Page 39 of Follow Me Down

I lift a brow in question but he shakes his head and winks.

My attention goes back to Titus who reappears with two helmets.

“Here.” He extends one to me.

“Should I grab a jacket?” I ask, not sure how long of a ride we’re going to take. It’s hot as sin right now, but I learned the hard way how cool the night air can get when you have sixty mile-an-hour winds whipping around you.

“Nah. We won’t be gone but a few minutes.”

“Okay.” I wait until Titus climbs on the bike before carefully climbing on behind him.

“You two suck!” Link yells over the rumble of the engine as Titus fires it to life.

I slip on my helmet and secure it under my chin. Titus waits until my arms are around his middle before kicking up the stand and popping the bike into gear.

I give Link a little wave as we pull away from the shop and head down the driveway toward the road.

I have no idea why Titus invited me to join him. After today, I expected him to avoid me at all cost. Then again, he’s not like the immature assholes I usually find myself surrounded by. He’s older, more mature, and probably has very little care about the actions of a silly little girl like me. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that he’s able to let it go easily.

I wish I had the same ability. I’d love to erase it from my mind. I was having such a good time with him, even if I did almost get eaten by whatever flesh-eating monsters live in that dark lake. But then I had to go and ruin it.

I honestly don’t know what I was thinking...

But then my mind wanders back to what Link said about Titus being in a mood. Did that have something to do with me or was it frustration over trying to get this bike done?

I don’t have much time to think about it before my focus returns to the present. Once we reach the road, Titus accelerates so quickly that I almost lose my grip on him. Unlike his bike, this one has a thinner seat and doesn’t sit as comfortably for two.

I scoot in closer, hold onto him tighter, all the while telling myself it’s only to make me feel safer and not because I want to be close to him.

I think maybe both are true...

It’s strange. How different everything feels in the matter of a couple of days. And while I know that Titus and Link are still strangers to me, in so many ways I also feel like I’ve known both of them for years. There’s just this comfort there. This understanding. And despite everything that happened today, everything about this moment feels right.

Titus. The roar of the motorcycle. The wind in my face. The sun shining down on my shoulders and back through the thin material of my tank top.

I watch the world pass in a blur. Greens, browns, and blues all blending together as we speed down the curvy country road. It’s scary and exciting all in the same breath. Much like how being around Titus feels.

It isn’t long before we find ourselves back at the cabin, and as disappointed as I am that we weren’t gone longer, it doesn’t negate what an absolute rush it was.

Titus guides the motorcycle back to the mouth of the shop and kills the engine, knocking down the kickstand before waiting for me to climb off. Unlike the first time I was on a bike with him, I don’t have to wait for him to help me. I push up and toss my leg over the seat, using Titus’ shoulders to keep me steady as I carefully lower myself to the ground.

“Well, what did you think?” Titus slides off the seat, lifting off his helmet.

“Are you kidding me? That was incredible.” I smile, the rush of adrenaline still fresh in my veins.

Pulling off my helmet, I hand it to him, not missing the zing that runs all the way up my arm when our fingers brush.

Dear lord, what is it about this man?

“Yeah, it was, wasn’t it?” He turns without waiting for me to respond.

When he heads into the shop to put the helmets away, I run my hands through my hair, trying to tame my mess of curls as I work to tie it up away from my face using a hair tie from my wrist.

I’ve just secured it into a low pony when Titus returns.

“So, is the owner coming to get this tomorrow?” I gesture to the bike still sitting in the driveway.

“Yeah. It’ll need to be washed and detailed before he gets here, but I wanted to make sure it handled on the road okay before I put on the finishing touches.” He gives the motorcycle a long look. “Come here.” He gestures toward the shop. “Let me show you something.”

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