands.

My blood surges with adrenaline, and the exhaustion that was weighing me down before vanishes.

Fate gave me another chance. I can’t blow it.

I walk to his bike and prepare to just put it all out there. Taking a deep breath, I say, “Ryker, I’m sorry.”

“Catherine, I’m sorry,” he says at the same time as me.

My breath stops, and my mouth opens slightly. I don’t know what he could possibly be sorry for. He looks at me as though he’s thinking the same thing.

He throws a leg over his bike and walks in front of me. A car’s coming, but we’re safe here on the sidewalk. He looks over his shoulder as the car drives by and watches as it drives away.

He takes a step closer, looking me in the eyes. I know how I must look; I’m a mess and I hate that, but all I see in his eyes is desire. It’s like that night all over again.

He starts to talk, but I don’t want to hear it.

I don’t know if it’s the exhaustion, the thought of losing him again, or the fact that he came to get me when I was so down on myself, but something pushes me to wrap my arms around his neck, get on my tiptoes and push my lips against his.

I kiss him with the desperation I feel. I can’t lose him again. I can’t let him leave again without him knowing exactly how much he means to me.

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