Page 24 of Forever Theirs

Caroline loved and respected both of us. Even though we weren’t huge fans of her going out alone, she would’ve at least shot a text or dropped a pin. Especially to Miles.

The growing roar of two bikes cut off our conversation as the riders came into view. They slowed to a stop beside Miles, shut off their engines, and pulled off their helmets. Forcing a smile, I hitched my chin in greeting.

“You two having fun?” I asked, pushing excitement into my tone. Usually, I loved these excursions, but today, all I wanted was to be back home, waiting for Aspen.

The one with her long blonde hair braided down her back wiped the sweat off her lips and downed half the water in her bottle. “Hell yes. Damn, I forgot how much fun it is to ride like this. The arenas and crowds are great, but this”—she gestured to the tall trees surrounding us—“is what made me fall in love with riding.”

“I’m starving,” the brunette one complained. “Did today include lunch or—” She looked between me and Miles, wiggling her brows. “—just eye candy?”

“For fuck’s sake,” the blonde grumbled. “Don’t mind her. She’s a shameless flirt.”

“Tell me I’m wrong. They’re hot as fuck and wouldn’t be a repeat who would get all clingy like they always do.”

I huffed. “Those are some high standards you have there.”

The woman shrugged with a smirk on her lips. “You don’t need a good guy to get good dick.”

“And on that note,” the blonde one cut in. “You mentioned there was a risky spot around here. Now that you know we can ride…” She trailed off, hope in her tone.

With a nod, thankful for the interruption from the other awkward and somewhat hilarious conversation, I tugged my helmet on. “If you’re up for it.” They each gave an excited shout. “Then, follow me.”

All four of our bikes started in unison. With a wicked smile pulling at my lips, I pressed the gas and took off down the trail, knowing our two clients for the day and Miles would follow. Even as the trees flew past me, the thrill of speeding down the uneven and dangerous path thrumming through my veins, my thoughts slipped to Aspen.

Imagining all the fun and deliciously dirty possibilities if she said yes to us.

* * *

Bootagainst the edge of the porch, I knocked it twice, dirt and rocks falling off with each thump, before repeating with the other. Beside me, Miles did the same, gaze scanning the narrow road that cut between the cottages. Leaning against a sturdy wooden post, I took in the small homestead-type town Brandon and his partners built for those of us who work for Uplift. Cabins of various sizes lined either side of the road that cut through the center of our village and led toward Anchor Bay.

At the opposite end from where our cabin was situated was the general store that Brandon’s wife and their other partner ran together. While Brandon focused on the Uplift business, Amy and Carl kept our community and all aspects of the nearly self-sufficient homestead running smoothly. In their store, they offered premade meals, grocery items, and personal products as needed. The food they sold was cooked with meat they hunted or caught and produce grown in the small greenhouses that dotted along the outer edge of our community.

Somewhere in the distance, a few dogs barked playfully, causing one of the farm animals Baylee raised to bellow their annoyance at the noise. Inhaling deeply, I held the crisp air in my lungs, savoring the scents of home. Our community wasn’t much, but what we lacked in material things, we made up for in love and support for one another. Most of us were veterans with many scars, inside and out.

Thinking of that had me turning my focus to Miles, who walked beside me on our way to Hudson and Calista’s cabin. The easy, relaxed smile slipped from my lips. He paused in front of their porch to brush off the fur clinging to his pants and arched a brow, questioning my sudden mood shift. He scanned my face, features falling as he stood tall and crossed both arms over his chest.

“Stop whatever you’re thinking about.”

The struggle was real, to force my lips upward into a somewhat convincing smile, which, of course, he saw right through to the guilt and regrets I wrestled with internally. “Just thinking about Brandon and Uplift, what he’s done for so many of us. What do you think we’d be doing, or where would we be if we hadn’t heard about Uplift and dropped everything to be a part of this place?”

Miles scratched at his beard and turned to scan the cabins like I just had, taking it all in. “We’d be unhappy and know we were missing something but wouldn’t know what.”

“Wow,” I mouthed.

“Well, I would. You’d be happy somewhere with a wife and two-point-five kids with a white picket fence and a dog that doesn’t shed or drool on everything.”

My stomach dropped despite his joking tone. He knew that was what I had wanted. What I thought would make me happy and whole until I had it with the wrong person and everything went to shit.

Including Miles’s life and future.

“Fuck that shit about a Doodle,” I huffed as we stomped up the steps. “You know I love Jubie.” I shook my head as I ran my fingers through my freshly showered locks. “And you know how that whole ‘dream life’ turned out for me when I gave it a go.” I raised a fist to bang on the door, freezing before my skin could make contact, suddenly remembering they had a young daughter who could be sleeping. I adjusted to rapping a single knuckle on the wood instead. “The whole wife-and-potential-family dream failed miserably,” I muttered, trying my damnedest to forget about those years of my life I’d never get back. Those years when I should’ve been with my best friend, protecting him, but instead, I had walked away and gained years of misery.

Muffled voices behind the closed door followed by the snap of the lock disengaging had me forcing an easygoing smile, hoping that would cover the turmoil of emotions still warring inside me. The second the door swung open wide, revealing Calista and Sam, Hudson and Calista’s adorable-as-hell daughter, who bulldozed her way past her mom, my strained smile morphed into a genuine one, and the lingering feelings from our conversation disappeared.

Stooping low, I scooped Sam up before she collided with my shins and suspended her high above my head. Her innocent and happy giggles filled the porch further, clearing all thoughts of my failures and regrets.

“Samantha,” Calista chastised from where she leaned against the doorframe with zero sternness in her tone. “Remember, you need to wait for Mommy before you run out the door.” She blew a raspberry, reminding me of Aspen doing the same a few times last night, and smiled at her daughter, who was now tucked safely against my chest. “Hey, Miles. Hey, Aiden. What’s going on?”

Turning my full attention back to Sam, I tossed her in the air again, desperate for more of her sweet smiles and laughter, too engrossed in the joy radiating off the tiny human to respond, knowing Miles could handle the adult conversation.

---