Chapter Twenty-One
Hollie
Ten whole days.
AJ Callahan and I have been seeing each other for ten whole days. The slight problem being that apparently, we’re the only ones who know that we’re seeing one another. And so far, it would appear we are only seeing each other inside these four walls.
I’ve been home for a few hours after my shift, sitting cross-legged on my sofa, waiting to hear the low rumble of AJ’s motorcycle outside the window. The sound that awakens the daily hoard of butterflies in my stomach, and other parts.
Most days, he comes here straight after work.
Our evenings follow a similar pattern. He’ll come through the door and tell me he’s missed me.
We’ll start kissing and things inevitably escalate from there.
I’ve gone from having zero sex to possibly having too much.
In the morning, we eat breakfast together, and he kisses me sweetly before he leaves to go back to Rapture and I drive to Sunset Pines.
I keep telling myself that it’s perfect. That I want to spend my evenings and nights with him, existing in this bubble.
Except it isn’t quite perfect. In the last couple of days, I’ve begun to have my own nagging doubts. That maybe the reason why he always comes to me, is that AJ doesn’t want anybody to know about us. That maybe I’m a secret he’s happy to keep.
I was never one of the popular kids in high school.
I have to admit that maybe there is a part of him that is embarrassed by me.
My muscles tense at the sound of his bike.
I get up from the sofa and walk barefoot to the window and watch him kill the engine.
I frown at the sight of him offloading a box that’s been fastened to the back of his saddle.
He carries it under his arm toward the security gate, then sees that I’ve seen him.
He stops to hold it aloft, looking pleased with himself.
‘I got you something,’ he says once he’s inside my apartment, and has planted a single, lingering kiss on my lips. He seems excited. Under his usual jacket, he wears a beige T-shirt paired with faded black jeans.
‘What is it?’ I ask, as he hands me the sealed cardboard box. I look closer and realize it’s from a company that sells motorcycle helmets. ‘No way.’
‘Open it,’ he says.
He follows me as I go to the kitchen, puts his arms around my waist from behind, as I reach for a knife and cut the tape sealing the box. I lift the helmet out, just as he holds me close, resting his chin against my shoulder as I hold it up.
‘Wow,’ I breathe.
‘Do you like it?’ he murmurs against my skin. ‘It’s my favorite brand.’
The whole thing is black. Even the visor. It’s the sleekest bike helmet I’ve ever seen.
‘I love it,’ I breathe.
‘Echo’s girlfriend takes a small size, so I figured you’re about the same as her.’
‘Echo has a girlfriend?’
‘Her name’s Kat. She’s Ukrainian.’
‘AJ, this must have been so expensive.’
‘Well, we can’t have you on the back of my motorcycle not being safe, can we?’
I turn my head toward his. He dips his chin, presses his lips to my shoulder blade and trails gentle kisses along my skin.
‘I’m coming riding with you?’ I ask.
‘Uh-huh. Only if you want to.’
‘I want to.’
‘Then, let’s go.’
I quickly change. AJ holds my hand all the way back downstairs. It’s the first time he’s done so in public.
‘This is a different bike to before,’ I comment, because the butterflies have been replaced by full-on nerves at the thought of riding with him again.
‘This is my other motorcycle,’ he says with a lop-sided grin. ‘I have two. This one is better for riding two-up.’
‘What is this one?’
‘Kawasaki Ninja. When it comes to engineering accuracy, the Japanese kick ass. Their technology is cutting-edge.’
I reach out and run my fingers over the saddle. I’ve always admired how comfortable AJ is around bikes. But to me, they’re unfamiliar. ‘Remind me what I do again?’
He squeezes my fingers. ‘Do exactly as I do. Sit close to me. When I lean, so do you. No sudden movements. It’s a lightweight bike. I’ll go easy on the throttle.’
He helps me with the helmet, taking time to check that it fits me properly.
A thrill goes through me when I watch him start the engine, and the bike bursts into life.
When I climb on the back, I slide my arms around his waist, only for him to place a hand over my arm and squeeze it in reassurance.
The moment he does so, I feel my heart flip over in my chest.
When we’re out on the road, I love the feel of the bike beneath me, the way AJ takes control. A shiver travels the length of my spine when we reach the highway, and suddenly it feels as though we’re flying.
The sun is already low on the horizon when we reach our destination. When AJ switches off the engine, I remove my helmet and take in the scene: a field, overgrown with long grass, with a single oak tree.
I dismount from the bike. AJ follows suit and removes his helmet. He’s come prepared, with a blanket for us to sit on. He parks the bike, then lays the blanket out at the base of the oak.
I take a seat, leaning my back against thick, sturdy bark. The sky is dappled with orange and purple streaks as AJ comes to rest between my legs, his back pressed into my chest.
‘Is this all right?’ he asks. ‘Figure I like riding with you behind me.’
I grin and wrap my arms around him, in the same place as they were throughout our journey. ‘I like riding with you too,’ I say.
I have to check myself, more than once. Because AJ is between my legs. His entire body leans into me for support. My head rests against his shoulder and my fingers caress the base of his hairline. He seems relaxed. Happy. We’re so close I can feel him breathing.
For a while, we sit in silence and watch the sky. The wind rustles the long grass.
‘When have you been out here before?’ I ask.
It’s a long while before he answers. He seems to tense up before he gives a heavy sigh. ‘When Mo died, I used to come out here on my own. I used to talk to him, like he was still here.’
We’re silent for a moment, listening to the sound of the grass swaying.
‘How long ago was this?’ I ask.
‘Little over a year.’
‘What would he have said to you back then?’
‘Would prolly have told me to move on. That him not being here shouldn’t stop me from living my life.’
‘And what would he say about you dating me?’
He huffs out a laugh. ‘He’d be happy for me, I think. Happy for us.’
We’re silent again. AJ rubs his fingers over my forearm. I want to ask what he thinks the rest of his friends will say, but I don’t, because as far as I’m aware, they have no idea that we’re even an item.
‘We should get moving,’ he says, later, when the sun is almost gone. He gets to his feet, brushes himself down, then holds out his hand to help me up.
On the back of his bike, on the way back into Canyon, I’m surprised when we don’t continue straight on the highway back to Eastvale. Instead, we take the exit toward Rapture.
When we park the bike outside Scotch & Smoke, my heart starts to thud. We leave our helmets on the bike and AJ takes me by the hand, leading me inside the bar.
It’s another busy night. Bikers, mostly, talking and drinking, with a rock tune I don’t recognize blasting over the speakers.
Just after we walk through the door, AJ lets go of my hand. I walk behind him, yet nerves descend over me, because I don’t know what his friends are going to make of my appearance. Or whether he will introduce me as his girlfriend. On paper, we don’t exactly fit.
I don’t get another moment to contemplate the situation, because Nicole Escribano pounces on me once we reach the pool tables.
‘Hollie!’ she squeals. ‘What are you doing here?’
I glance up ahead at AJ who is fist bumping with Chase and Balthazar. My pulse goes through the roof. I offer her a huge grin, swallowing my nerves. ‘I, uh… was in the area?’
‘It’s so good to see you again! I didn’t get to say bye after that dumb sheriff’s raid! I was gonna ask you for your number. Can I buy you a drink? Come on, girl.’
She drags me to the bar before I can object.
‘Hey, Nando!’ she shouts to the barman, who I recognize from the last time I came out here.
He saunters over. He’s got dark caramel skin with dreadlocks.
I recognize him from the last time I was in here, and he’s wearing the same yellow Only Rapture tank and skinny black jeans.
‘Ladies! Good evening. What can I get you for lubrication?’
His eyebrows bounce flirtatiously in my direction, and I find myself blushing.
‘You’re drinking, right?’ Nicole checks with me.
‘Uh, sure,’ I respond. I’m not exactly sure what the plan is here, but Nicole orders us a couple of beers. I need to relax and go with the flow.
It’s not one of my strengths.
‘So…’ she begins, searching my face.
‘How are things between you and Balthazar?’ I ask, purposefully avoiding any probing questions.
She sips her beer and rolls her eyes. ‘I mean… oh, you know… we’re kinda back together. I mean, not together, together. Like hooking up, I guess. Those college frat boys weren’t floating my boat if you get my meaning. Come on.’
She walks back toward the pool table, the one that’s tucked further out of sight, that I’ve never seen them play on. I follow, feeling a tremble in my legs.
AJ and Balthazar shoot pool. Nicole takes a seat at a nearby table, adjacent to the long side of the pool table where Chase is already sat down.
‘Well, lookie who it is,’ Chase comments dryly. He gives me a once-over as I take the vacant seat between them. I put my beer on the table and offer him a thin-lipped smile.
For a moment, between the three of us, nobody says a word.
‘So… you and AJ,’ Chase drawls over the beat of the music. ‘Y’all are gettin’ nasty, or what?’
I feel the base of my neck burn.
‘Chase!’ Nicole barks at him on my right. ‘Quit bein’ so crass!’
He gives her a look, then she bends her chin and leans in toward me. ‘You and AJ are hooking up, right?’ she asks.
I swallow a lump in my throat. I wish AJ had told me we were coming here. ‘Is it obvious?’
Nicole’s lips pucker, like she’s been told the juiciest piece of gossip around. ‘Oh, honey, it’s obvious. Nobody’s seen AJ for days. I just didn’t figure you into the equation.’
My cheeks are now flaming hot. There’s no point in me trying to hide it. I glance to my left, at Chase, who is trying to listen in on our conversation.
‘Though now I think about it…’ Nicole muses. ‘He was talking to me about that graduation party…’
Chase leans in, resting his weight on his elbows. ‘What graduation party?’
‘You remember,’ Nicole reminds him. ‘Amber Bradshaw’s crib in Electric Hills.’
‘What about it?’
Nicole draws her shoulders up to her neck, her smile filled with intrigue. Chase just looks confused. I sip my beer. Chase’s confusion seems to turn to annoyance, and he pushes his seat away from the table.
‘I’ll be right back,’ he mutters, stretching out his spine.
Nicole watches him go, then leans into me for a second time. ‘Oh my lord, you guys are so super cute together,’ she squeals. ‘Did it all start that night? The night the sheriff showed up?’
‘Oh,’ I say, and my lips twitch. ‘Um. Yes. The day after.’
She presses her palms together, then gives an excited little seal clap. ‘I could see it in his eyes when he was talking about you. I told you, honey, they be lining up for him. I don’t know what you did, but I ain’t never seen AJ into a girl for longer than a one-night stand.’
Something prickles inside me. I don’t like the idea of AJ having one-night stands. I wouldn’t like to contemplate how many he’s had either.
I hear a voice above me. ‘Ladies, ladies, what’s happenin’?’
I glance up. Nando the barman is pulling out Chase’s chair, the legs scraping across the floor. He takes a seat but pulls it closer to my own. A moment later, his face is right up close to mine. He raises his chin to me. ‘Who’s this sexy mama?’
‘Uhh,’ I mumble, unsure how to react. My hands are under the table, and I squeeze them together between my thighs.
The next thing I know, his right arm slides around my shoulders and he’s brought his lips close to my cheek.