Chapter 20
CECILIA
Iassumed we’d eat on campus, but Gabriel has something else in mind as he leads me outside to one of the campus parking lots.
The sun shines bright in the sky and a light breeze lifts my long hair around my shoulders.
I rush to smooth it down, wishing I had a scrunchie or hair tie with me, but no such luck today.
I’m not really paying attention to where we’re going, too focused on keeping my hair out of my face, when Gabriel comes to a stop at the edge of the lot closest to the main road and I nearly run into him.
He steadies me with one hand on my shoulder, but releases me as soon as he’s sure I won’t fall.
Immediately, I miss the contact, which surprises me, and not for the first time. I like when Gabriel touches me.
There aren’t many cars on this side of the parking lot, and I eye each of the ones I see curiously.
None of them look like something Gabriel would drive.
The first is a bright red convertible. Too flashy.
The next is a minivan. Too domestic. And the last is a lifted truck with giant spinning rims. Whoever drives that clearly feels the need to compensate for something.
Call it a woman’s intuition, but I doubt Gabriel needs to compensate for anything. So, I’m surprised when he angles his head toward the obnoxious thing on wheels.
Seriously?
Seeing the look on my face, he rolls his eyes and leads me around the monstrosity. Hidden behind the douchebag truck is a sleek, black on black motorcycle. Damn. He drives that? I lick my lips. I can absolutely see him riding it.
Me, on the other hand, not so much. Which is why my eyes bug out of my head when he raises one of two full-face helmets from the seat and offers it to me. I accept it, but instead of putting it on, I hold it at my side.
“This is yours?” He has the whole hot athlete thing already going for him. Does he really need to take his hotness to extreme levels by driving a freaking crotch rocket, too?
His responding grin is full of mischief. “It is.” Taking the other helmet, he places it on his head, quickly securing the buckle beneath his chin. Meanwhile, I’m left staring at him like a moron.
Pushing up the visor on his helmet so I can see his honey-gold gaze, he asks, “Need some help?”
Swallowing hard, I hold out the helmet and shake my head. Nope. Just no. Getting on the back of that, with him, is a bad idea. “I’ll follow you in my Jeep,” I tell him.
“Why? This is much more fun.” He winks, and even with his helmet covering most of his face, it’s devastating.
“If you have a death wish.” The helmet is heavy, so I let my arm fall back to my side.
“Is that really something you’re worried about?” Gabriel asks, quirking a brow.
Ha. Ha. Point made. Swallowing down my apprehension, I give the bike one last long, considering look and take a deep breath. I can do this. It will be… fun.
I tug on the helmet and without me needing to ask, Gabriel reaches out, his nimble fingers making quick work of the loops and buckle beneath my chin.
I ignore the way butterflies dance in my stomach when his fingertips brush my skin, keeping my gaze focused anywhere but on him.
Why him? Why do I have to be attracted to him? I still don’t understand it.
“There,” he tells me, tapping my helmet. “All set.” Picking up my backpack, he helps me slip my arms into the straps before securing his own bag to his chest, wearing it backwards. “Come on.” Waving me forward, he gets onto the bike, slips in the key, and cranks the ignition.
It roars to life, drowning out the noise from the road.
Gabriel pats the seat behind him and I eye it with a mix of curiosity and trepidation.
Here goes nothing. Throwing my leg over, I settle myself behind him and wrap my arms around his narrow waist. The vibrations from the bike thrum through me and I squirm on the seat.
Gabriel gives me a moment to get adjusted before he kicks up the stand and guides us out of the parking lot.
We move slowly at first, weaving through the parking lot as we make our way out onto the main road.
My body moves with his, tilting side to side as he takes tight corners and gradually increases our speed.
I press myself firmer to his back, using his bulk to block out the wind while also hanging onto him for dear life.
Being on the back of a motorcycle is… exhilarating. I’m not sure how else to describe it.
It’s like being on a roller coaster as you crest the top of the peak and plummet down the ramp, only the drop never stops.
Gabriel reaches one hand back, grasping me right above my knee as we speed down the highway—definitely going faster than the posted speed limit.
At first, I think he does it to comfort me, making sure I’m okay with how fast we’re going.
But he keeps his hand there for the remainder of the ride, only ever releasing me to shift gears or take a particularly sharp corner before returning his hand to my knee, like he can’t not touch me.
It’s only ten minutes later when we come to a stop in the driveway of a modest two-story house.
Parking beside two other motorcycles, one a burnt orange and the other a deep indigo blue, Gabriel kills the engine and helps me off the bike.
We leave our helmets on the seat and he takes my hand, leading me not to the front door but to a side gate.
“Who lives here?” I follow Gabriel into the backyard, but hesitate when I hear loud male voices coming from the back.
Gabriel pauses beside me. “I do,” he tells me. “Felix, Julio, and I rent the place along with two other players from the team.”
At the mention of other players, I visibly stiffen before Gabriel adds, “But it’s just Felix and Julio chilling with us today.
Hunt won’t be here for another few weeks.
He’ll be a late transfer from Suncrest U.
We offered him a room since we strong armed him into the move, but he’s a good guy.
You’ll like him.” I’ll have to take his word for it, but the idea of being around anyone who isn’t Gabriel makes my skin crawl.
“Hunt’s got a few more hoops to jump through before making things official, but he’ll be around on weekends as he gets his stuff moved over. ”
I nod because that seems like the appropriate thing to do. “Who’s your other roommate?”
“Atticus Bennett.”
I relax, unfamiliar with the name, and when Gabriel starts walking again, I follow.
“He’s a fraternity reject.”
I come to a hard stop. “A what?”
Gabriel chuckles when he sees my expression. “I just mean he used to be a frat kid before he saw the light.”
“The light?”
He tugs me into motion again. “Yeah. Bennett wasn’t willing to play by their rules. Or, more accurately, break some very reasonable rules just because some frat jackasses told him to. Zeta Pi gave him an ultimatum. Get in line or get out. He decided to get out.”
Oh. I like him already. “Good for him.”
Gabriel’s mouth curls into a smile. “I agree.” He laces his fingers with mine. “You ready?”
“Yep,” I say, with more confidence than I feel. He nods once, kisses my temple, and leads us the rest of the way.
In the yard, we find Felix and Julio chatting with one another beside a grill. “Hey, you made it,” Julio says, holding his hand out for Gabriel. They do the handshake hug thing guys like to do and then all eyes turn to me.
“Didn’t think you’d convince her to come.” I’ve met Julio, so this one must be Felix.
“Hi.” I wave.
“Don’t be a dick,” Gabriel growls, throwing his arm around my shoulder and tugging me close.
“Relax,” Felix says, arms raised in surrender. To me says, “We’re glad you came. Want something to drink?”
“Just water. Thanks.”
Felix pulls a bottle of water from the cooler and tosses it to me, and we all fall into casual conversation.
Little by little, I feel myself begin to relax.
Julio mans the grill, turning over strips of carne asada and warming a handful of tortillas while the guys talk about practice and an upcoming game against Crown Point University they’re confident they’ll win.
“It’s a home game,” Felix says, giving me a look. “You going to come?” The question is casual enough, but when all eyes turn to me, I feel like a bug under a microscope.
“I—”
“Nah. She’s not really into sports,” Gabriel answers for me.
“Aw, but you’ve got to come,” Felix complains. “Who else is going to cheer for us in the stands?”
Gabriel punches him in the arm.
“What the hell was that for?” Felix rubs his shoulder, wincing dramatically.
“She doesn’t want to go. Drop it.”
I’m about to interrupt. I don’t want Gabriel fighting with his friend because of some misplaced need to protect me.
I’m capable of telling Felix I’m not going myself, but then Felix gives me a conspiratorial wink, letting me know this is all a game to him.
I bite my tongue, curious to see where this goes.
Julio catches my eye and takes a few steps back, silently suggesting I follow suit. I do, and we both watch as Gabriel and Felix advance on one another. “Relax, man. I’m just inviting your girl to hangout with us.”
“She doesn’t want to go,” Gabriel grinds out.
In a low voice, Julio leans over and asks, “You doing okay?”
I nod. “Yeah. I’m just a little surprised.”
He chuckles softly. “Gabriel is protective of the people he cares about. I get the feeling you’re not a fan of crowds.”
I shake my head in confirmation. “No. Not really.”
“Bro, relax,” Felix shouts.
“You relax.” Gabriel shoves Felix in the chest.
I push away from the table, but Julio tugs on the hem of my shirt to stop me. “He needs this.”
My brows furrow together. “They’re going to start fighting,” I tell him. “Like seriously fighting.”
“Nah. They’ll wrestle around some, but it won’t come to blows. Gabriel’s wound up and Felix can see that. He’s egging him on, so he has an excuse to blow off some steam.”
“How can you possibly know that?”