Maybe This Time(37)

I glance at Ryan, and then back at Reid. “So… What? She’s staying the night here?”

“What? No!” Reid says, taking my hand into his. He rubs my fingers while my hand lays there non-responsive like dead weight.

“Right. I’m going home, you deal with Miss I-Can-Cry-On-Cue,” I tell him.

“For fuck's sake, you’re not going anywhere, Summer,” he says, sounding like he thinks I’m the one in the wrong here.

“I don’t share well, Reid,” I whisper so only he can hear.

“And I don’t expect you to,” he says, his eyes searching mine through his thick dark lashes.

“No, I think that you do. I get it, she’s a link to your brother, and I’m not asking you to give that up. But there have to be some kind of boundaries.”

“She doesn’t usually act like this. Look, my baby brother loved her, he wanted to marry her. What am I meant to do?” he asks, distress flickering across his face.

Hating seeing him like this, I get up and walk to the bathroom. I tap on the door once before I enter. Jade looks genuinely upset, her tear-stained cheeks blotchy.

“Finally, some real emotion,” I say wryly, leaning against the door frame.

“Yeah, well. I don’t want to lose Reid and Ryan. They were meant to be my brothers one day,” she says, her throat scratchy.

“Why did you kiss him?” I ask straight out.

Her head comes up sharply. “I was losing him, and I was desperate. I didn’t plan it, it just happened. It was a mistake. I'd never do that to Reece,” she says softly, and I actually catch a glimpse of the real Jade.

“Look, I'd never tell Reid to stay away from you, but we need to get a few things straight first.”

She looks suspicious. “Like what?”

“You do not manipulate Reid into doing whatever you want, using guilt as a tool,” I tell her, my eyes showing just how serious I am.

“What? I don’t do that!”

“Shut up and listen. If those frosted lips, or any other body part even come close to Reid…” I trail off, letting my evil grin get my point across for me.

“I won’t, I promise. He doesn’t want me anyway,” she tells me, wiping her tears away.

“As long as that’s understood. Come on, let’s watch Catfish,” I say, walking out of the bathroom and back to Reid.

He looks worried. “Everything okay?”

I nod, pressing play on the show and smiling as he wraps me in his arms. Jade walks out a few moments later, and silently takes a seat. Reid nibbles on my ear. “Thank you.”

“I have my moments,” I say into his chest.





Chapter Thirteen


“Dad, there’s a customer and I don’t know anything about motorcycles to be of service,” I say, peeping my head into the back office. My dad flashes me a grin and stands to his full height, scratching his beard before walking out.

I’ve spent the whole day helping him out in his bike shop. It’s feels good to spend some extra time with him, and I can tell he enjoys having me around, too. It’s a win-win situation. He's hinted at me working here full time with him, but truth be told I know nothing about bikes except that I love being on the back of one.

I’m not gonna complain about the eye candy that walks in here, though, because damn, I never even knew this town had so many hot men. After two guys hit on me this morning, my dad put up a sign that says ‘the discounts only apply to men that don’t hit on my daughter.’ I couldn’t help laughing.

His store is having a huge sale right now, hence the large amount of customers today. I haven’t been much help apart from ringing up a few orders, and ordering a few parts on the phone. I also vacuumed the store because there was nothing else for me to do.

On my break I walk to the deli across the road and get dad and me some food for lunch, and we sit in the office eating together. To other people this might seem like a normal, everyday moment, but to me it’s times like these I dreamt of as a child. Spending time with my dad, joking, hanging out. I don’t think I’ve stopped smiling all day.

“How’s things with Reid?” he asks after we finish up lunch.

“Good,” I say, a smile playing on my lips.

“I heard you’re coming to the fight.”

“Yup.”

“You sure you okay with all of that?” he asks, studying me.

I shrug both shoulders. “Comes with the package that is Reid Knox, right?”

He suddenly looks uncomfortable, shifting nervously.

“What, dad?” I ask warily, pursing my lips.

He clears his throat, once, twice. “You’re being safe, right, I mean. I assume your mother had chats with you, but I just wanted to make sure…”