Chapter 32 Grayden
THIRTY-TWO
Grayden
The bike’s engine rumbled beneath me as I rode down Main Street. Milo had described the Kawasaki Ninja as a sweet ride, and so far, it didn’t disappoint.
Since the distance between Milo’s shop and Piper’s house wasn’t far, on mostly quiet roads, I hadn’t bothered putting on the helmet yet. The cold wind ruffled my hair and settled me, bringing me into the moment.
It had been fifteen years since I’d last ridden, but the muscle memory was still there. My hands remembering before my conscious brain caught up.
Kind of like my first time having sex again after getting out of prison.
Though even that experience paled compared to being with Piper. And I hadn’t even gotten her naked yet. Maybe tonight. If things went well.
She’d actually agreed to a date with me, and I didn’t intend to fuck this up.
I pulled the bike into her driveway, pulled it around so I was facing the street, and switched off the engine. By the time I made it to her front door, she had it open, peering out curiously.
“Did I just see you ride up on a motorcycle?”
My boots thudded against the porch steps as I climbed them, hands in the pockets of my black canvas jacket. I could feel the stupid, irrepressible grin stretching my lips.
“Yep. Here to pick you up. You ready?”
She gestured at herself. “Now I see why you told me to dress warm. Where are we going?”
As I’d requested, she was wearing jeans and a soft-looking sweater with hiking boots. Her hair was styled into a simple braid, and a little makeup accented her gorgeous features.
Damn, she was so pretty. I forgot to breathe for a beat or two.
“You’ll see. Let’s go.” I held out my hand.
She went inside to set her security system, locked the door, and then slid her slender fingers into my grip.
After breakfast, I’d fixed Piper’s garage door like I’d promised. In the few hours since, I’d been working on getting our date set up.
Calling Milo had been the first step. I’d promised him hours of free tattoo work if he did me this favor, and also offered up my single credit card as insurance, in case he was worried about me being irresponsible. But he’d been great about it.
We’re friends, man. Of course I’ll hook you up.
From the bike’s saddle bags, I pulled out a couple of helmets and a nylon jacket with protective padding for Piper. “Here. One of Milo’s ex-girlfriends used to wear this riding with him, so it should work for you.”
She slid her arms into the sleeves. “So that’s where you got the bike? Milo?”
“Yep. Don’t have to return it until tomorrow.”
Her brows shot up. “Is this an overnight trip? I barely packed anything. Just my wallet and phone.” She pointed at the small crossbody purse she wore over her sweater.
“Nope, I’ll return you to Silver Ridge safe and sound by tonight. Ever rode a motorcycle before?”
“No. But I like trying new things.”
“I bet you do.”
For half a second, I hesitated to get closer, remembering we were outside. In easy view of her neighbors. But I’d promised to stop thinking about public opinion.
I pressed a soft kiss to her glossy mouth, then lifted her helmet to put it on. It would provide full coverage for safety, including a face shield to block the wind and sun. I’d brought gloves for her too.
Piper was precious cargo, and I wasn’t going to take any unnecessary risks with Ollie’s mom.
Anticipation zinged through my insides. For the rest of today, she was mine. And if I didn’t screw this up, hopefully for a lot longer.
After strapping on my own helmet and tugging on gloves, I swung my leg over the seat and started up the engine. Piper climbed on behind me. No hesitation, despite it being her first time, and I loved that.
“Hold on tight!” I said over the engine rumble. She wrapped her arms around my waist, leaning into me.
We roared out of the driveway, and Piper shouted happily. My grin was so big it could split my face.
Instead of following the back roads, I took her right down Main Street. Heads turned to look as we went past. With our helmets on, nobody could see us, and I wasn’t going all that fast. I wasn’t a dick.
But this still felt like a couple middle fingers to the naysayers of this town. Piper holding tight to me, her delighted laughter in my ear.
“Just wait till we’re on the highway,” I said when we reached a stop sign.
“God, I better not fall off.”
“You won’t. You’ll get the hang of it in no time. Just lean when the bike leans, okay? Do what I do.”
Her arms squeezed tighter.
As we turned onto the highway and accelerated, she had me in a death grip for a little while. But pretty soon, Piper relaxed. Her arms stayed around me, but looser, and I could feel her shifting a little as she looked around.
With the wind and engine noise, it was too loud to talk easily now. But man, I’d always loved this. The feeling of flying down the road right in the middle of everything.
Trees flashed past us. Mountains rose up ahead.
I hoped Piper felt it too. Freedom. Out here, our pasts and who we were didn’t matter.
After about half an hour, I pulled into a turn-out, following a narrow path. When we reached the picnic area, I parked the bike.
Piper jumped off first, tugging her helmet free. Her cheeks were flushed pink, eyes bright. “That was amazing!”
“Pretty great, right? You weren’t too cold?”
“Nope. I loved every second of it.” She bounced on her toes. “What’s next? Where are we?”
“Thought we’d have an early dinner. I packed a picnic.”
“Wow, this really is a date.”
“I’m not fooling around,” I deadpanned.
I’d tucked our food carefully into one of the saddle bags. There was a thermos of coffee, of course. I handed that to Piper and grabbed the tote bag I’d packed.
“Want to sit at the picnic table?” she asked.
“That would be far too predictable. Follow me, please.”
“So mysterious.”
“I’ve heard that’s what people say about me. Don’t want to disappoint.” I shot her a glance and was rewarded with Piper’s dazzling smile.
I led her away from the parking area. As I’d expected, this spot was deserted. There was snow on the ground and dusted over the trees, but the sky was pure blue with warm sun shining down in places.
We walked along the creek bank until we came to a large, flat rock. “Here. This should work.”
From my tote bag, I pulled out a picnic blanket and spread it out. So our butts wouldn’t freeze against the cold rock through our jeans.
“You thought of everything.”
I winked. “Tried.”
“Didn’t know you could be so charming, O’Neal.” Piper took a seat on the blanket. But when I unwrapped our dinner, she made a face. “Did you seriously bring us gas station hot dogs?”
“Okay, hear me out.”
She nearly fell off the rock from laughing, and I grabbed her coat, suppressing my own grin.
“These aren’t from the gas station. I bought the fancy all-beef dogs from Main Street Market. And the nice buns.”
“You do always bring nice buns,” she said with an innocent expression.
Fuck, she made me happy. Every minute I got to spend with Piper made me realize how empty my life had been. Reconnecting with Grace and Callum meant everything to me of course, but in a different way.
Piper made me feel like, for the first time in maybe ever, I was actually living.
“Take a bite before you judge,” I said.
The hot dogs were still a little warm from the foil I’d wrapped them in. I’d also added whole-grain mustard, fancy sauerkraut, and hot sauce. Since I knew now that Piper liked some spice.
“You know what?” she said, still chewing. “These are killer. I’m a believer.”
I opened a container of homemade potato salad flecked with dill, and we shared it with plastic forks. Same with the cup-lid on the thermos. Piper took a sip of coffee, eyes not leaving mine, and held the cup out to me.
Beside us, the water of the creek rushed along beneath the top layer of ice. Out of sight, but still there. Waiting for spring.
If I’d ever had a better meal, I couldn’t remember it.
“What’re Ollie and Callum up to today?” I asked.
Piper folded her legs, criss-cross style, and tugged her phone from her purse. “Callum texted me and Zandra this picture earlier.”
I huddled closer to her to see the screen. It was a selfie of Callum and Ollie in front of a T-Rex skeleton. Ollie looked like he was having a blast, and Callum sported his usual crooked grin.
“They’re at the natural history museum today. Checking out the dinosaurs and science exhibits. Tomorrow it’ll be the Broncos game. It’s an early kickoff, but they’re driving back afterward, so they won’t get home until late.”
Piper put her phone away, still glowing with pride. Her love for Ollie was so easy to see.
“I’m glad Callum could do that with him,” I said. “He hangs out with Ollie a lot?”
I’d noticed Ollie called him Uncle Callum. I was proud of my brother for stepping up like that and being a good influence in Ollie’s life. Though clearly it was no hardship. Piper’s son was a wonderful kid. Loyal and funny and smart.
“He does, as often as he can, and it means a lot to Ollie. Especially since Teller hasn’t been around as much. Teller and Ollie have always been really close, and my brother’s new life has been an adjustment.”
“No wonder. Never would’ve pictured Teller with a celebrity.
” Pretty much the entire world had been talking about Ayla Maxwell’s small-town love story when it first happened.
I’d read the articles like everyone else.
It had been strange to see clips of a TV interview Ayla and Teller did, seeing my former best friend so obviously in love.
“I wouldn’t have either,” Piper said. “But they’re great together. Teller’s the head of security for her new tour.”
I took Piper’s hand. Her fingers were cold, so I warmed them between my palms. “You know, Teller and I used to drive around Hart County sometimes when we needed to get away.”
“Did you ever come here?”
“Yeah.” I couldn’t help my mischievous grin. “We brought girls out here more than a time or two. Played some music, lit a campfire. Teller had some moves.”
Piper barked a laugh. “Ha! I’m learning my brother’s secrets. I’m not sure if I want to hear this or not.”
“I won’t scar you by revealing any more details. Just know, Teller was the popular one with the girls back then. I just tagged along.”
“I don’t believe that for a second.”
I set our trash aside to pick up later and moved behind Piper. We were both facing the creek, and she leaned back against me. The sky was starting to take on color. The oranges and pinks of the sun beginning to set.
“I remember the year you and Grace both came along. Teller and I were around ten, eleven years old. First time I ever saw Teller cry was when I came over and he was holding you. He called you an angel.”
Piper sniffled. “You’re going to make me cry. I should tease him mercilessly about that.”
“Callum wanted to hold you too. He was five, I think? Insisted on carrying you around like a doll, and you should’ve seen the way Teller hovered, afraid Callum would drop you.”
Shit, I hadn’t thought about those memories in years. When we were all such little kids. Innocent. Our parents had still been around then.
Piper turned her head. Not quite looking at me, but enough I could see her profile and the sadness in her eyes.
“People used to say I wasn’t my dad’s child. Do you remember that?” she asked quietly.
“Yeah. I remember.” I kissed her forehead and closed my arms around her. She snuggled into my warmth. “People are shitty to say a thing like that to a little girl. Teller fought another kid at school once for repeating it.”
“I think it’s true though. My dad worked as an oilfield roughneck. People said the timing of my birth didn’t add up. As I got older, Dad would take faraway jobs for longer and longer stints at a time. My mom said it was because he couldn’t stand the sight of me.”
Her mother had said that to her? What the hell?
“The day of my high school graduation,” she went on, “when I was eighteen, my dad told me he was glad I’d finally grown up, so he didn’t have to spend another cent on me. He never even spoke to me again before he died.”
“I’m sorry, sweetheart.” I wished I could hold her so tight there was no room left for the bad stuff.
She wiped her eyes. “See, I’m not good at dating. You brought me on a fun picnic, and I’m being so depressing.”
“I want to know everything about your life, Piper.”
“You know a lot already.”
“You know my ups and downs too. Some things we just understand about each other. It’s nice.”
“Yeah,” she whispered.
“Anything you ever want to talk to me about, happy or sad, you just lay it on me.”
Her head tilted. “Will you kiss it better?”
“Always.”
She put her hand on my cheek, guiding me down until our mouths met. It was just us, and in that moment, we were enough.