Page 37 of A New Era

“Hold up, Mase is about to…” He passes us at an alarming fast speed and Harper and I watch on as he rides up beside her and leans so close it has me holding my breath. He bangs on her window and when she doesn’t give him what he wants, he kicks at her door causing himself to swerve on the road.

“What the hell?” I murmur.

Aspen swings her car to the side of the road and comes to a sharp stop. It takes Mason a beat to slow down and turn around. I keep my eyes on the road as we pass them and watch in the rearview mirror as he jumps off of his bike and throws open her door. I slow in case trouble kicks off but all he does is lean in, bracing his arm on her roof.

“That was crazy.” I sigh.

“You’re not wrong.” She laughs and then looks at me. “I don’t need to worry about you and Leo, I thought he was never gonna leave, what with his lips glued to yours.”

Laughing, I don’t care that a blush is creeping across my cheeks. To take the heat from Leo and me, I ask, “Everything okay with you and JJ?”

Her smile widens. “Did you ever think true happiness was real? Like, you’re so happy you’re just waiting for something to go wrong?”

I snort. “I didn’t but I am now.”

“You know what I mean. I have everything I’ve ever wanted and more since I’ve never wanted children. Gunner completes us. But there’s that small voice always reminding me it can be taken away from me at any time.”

I reach over and squeeze her hand. “No one’s taking anything from you. I won’t allow it.”

“This is why I desperately wanted Leo to sort his shit out and stop you from leaving town. You’re the best friend I needed.”

Dammit, I don’t want to cry. If I hadn’t been kidnapped, I would never have known true friendships.

“Thank you.”

We enjoy the rest of the journey in silence, and I keep my eye on the car that’s been following us.

“Have you noticed anything strange on the way here?” I ask Harper as I park up in the last available spot out front of the hardware store on Main Street.

“You mean the SUV that’s been following us for the last fifteen minutes and just drove past as we parked?”

I sigh. “Yes. That.”

“Then yes, I did.”

“Why didn’t you say something?”

“Why didn’t you?” she retorts.

“Do you think it was intentionally following us?”

“I have no idea but let’s keep our eyes open, yeah?”

And we do. All around the supermarket picking up last-minute supplies and then at the liquor store as we stock up on wine and liquors. Alannah warned me the old ladies can drink just as much as the brothers and to be prepared. Leo left me more than enough cash to cover the night.

We walk out of the store to Grim and Shane sat on their bikes beside my car.

“How? When?”

“I sent my dad a text before we even got out of the car.”

I wonder how I didn’t see her do it but nonetheless, I’m grateful for Grim and Shane’s presence. You can’t be too careful, and I haven't ignored anything since I was kidnapped.

“Hey, you both good?” Grim asks.

Harper answers, “We are. I don’t think anyone followed us around the store but there was definitely someone trailing us driving into town.”

Shane climbs off his bike and takes the bags from me, and I open the trunk for him.

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