Maybe This Time (Maybe #1)(11)

He catches up to me and touches my elbow, steering me in the right direction. We walk in silence to his Jeep, and he opens the door for me to get in. Reid turns the music on, but it doesn’t dispel the tension surrounding us. Rihanna comes on, and I sing the lyrics to her song in my head as I stare out the window. My phone beeps with a text, and I giggle when I read it. It’s from my friend back home about her new boyfriend.

Talk about TMI.

“Who’s that?” Reid asks, being nosey.

“A friend,” I reply, quickly texting her back saying that I really didn’t need to know that.

“Who is he?” he asks, his voice tight.

“How’s that any of your business? Just cos you don’t want me doesn’t mean others don’t,” I snap.

Reid curses, opening his mouth as if to say something, but then he closes it and stays quiet.

When we pull up to my house, I’m desperate to leave his presence.

Being rejected by him hurts.

“Do you have a key?” he asks in his deep sexy voice.

I nod. “Thanks for the ride,” I say as I jump out, and walk swiftly to the house.

I don’t look back, no matter how much I want to.





Chapter Four


I hop off Xander’s motorcycle, adrenaline still pumping through my body. I’ve never ridden on a bike before, but wow, I'm definitely going to want to do that again. I take off my helmet and hand it over to Xander, along with his battered leather jacket and pull down at the hem of my red top which has ridden up past my belly button. I decided on this top with my favourite pair of skinny jeans, and my black knee high boots.

“You sure you don’t wanna keep the jacket on?” Xander asks, not for the first time.

“You act like an old man, you know that?”

“I just got my sister, so I can’t help it if I wanna protect you.” He sticks his hands in his pockets.

“I get that, but I should be looking after you, baby bro,” I tease.

He looks me over from head to toe. “You’re what 5’4? I’m 6’2, I don’t think anyone’s gonna believe you’re older than me, Sum,” he says, looking amused. “You're short and have a baby face.”

“I’m 5’5,” I huff.

Xander just laughs. “Besides, I don’t wanna get into a fight when some * hits on you.”

“Hey, I have needs, too,” I joke, laughing when I see the look on his face.

“I’m gonna pretend you never said that,” he says, rubbing his temple as if to erase the image.

“Well, if some chick comes to hit on you, maybe I’m gonna feel a little protective myself,” I tell him.

He groans. “You mean you’re gonna be a cock block.”

“Depends. Are you?” I ask, knowing I have him.

“We’ll see.” He shakes his head at me. He seems so much older than this age.

We walk into Reid’s bar, and I take a look around. It’s a smallish place, but it’s packed out. There’s a bar, tables, a few booth seats and a small dance floor. I can see Reid manning the bar, wearing a black shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. I quickly look away, not wanting to think of him right now. Dash calls us over when he sees us, sitting at a table with a cute looking redhead. He whispers something in her ear, and she frowns, but gets up and walks away.

“Hey, Dash,” I say, taking a seat next to him.

“Don’t you look gorgeous?” he says, his violet eyes gleaming in appreciation.

“Thank you,” I say, wiggling my eyes at Xander, who scowls.

“What?” Dash asks, laughing.

I grin and wink at him, but don’t reply. Xander gets us a round of drinks. I have a vodka sunrise, my favourite.

“You want me to ask the twins if they can give you a job?” Xander asks.

“No, I can ask myself,” I say. I don't want my brother to have to talk for me. After not being able to find any jobs around, I decided I was going to have to suck up my pride and ask. I wait until the bar isn’t busy and stand up, hoping to find Ryan.

There's no way in hell that I’m gonna ask Reid.





Reid


Why the f*ck is she here? My eyes must be popping out of my head right now. Summer just walked in, wearing a pair of jeans that I have to wonder how she managed to get on. They're like second skin, and riding so low on her hips I hope she doesn’t need to bend over for anything. The thought of her bending over makes me instantly hard, and I cringe, discreetly adjusting myself.

I know Xander brought her here because this is a safe place for her, she can’t get into any trouble with the amount of people that would protect her in here, but still.

I can’t get that kiss out of my mind. She tasted so good, smelt so good.

It was perfect.

I’m not the man for Summer Kane, that much is true.

I turn around to get something out of the fridge, and when I turn back, there she is, standing right in front of me. Her lips are a shiny red, and my gaze can’t help but be drawn to them, remembering how soft they were.

“Is Ryan here?” she asks, twirling a ring on her index finger. Of course she wants Ryan. She seems nervous, maybe she wants to ask him out after what happened between us. The thought makes me grip onto the side of the counter until my knuckles turn white. Why does it bother me so much? I have no f*cking idea.