Page 14 of Hard Ride

“No.”She was quick to squash that notion.“Nothing like that.”

“You sound scared.”

“I am.”She bit her lip to keep it from wobbling.How could he read her so damn well when everyone else, especially the one man who supposedly knew her best, seemed oblivious to her emotions sometimes?“It’s probably stupid…”

“No.It’s not.If your instincts are telling you something’s wrong, then you should get the hell away from whatever is setting you off.Where’s Van?”Ollie wondered.

“We kind of got in a fight.”She rolled her eyes.“Okay, no.That’s a lie.We fucked.And then we freaked out about it.So we’re doing our own things and pretending like it never happened.”

“Does that mean you’re out on your own without security and something spooked you?”Ollie was raising his voice now.Oh God, all she needed was for the Hot Rides—and the half of Middletown they were related to or friends with—to go on high alert.She’s almost rather he’d focused on her admission that she’d slept with Van.Of course, Ollie being Ollie, he put her first.“Where’s Jordan?I’m sure he’d stand in for Van.”

“You know, you’re right.I should have asked him to.I will next time.I’m almost back at the bus.Passing the arena now and have less than a block to go.Would you…would you mind talking to me until I get there, even though I was a total bitch and haven’t called you to talk about what happened or where we stand?Especially after…you know, with Van.”

He should probably hang up on her.It was what she would do if she were him.

But he didn’t.

“We can deal with that later.”His voice was tight, whether because of what she’d told him about her and Van or because of her current situation, she wasn’t sure.Probably both.“Keep moving and stay calm.”

“I am.Mostly.More now that I’m talking to you.”She laughed nervously.It had been stupid to bug him, or any of the Hot Rides, just because her self-proclaimed Number One Fan had left her a present to go with the ones he’d brought her at meet and greets in the past.But really, who followed a band around the country and went to every single one of their shows just to flatter their drummer?

Some people would probably consider her a bitch since instead of appreciating his unbalanced admiration, she got kind of creeped out by it.

That had been bad enough, but now he was leaving stuff for her outside of official meet and greets or his recent trick of handing it to a security guard and asking them to pass it to her for him.Had he followed her?How else would he have known she’d stumble on his offering there?

The thought gave her goose bumps.Until Ollie interrupted her worrying with something even more dreadful.

“Kyra, I can hear your breathing.It’s too fast.Too ragged.You’re upset.”Ollie didn’t ask, he knew, and she didn’t dare deny it.“Listen to me carefully.There’s nothing to forgive between us.I appreciate you being up front about you and Van.I can’t even say I’m shocked.I knew there was something between you two from the first time I met you both.But you’ve got to do one thing for me…”

“Anything.”She wished he was there so she could smother him in the biggest bear hug in the history of the universe.He deserved that and so much more.He was an amazing guy.One she wished she’d met at another time and in another place, when her life was simple.

“Tell Van about whatever just happened.”

“Not that.”She gritted her teeth.

He chuckled.“If you don’t, I will.I care more about your safety than your opinion of me.Sorry.”

“Ollie.”She groaned.“Why do you have to be so fuckinggoodall the time?”

“Bad habit.”He sighed as if she’d accused him of picking his nose or something.“And for the record, if you and Van can figure shit out, then I’ll be happy for you.But if you change your mind, well, you know where to find me.The campervan door is always open for you.And…Mr.Prickles misses you.You should call more often.I hated knowing you were mad at me.”

Kyra’s heart cracked a little because she’d missed Ollie, too.She hadn’t had the guts to face him in case he severed their friendship completely.She should have known better.“I will.I promise.I wasn’t pissed at you, I was worried you wouldn’t want to talk to me after how I acted last time I saw you and…since.”

“We’re good, Kyra.Although I wouldn’t take back kissing you for anything, I appreciate more about you than how you tasted.Van, too.You’ve become good friends and I don’t want to screw that up.Hell, for that matter, you guys should come visit.Wren told me Kason is going to be here all next week on a tour break.We could hang out.You could even come on a salvage run with me if you’re still into the idea, like we talked about before.”

“You really wouldn’t mind?What if Van comes, too?”Kyra winced.“To Hot Rides, I mean.He usually hangs out at Kason’s house with me, but I figure Wren, Jordan, and Kason might want some privacy this time.”

“Other than when he planted his fist in my face, I think Van’s pretty cool.And I don’t blame him for hitting me.”

“I do.”Kyra still hadn’t worked everything out with Van, that detail included.And now that they’d fucked, it might be twice as hard to make him understand her boundaries.She bounded up the stairs to the bus, shutting the door firmly behind her and testing it.Relief washed over her.“Okay, well, I’m back inside the bus.Thank you.”

“Did you lock the door?”he asked.

“It locks automatically,” she told him.

“Is anyone else there?”Ollie might usually seem like a playful puppy, but this inner guard dog he revealed appealed to her whether she wanted it to or not.

“No.Only me.”She toed off her shoes and headed for her bunk, trying not to think about what she and Van had done there while she was still chatting with Ollie.

---