10. Waverly
CHAPTER TEN
WAVERLY
“ I thought you were going to do a runner on me.” He chuckles.
“I thought about it.” I shrug.
“But you decided against it?” Amusement fills his dark eyes.
“Clearly.”
He wraps an arm around my waist and tugs me against him as he pushes through the doors. His touch is like fire against my skin, and I swallow down the groan that tries to escape. This is what happens when you don’t let anyone close. The first person who touches you in years, and you’re putty in their hands.
“Good thing I like a chase then.”
I flick my eyes up to meet his, expecting to see the telltale signs of a joke staring back at me, but instead all I see is the truth.
I swallow heavily and turn back to the street, looking for the car he drove me home in last night, but I can’t spot it.
It’s not until he pauses next to a black motorbike that my stomach bottoms out. “Where’s your car?” I ask quietly.
“It’s a nice day for a ride.” He shrugs and plucks the helmet off the back of the bike. He makes quick work of dropping it over my head and securing the chin strap.
“You have a car and a bike in a city like New York?” I ask incredulously. How much money do priests make? Because it costs an arm and a fucking leg to park in this city, so where the hell has he found a place with not one, but two, parking spots?
He just nods and helps me onto the back of the bike before swinging his leg over the sleek black seat in front of me.
The engine roars to life, and I quickly wrap my body around his back before I can think better of it. I’ve never been on the back of a bike before, but if there’s anything I’ve learned from books and movies, it’s that you need to hold on for your fucking life.
Emmett pulls into the traffic, and I bury my face into his back to smother the scream that threatens to escape the back of my throat.
Why didn’t I sneak out the back way again?
That seems like a much safer option right now.
After a few minutes, I accept I’m not going to die and relinquish some of my hold from his waist, peering out from over his shoulder to see the city fly by. No car ever moves this fast through the city at this time of the day, but the bike sneaks up the middle of the lanes, and I find I enjoy the way the wind whips around us.
If there’s anything I would have expected to hate in this world, this would have been right up there with brussels sprouts. The latter, however, I never plan on testing.
It’s almost too soon when Emmett eases the bike into a free spot in front of my building, and I hesitantly climb off the back of the bike. My legs wobble beneath me, and a strong arm quickly catches me, tugging me against him where he’s still straddling the bike.
“Careful, baby girl,” he murmurs, and I melt into him.
I swallow heavily and force myself to pull away. What happened to keeping my distance from everyone? It’s better that way. I can’t get hurt that way.
“Thank you for giving me a lift home. You didn’t have to do that.”
“No, but I wanted to. I don’t like the idea of you walking around the city by yourself. There’s danger lurking at every corner.”
Don’t I know it.
“I’m sure I’ll see you soon, Waverly.” He smiles as he makes quick work of undoing the helmet and removing it from me, just to put it over his own head.
I step back, and he gives me a wink as he pulls back onto the street.
I’m so fucked. I’ve managed to escape the interest of the opposite sex for the last decade, but I guess I should have known it wouldn’t last forever.
Biting down on my lip, I climb the steps of my apartment building and make my way to the fourth floor. The lift has been broken for the entire time I’ve lived here, and at this point I’m so used to the stairs I don’t think I’d use it even if it worked.
My neighbors pretend I don’t exist as I pass them, and I return the favor, but when I unlock my door and secure the deadbolt and two additional locks I had installed when I moved in, I feel more alone than I have in all the years I’ve lived by myself.
With a sigh, I drop my bag on the table and press the answering machine button. Thankfully it has a backup battery, but it’ll die soon if I can’t afford to get the power turned back on.
I ignore the first two messages telling me I’m late paying bills before pausing when a familiar voice fills the room.
“Hi Waverly, it’s Wyatt here. We were really impressed with your trial shift last night. Would you be willing to come in tonight to fill in all your paperwork so we can get you on the roster for the end of the week?”
A smile spreads across my face, and I slump into the rickety dining chair I rarely use. Finally the universe is giving me a break.
I quickly call back and leave a message on his machine letting him know I’ll be there.
I don’t want to get my hopes up until I know what kind of hours I’m looking at, but if I can get enough shifts, I might be able to do away with the diner altogether.
Wouldn’t that be a dream.