Chapter 11
chapter eleven
Caeli.
I was enamored by Brayden. A few weeks had passed since the night I spent at his house. Although we hadn’t been intimate since, we had been spending a lot of time together. Things with us were comfortable. A little too comfortable because we had fallen into a routine that had now become an expectation.
At least for me. Wednesday through Saturday after we finished our day on the food trucks, we would head home individually to shower and change only to meet up later and hang out at one of our houses. Some nights we would dip out to dinner and a couple of those nights Brayden packed food and we would spend time on our bridge.
Our bridge.
I had claimed ownership to an antiquated wood structure because the space had become a part of our story. Brayden and I had a story and the thought brought on warm and fuzzy feelings and rounds of panic.
Nothing felt this good, at least not in my life, and this thing that I had with Brayden felt better than good.
Sitting on the foot of my bed, I exhaled a sigh, wondering how I was going to navigate when things fell apart. There was no way anything I wanted would fall in place this easily.
“What’s wrong? You look like someone just ate the last banana cream cupcake.” I grinned, lifting my eyes to the doorway where my sister was standing dressed in pink from head to toe. Her aura overflowed in the most creative ways and I love that for her.
“Don’t you mean pissed in my Cheerios, stole my bike, or?—”
“No, I meant what I said, ate the last banana cream cupcake because they’re your favorite and you would be deeply depressed or angry if that were the case.”
I grinned wider. “You’re special.”
“Of course I am.” She flipped an imaginary collar. “Now tell me what’s wrong. You’ve got something heavy on your mind and I’ve got a date so we have…” She paused and glanced at her watch. “Roughly fifteen minutes to work this out before I have to meet Nox.”
I frowned. “And if the problem isn’t worked out in fifteen minutes, then what? You’ll leave me to wallow in my bad mood alone?”
“No, Lee. I’ll let him know I’m going to be late. You’re my priority. Always . Just us, remember.”
I exhaled another sigh. “I remember and I’m fine, you can go, have fun.”
“Nope, too late, you said if your problem isn’t worked out, which means one exists. Tell your big sis what’s going on.”
“We’re technically the same age right now.” I narrowed my eyes. Being Irish Twins meant Ami and I were ten months apart, but we also had a few weeks out of the year where we were the same age.
“Semantics, now spill.”
“It’s really nothing…”
“Lee…”
“Fine…” I huffed. “Things with Brayden are good, like really good and it feels too easy which means something is going to go wrong.”
Her expression softened as she entered my room and sat next to me on the bed. “Lee, life isn’t complicated.”
“ Ours is. It’s always been. Perfection is demanded and required, however, perfection doesn’t exist. Something always goes wrong.”
“It’s amazing how much damage can be done without us realizing.”
I frowned as she scoffed. “Our parents’ expectations have damaged us. You’re right, perfection doesn’t exist, but in the same right, that doesn’t mean complications have to. It’s perfectly okay to go with the flow and let things be what they are. We struggle with that because of them . No matter how far we get away from them and our past, it’s very much still present and lingering.”
I exhaled a sigh while nodding to agree. “I have to unlearn that behavior but it’s easier said than done. That nagging feeling always creeps into the back of my mind, taunting me with the expectation that nothing is as it seems.”
She grinned. “I get it, but I also know that some things just are what they are. Do you like him?”
My smile surfaced so quickly I couldn’t contain it if I tried. “Too much, unfortunately.”
“Then just live in the moment. If complications come, you two can figure them out. Don’t make it more work than it has to be.”
“You’re right.”
She hugged me tightly then lifted from the bed wearing a smug grin. “See, your older, wiser sister always has the answer.”
“You just couldn’t help yourself, could you?”
“Nope, love you.” She blew me a kiss and left my room. I decided to heed her advice and let things be what they were. No sense in worrying about problems that didn’t exist.
Live in the moment, Caeli.
I had a date with a man I was falling hard and fast for and I planned on totally embracing the moment!
W hen I pulled into Brayden’s driveway, I parked and watched as he walked a bike from the side of his brownstone. It was all black with a matte finish and very sexy, or maybe it was just the man who matched its aesthetics who made the visual so attractive.
Brayden was in black jeans and a black tee that stretched across his upper body in the most pleasing way. His chocolate brown skin glowed under the fluorescent flood light positioned on the corner of the building. When his eyes connected with mine and that sexy smile eased effortlessly in place I knew I was in trouble.
Dangerous .
As I moved to get out of my car, I kept my eyes on him as he balanced the sleek bike between his legs for a moment longer then dismounted the bike, leaning against the side, legs spread wide, arms folded across his chest.
His demeanor was cocky while he waited for me to approach. When I was close enough, his hands found their way to me and I was moved into his personal space. My pelvis crashed against his. My hands on his chest were the only thing that steadied me.
“You trying to match my fly?” His smile was lazy.
“You’re in black, I’m in gray.” I had on high waisted gray jeans and a gray cropped pocket tee, and Shadow 1s.
“Close enough, you look good.”
“So do you. I’ve never been the kind of woman who liked a man on a bike but I think I might be convinced this is a good look.”
He chuckled and leaned into the curve of my neck. “You have something against a man on a bike?”
“A man on a bike is reckless and has little regard for his future.”
“Damn, that’s harsh.” He pulled back, offering me another lazy smile.
“These are dangerous.” My eyes lowered to the bike.
“You not gonna ride with me?”
“On this?” I barked a laugh. “Absolutely not.”
“I’m a good driver.”
“Not good enough for me to play chicken with my future.”
“I thought we agreed at the bridge that you trusted me.”
“You, yes, that damn bridge and this bike, nope, not even a little bit. We can take your car or mine.”
“Nah, it’s not the same. We’re going out to Azure Palms. The ride is only done right on this.”
“I’m not…” He kissed me before I could finish delivering my protest and the kiss was a very convincing argument.
“You’re important to me, Lee. I wouldn’t dare mishandle you. I need you to trust that I got you.” The intensity and confidence in his stare, the pressure of his fingers at the base of my neck, and the lingering presence from his lips on mine made it incredibly hard to deny him of anything.
“If you kill us…”
That beautiful smile of his crept slowly into place. “I won’t. I told you I got you.” He pushed away from the bike. “Let me get us some helmets then we can go.”
“Helmet?”
“I have one for my lil cousin Peaches that she hardly ever uses. Stop looking like you’re ready to fight.”
I shrugged, not caring that I assumed it was another woman’s. “Peaches is Nox’s sister, right?”
“Yeah, she was on my ass about riding and is never around to do it so I spent the money for nothing. I think she was just trying to impress her friends.” He explained over his shoulder while heading back to the house. While he was inside, I locked my car and tucked my wristlet into my back pocket. When he came back with two helmets and handed me a leather jacket, I accepted it and slipped my arms through the sleeves.
“You two are close?”
“We are. Nox is the one who raised her, which by default made me her other big brother.” He grinned. “She calls me the fun parent and Nox the strict one but we’re both on her ass if she gets out of line. She’s smart and has so much potential. Neither of us wants her making dumb decisions that can be avoided by having the right guidance.”
“I love that you guys are close. Your lives mirror mine and Ami’s relationship.”
I tugged the collar of his jacket and brought it to my nose, inhaling deeply. “This smells like you.”
“Hopefully that’s a good thing.”
“It is. Cedar and citrus. What about you, don’t you need a jacket?” My eyes traveled down his bare arms.
“I can ride without one. This is your first time. It’s summer but the wind is crazy.”
I narrowed my eyes. “It sounds like you’re telling me you’re about to be driving stupidly fast.”
He stepped closer, tucked my hair behind my ears, and carefully placed the helmet on me. “Because I am.”
“Brayden…”
“I told you I got you.”
He lifted a larger version of the helmet I was wearing from the bike seat where he’d placed it before helping with mine and pulled it onto his head then tossed one leg over the bike. “Come on.”
I frowned, hesitating. “Can’t we just take my car?”
“Caeli, get on the damn bike.”
I huffed and climbed on behind him. He reached behind me and tugged one of my arms around his waist. I lifted the other so he was locked in and inched closer, peering up when he glanced over his shoulder. “Hold on tight, stay close, and relax.”
“I’m on a death machine and you want me to relax.”
I felt the vibration of his laugh through his back against my chest. “You’re safe with me, Caeli.”
“I better be,” I muttered as the bike roared to life. He twisted the throttle and I slowly lifted my feet, placing them on the pegs, and fisted Brayden’s T-shirt at the waist when he walked us down the driveway and pulled out onto the street, bending the corner in a way that made my stomach flip and my pulse race. He promised he had me, so I was going to trust him to do so.
The ride out to Azure Palms took us forty minutes and even after we parked and were off the bike, my body still vibrated with a weird energy. Most of it was from the roar and hum of the engine but I couldn’t deny the thrill I felt from being snuggled so closely with Brayden while he pushed us to dangerous speeds, completely confident and at ease. I didn’t know much about being on a bike, but the ride was smooth, and the skillful way he handled his confirmed he knew what he was doing.
“This is a bookstore.”
“It is.” He reached around me and pulled the glass door open, motioning for me to go in ahead of him.
“Our date is at a bookstore?” I questioned as soon as we were inside.
“It is,” he repeated but before I could question him further a woman approached with a huge smile on her round face. Her hair was pulled tightly in a bun on top of her head and her eyes were squinty and thin. The smooth brown skin of her mocha-hued face glowed to perfection.
“Welcome to Lovely Booked Bliss.” I offered a smile and looked around the open space. The exterior was lined with shelves filled with books. The rest of the space was decorated in a colorful array of comfy mismatched furniture, futons, bean bags, and armchairs. The walls housed paintings I presumed to be from local Black artists based on the names and images. I was completely in love with the atmosphere.
“Thank you. It’s extremely cozy in here.”
“I’m glad you approve. That’s exactly the vibe we were going for. Are you here for sip and paint?”
I glanced up at Brayden who nodded so I mumbled, “I guess we are.”
“Lovely, Mira is running a few minutes late but the other ladies are already set up. Head back to the book den and find a spot. Are you both painting?”
“No, just her. I’m here for moral support.”
“Got you.” She smiled softly, giving Brayden a once over. “Straight back. Enjoy and good luck.”
“Good luck?” I lifted my eyes to Brayden who tucked me into his side and began guiding us to the back.
“You said Mira Jade is your favorite author. I saw she was having an exclusive event. Tonight’s sip and paint is for readers to get the chance to paint the visual for her next book cover.”
“Her next book cover?” I paused my steps and turned to face him. “You’re shitting me?”
“I’m not shitting you, so I hope your painting skills are up to par because it would be hella dope for my girl to have bragging rights about creating the art for Mira Jade’s next book.”
“Your girl?” I arched a brow and he bent his head, lowering his eyes to mine.
“You arguing the title?”
I smiled and softly shook my head. How could I when this man was so incredibly sexy, sweet and thoughtful for making this happen? “Tonight, no.”
He laughed lightly. “Your difficult ass. I’ll take that but you better win this.”
“For your bragging rights?”
“For our bragging rights?” he clarified.
“But you don’t even know who Mira Jade is.”
“He doesn’t know who I am? Blasphemy,” a raspy feminine voice spoke from behind me. I turned and my eyes went wide.
“Oh shit. You’re…”
“Mira Jade, who he doesn’t know but I assume you do?”
“I do.” I extended a hand but she pulled me into a hug instead.
“What’s your name, beautiful?”
“Caeli.”
“Nice to meet you, Caeli. Thank you for coming tonight. I assume this was your idea and not his.” She grinned and flicked a finger at Brayden.
“Unfortunately I can’t take credit. This was his idea. A surprise for me.”
“Hmm.” Her eyes bounced over to Brayden. “I might have to give him a pass then for not being fluent in all things Mira Jade but I’m also going to have to make sure you leave with some free signed copies of my books so you can get him up to speed.”
“You don’t have to do that. I can buy them.”
“Nope, I insist. Now come, let’s get you seated. I can’t wait to see whose talented hands will be creating my next beautifully designed book cover.” She lowered her voice and added. “Or terribly designed. I have to pick one tonight so if they’re all awful then I’m screwed.”
“Oh, well I can promise it won’t be mine. I can’t paint for shit but this is going to be the best night ever.”
“Because of me or him?” she jibed and I grinned, glancing to my left at the man in question.
“Right now you’re winning but I’m guessing he’ll take the lead later.”
She offered a knowing look. “Well alright then. Looks like someone’s getting lucky tonight.”
She and I glanced at each other and laughed like old friends sharing a secret. She was right, Brayden was definitely getting lucky tonight, which meant I was too.