Chapter 10
CHAPTER TEN
Chase
With Ashley's arms tight around my torso, the wind rushing past and the feeling of my bike throbbing under me, I wanted to shout to the sky.
There was no feeling in the world quite like this.
Yeah, it wasn't just the bike. It was her too.
There was something about her excitement that made mine shift up a gear.
No woman ever seemed to like riding as much as I did.
For a while, I could forget this was supposed to be fake.
I took us out of the city and headed west. Buildings gave away to houses, which became farms and fields.
Out here, the air was fresh, clean. It felt like home.
The city was all very well, and certainly convenient for shops, restaurants and work, but I was a country boy.
At heart, I always would be. Maybe it's all the green.
Maybe it's the freedom, the quiet, the open road ahead of us, the gorgeous woman clinging to me, her thighs pressed against mine.
"Where are we going?" Ashley shouted near my ear.
"You'll see," I shouted back. The wind tore away my words, but I think she heard. "You okay back there?"
"I'm fine," she yelled. "This is kinda fun."
I smiled—mouth closed—and my chest rumbled in laughter.
"Told you so," I replied.
She shook, which I hoped was also a laugh.
"Yes, you did," she said.
I slowed the bike and pulled off the road onto a little dirt track to the side.
Narrow and rough, it led to a creek I found while wandering around one lazy afternoon.
No one seemed to own the land, so I came here sometimes to think.
I had hoped to bring Brandi here someday, but it's not her kind of place at all.
There were no chairs here, or shops. Or wifi. That was what I liked about it.
I stopped the bike under a tree and killed the engine. I climbed off and helped Ashley before I took off my helmet.
"This is so pretty." She shook out her hair while I took her helmet and hung it beside mine, on the handlebars.
"It's not the kind of place Kris or Brandi would find us, but maybe if we take some photos, we can post them up on social media later." I didn't want to think about that now. I wanted to enjoy being here, in the quiet.
"There's a nice place beside the creek for a picnic." I unstrapped a box from the back of the bike and carried it a few metres to the creekside.
"It looks like a perfect place for a swim in summer," Ashley said.
"It is," I agreed. Shame it was too cold now. "Or to paddle downstream in a kayak."
"I don't think you'd fit one on your bike," she said with a grin.
"No, we'd have to bring my SUV," I said. Wait, was I actually thinking about bringing her here in summer? It was only autumn now, albeit late in the season. By summer, we'd be back with our lovers, too busy to do things like this.
Ashley gave me a funny look and turned to slip off her leather jacket and hang it over her arm.
"I have a blanket." I lowered the box to the grass, opened it and pulled out a tattered picnic blanket. The kind with plastic on the bottom so water wouldn't seep through.
I flicked it out and set out smaller boxes of food and bottles of water before I sat and watched the creek meander past.
"I hope you like ham and cheese sandwiches." I opened the sandwich box and pulled out two. "It's all I know how to make."
That wasn't strictly true. Bernice had the day off and I didn't want to make a mess in the kitchen.
Sure, it was my kitchen, but it was her domain most of the time.
She wouldn't say a word if I left crumbs everywhere, but she'd give me the side eye.
Then she'd cook me something I didn't like, but I'd have to eat, or be rude.
It was like having my mother living with me, but she was much scarier.
"I love ham and cheese." Ashley took one from me and nodded her thanks. "This is lovely."
I bit into my sandwich and nodded. "Yeah, it's nice and quiet."
She smiled.
"What?" I asked.
She opened and closed her mouth, then shrugged. "Nothing."
I looked at her sideways. "It didn't look like nothing. Come on, you can tell me. I don't bite."
She hesitated for a moment before she said, "It's just funny how you like bikes and football, but then you also like sitting by a creek, under the trees, in the quiet."
"I'm a simple guy," he said. "I like the simple life. This is uncomplicated. So is riding."
"And football?" she asked.
I thought for a moment. "When I'm playing, it's me, the guys, the ball and the roar of the crowds. Off the field, there's a lot more involved, like interviews, endorsements and shit like that, but as long as I can take moments like this, then I can keep my head on straight."
"That's important to you, isn't it?" she asked. "Not letting fame go to your head."
"It is," I agreed. "I've seen guys turn into total assholes, because they let it get to them.
They stop listening to everyone, then everyone stops wanting to be around them.
They lose their love of the game, then their relationships with people around them.
I've seen marriages fail, friendships end.
I don't want to end up alone, some washed up former star.
I want a good life when I stop playing."
"Good and simple?" she asked.
"Exactly." I said. "I'd like to buy some land. Maybe have some cows." I'd never shared that dream with anyone. I half expected her to laugh.
To my relief, she didn't. Instead, she nodded.
"That sounds lovely. My other grandparents have a small farm. I spent a lot of summers out there. They breed pigs. Believe it or not, I got my hands dirty, helping out." She held up a hand that didn't look like it had seen a smudge of dirt, but I believed her.
"Bacon farm, hmmm?" I said with a smile.
She grimaced. "I tried not to think too much about what happens to the pigs." She looked with irony at her sandwich, then bit into it.
I chuckled. She had guts, that was for sure. Brandi wouldn't have wanted to talk about pigs. She wouldn't have eaten ham either. Unless it was low fat and preferably vegetarian, she was out.
"I suppose we should take selfies," I said reluctantly. I was enjoying myself. I didn't want to turn this into a social media moment.
On the other hand, if Brandi didn't see it, she wouldn't miss me and then I'd never get her back and Ashley wouldn't reunite with Kris.
Did she really want that? But then she pulled out her phone and bent her head to mine.
Her hair brushed against my cheek. My breath caught in my throat. My dick was suddenly very attentive to her.
"Say cheese," she said.
"Chee—" My breath caught in my throat. I coughed to clear it. "Cheese."
My grin in the photo was silly, my eyes half closed. Ashley looked perfect. Every hair in place, teeth white and even, a hint of cleavage peeking out of her pink t-shirt. Kris was an idiot to cheat on her. She was cute, smart and obviously loyal. She deserved better.
If they got back together, I'd make sure he understood that. I might not put my fist in his face, but he'd get the message, loud and clear. And if he hurt her again, I would…
I'd be here for her whenever she needed a shoulder to cry on.
"Are you sure you want me to model?" I asked. "The camera hates me."
"You look adorable," she said. Quickly, she added, "I mean, you look fine. I can take it again if you don't like it."
She looked so awkward all I could do was smile and say, "It's fine. I don't want to break your phone."
She laughed and swatted me on the arm.
"Hey!" I protested with a laugh of my own.
I turned my face and found myself almost nose to nose with her. I stared right into her eyes while my heart skipped a dozen beats. We breathed each other's air for half an eternity. My gaze slid down to her lips. She was right there. I could…
We both turned our faces away and sat back, apart.
"Sorry," I muttered.
"Yeah, me too," she said awkwardly.
I finished my sandwich and cracked open a bottle of water to wash it down. "So, um. Tell me about this fashion parade."
Her smile lit up her gorgeous face. Evidently I'd asked the right thing to break the awkward silence.
"It's one of the biggest events of the year," she said. "We have a parade for every season, but the spring one is special. I suppose because it's spring. Who doesn't love spring?"
I shrugged. "I know I do. It's one of my four favourite seasons."
She blinked for a moment, then laughed. "Mine too, but it's at the top of my list. Warm weather, spring flowers, cute dresses." She sighed.
Autumn was my favourite, because the season started again, but spring was good too, for all the reasons she listed, and more.
"Piglets," I suggested. "Baby chickens."
"Calves," she said. "All the new life. It's like the world starts all over again."
I smiled softly. "You don't want us dressed up as baby animals, do you?"
She laughed. "Well, I didn't until you said that. Now, I wonder if maybe it's a good idea." She toyed with a piece of her hair and smiled slyly.
"Dibs on the baby Rapid," I said.
She laughed, long and low. "I can just picture you dressed as one, but no baby Humpbacks. We don't want to scare the customers away."
I grinned. "Let me guess, you've never swum with Humpbacks."
"Never, but I did swim with dolphins once," she said.
"The whole team?" I joked.
She swatted me on the arm. "Of course not. I'm a one team kinda gal."
"Remind me you get you a Rapid's sweatshirt," I said. "They have the logo on the front, and Lowball Bay Humpbacks on the back, so the whole world knows."
"Only anyone who is following me," she pointed out.
I chuckled. I'd totally get her a sweatshirt if she'd wear it. I gave Brandi a letterman jacket with the team name and logo on it and she'd thrown it straight to the bottom of her closet. At least, that was where I found it. Maybe it fell off a hanger. Either way, I never saw her wear it.
"Does that happen often?" I asked. "That you get followed, I mean."
"More than I'm comfortable with," she said. "But it's nothing I can't handle. I'm sure the same happens to you."
"Sometimes," he said. "I don't have to resort to the cap and sunglasses very often."
"Does that ever work?" she asked. "As disguises go, I've often wondered."
"Honestly, I think it might draw more attention to me, not less. Sunglasses in an airport are a red flag to anyone celebrity hunting."
Now I thought about it, it was kinda dumb.
"I can see how it would look that way," she agreed. She hesitated and for a few moments the awkwardness was back. "About the fashion parade."
"Yes," I said slowly, as though I thought she was up to something. "What about it?"
"I have an idea," she said.