Page 35 of Twisted Hearts

19Aaron

Although it had only feltlike minutes, we’d been traveling for hours. I pulled into a small-town gas station to refuel and to see if Megan needed a break. I’d been too busy enjoying the scenery and Megan’s laughter to notice the name of the town which had been posted on the big green and white sign I’d failed to read miles back.

Once I pulled in next to the gas pump and cut the engine, I took Megan’s hand to help her down. Then, I lowered the kickstand and allowed the bike to stand on its own.

“Do you need to use the restroom or want anything out of the store?” I asked Megan. She shook her head no and it pleased me to see that satisfied smile on her face. She seemed to be enjoying this ride more than I’d expected she might.

“Shit,” I cursed under my breath when I discovered the damn card swipe didn’t work. I pumped the gas and left Megan standing next to my bike as I walked into the station to make my payment. Megan stood with her helmet hanging off her fingers as she stared out at the scenic country view that presented itself.

I greeted the station attendant and while giving him my pump number, the sound of loud rock music caught our attention and sent it to the opposite side of the pump that Megan stood next to. A shiny black Mercedes had driven up and parked.

Once the vehicle stopped and the music died, the passengers’ loud voices took over. As I handed the attendant my debit card, I peeked around the pump to get a better look at them. The passenger exited the vehicle to stretch his legs as the driver stepped around to pump the gas.

It wasn’t hard to tell that they were privileged and were likely used to getting whatever they wanted in life. Their expensive, shiny car and designer clothes spoke volumes. They were too overdressed for this small town and were likely heading to one of the larger cities.

The driver’s face bore a deep frown when he discovered the card swipe didn’t work. Megan stood facing my bike now with her back to the men. My gaze followed the driver’s expensive leather shoes as he stepped around the pump and made his approach towards the entrance. His designer suit and perfect hair flapped in the wind. The man was polished down to his socks. His expensive watch flickered when the sun hit it just right. The douche bag probably hadn’t put in an honest day of work in his entire life.

When he glanced back and caught sight of Megan, his steps halted, and he stood glancing over his shoulder at her for a paused moment. Keep walking, mother fucker. The bastard turned his polished ass towards Megan, intent on bothering her. She’d gotten his attention without even realizing it. A deep calming breath did nothing to remove the tension that was building inside my body.

“Sir,” the attendant called, trying to get my attention.

I had no idea how long the man had been calling me because I was too busy watching that asshole who was now talking to Megan. “Yes,” I finally answered.

“Can you enter your pin, please?”

I entered my pin number before my eyes went right back to Megan and the snobbish asshole who was standing way too fucking close to her. It was obvious she wasn’t trying to hear what he was saying, and he appeared to be one of those arrogant pricks who didn’t take no for an answer, especially where women were concerned. Once I’d entered my pin and retrieved my debit card, I headed for the door.

“Sir, don’t you want your receipt?”

“No,” I answered without looking back. When I shoved the door open, Megan’s gaze met mine and she froze in place. Blazing red heat flashed across my vision when I saw a hand on her arm. The bastard was too busy eyeballing her to notice the Grim Reaper lurking at his back.

“If you want that fucking hand, I suggest you release her wrist.” Acid may as well have been dripping off my lips. I could feel Megan’s eyes on me as I was sure death flashed across my face. I stood so close to the man, the tip of my boot brushed the front of his expensive shoes. The punkish bastard backed up a few paces and threw up the hand he’d been touching Megan with. He glared up at me with wide eyes, mouth agape.

“Sorry. I don’t want any trouble,” he said as his gaze raked over me from head to toe. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see his friend peeking around the pump at us. The asshole in front of me was still standing too close to Megan for my liking, and he kept glaring from her to me. His thoughts were displayed all over his curious face as he had the audacity to turn his nose up at me. He was no doubt wondering if we were together.

“Is there a fucking reason you’re still standing here?” I asked him, my face was pinched into such a tight grimace, my top teeth grinded into the bottom. However, I was proud of my control because a seething mass of rage was dying to exit my body. The man didn’t get a change to answer me as his wanna-be-brave-ass friend stepped around the pump.

“Is there a problem here?” the friend asked, in a raised voice as he approached and stood next to the one who’d had the nerve to touch Megan. The sight of him with his hand on her had my fucking beast roaring to be set free. I guessed they thought that the two of them together could take me, but I was ready to fuck them up if they tried me.

The first step I took towards them was stopped by Megan. She stepped in front of me and wrapped her small hand around my clenched fist as her other hand dug into my waist.

“Let’s go, Aaron,” she said into my chest because my blazing gaze was still on the assholes standing in front of me who seemed to be growing more arrogant by the second. They might have been arrogant, but they knew enough not to test a snarling dog. I was ready to set their fucking world on fire if they moved an inch.

My hand skimmed up Megan’s arm after I took the helmet from her hand with the other. I set it in place on her head and buckled the chin strap. One last glare was set on the two in front of me before I gripped the handle bar of my bike and climbed over it. I’d put my back to those fucking dicks. I wanted them to try something, so I’d have an excuse to rip them apart. My fucking blood still boiled over the fact that one had put his hand on Megan.

I didn’t have to look back to know that they were still standing there watching us. Megan took my hand and allowed me to help her onto the back of the bike. The feel of her sexy-ass legs wrapping around me and her arms sliding around my chest eased my tension. I kicked the bike to a roaring start and revved my engine before I shot off, leaving a huge gust of smoke and burnt rubber in those assholes’ faces.

They didn’t even deserve a backwards glance from me. Besides, I was the one who had what they wanted. And if it hadn’t been for Megan, they would have been swallowing their fucking teeth. The feel of her snuggling against my back and tightening her hold around my body caused a wide grin to spread across my lips.

Cruising on my bike had always been one of the joys in my life. It took me out of my own head, eased my mind, and relaxed my body. It made me forget about the problems living a life like mine guaranteed. It had occurred to me before, but this time I accepted that Megan did the same thing for me. She offered me a peace of mind I couldn’t get anywhere else.

Until we’d encountered those pricks at the gas station, our time together had been perfect. Megan needed this whether she realized it or not. It had been months since I’d taken a ride on my bikes, so I guess I needed this as much as she did.

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