Time Will Tell (Maybe #3)(6)

I feel the wind on my face.

I like it.

I feel free.

I like that, too.

A smile appears on my face.

I don’t want this ride to end.

*****

The bike comes to a stop in the Dream car park.

I slide off, my legs a little shaky, take the helmet off, and hand it back to him.

“What did you think?” he asks after he gets off the bike and stands next to me, watching me.

I look down and then back up at him. “I f*cking loved it.”

He smiles widely, his eyes lighting up. “I knew you would.”

“I’m serious, it felt amazing. So free. I was scared at first, but then I really enjoyed it,” I say, trying to explain the emotions I went through. I take off his jacket and hand it back to him. “Thank you.”

His eyes soften on me as he takes the jacket from my hands, our fingers touching. “My pleasure.”

We walk into the bar.

“I’m going to go see April,” I tell him, needing to be away from him for a moment. What the hell am I doing? Going on motorbike rides with strangers? This isn’t like me. I haven’t done anything like this in my life.

I don’t know if that’s sad or not, but it sounds like it.

It’s also safe.

I’m usually safe.

Predictable.

I’m the type of girl who would probably meet her future husband on an online dating site where they match up your compatibility instead of putting herself out there and meeting new people.

Tonight is unusual for me. And all I’ve done is dance with a gorgeous man and then take a ride with him.

Why the hell am I complaining again?

I got here safely and experienced my first ride on a motorcycle, which I f*cking loved in the end.

I want to do it again and again.

April sees me and her eyes light up. “You made it! What are you doing here? If it were me, I’d be anywhere—f*cking the shit out of that guy!”

I roll my eyes at that. “He’s around here.”

She smiles and pulls me in for a dance. A few songs later, I tell her I want to get some water from the bar and walk away from the dance floor. I glance around for him, but I don’t see him anywhere.

When I see Zach at the bar, I head straight for him and take a seat next to him. “What’s a girl gotta do to get a man to buy her a drink around here?”

His head snaps to me, his eyes roaming down from my face to what he can see of my body. “Look at you, Trill. You look beautiful.”

“Thank you. You don’t look so bad yourself.”

“Water?” he asks.

“Yes, please.”

“Can I get a bottle of water?” he asks the bartender when he passes us. “You been drinking?” he asks, studying me.

I shrug. “I had two drinks.”

The bartender slides over a bottle of water and Zach hands it over to me. I crack open the lid and take a long drink. I didn’t realise how thirsty I was.

“You having a good night?” he asks.

I put the bottle of water down on the table and nod. “I am. It actually feels good to get out.”

I’m surprised by my comment. I have genuinely enjoyed tonight, and I had a good time.

“Good, you deserve it.”

“I only had two girly drinks. I don’t think I could handle what April was drinking.”

He leans down and cups my face. “Such a good little responsible girl.”

“Hey, Zach, there you are.” A familiar deep voice comes from behind me.

Zach lets me go and laughs. “Trill, this is Xander. Xander, this is Trillian.”

I turn and stare into a pair of deep hazel eyes.

Well, shit.

Xander? Zach’s friend Xander, who’s staying with him for a couple of days?

I hate small towns.

“We’ve already met,” he says, gaze wandering over my face curiously.

“You have?” Zach asks his hand now on my nape.

Xander nods. “I went to Drake’s but just missed you. She was there.”

Zach glances down at me. “Right, how was Drake’s?”

“It was good. Packed as usual,” I answer, but my eyes are on Xander, who is looking everywhere but at me.

“Not surprised. I left after about fifteen minutes.”

“You didn’t mention that you had a woman,” Xander says after he orders himself a drink. He sounds angry.

Wait, he thinks I’m Zach’s girlfriend? Why the hell would I have danced with him then?

Zach wraps an arm around me and kisses the top of my head. “That’s ‘cause she’s not my woman.”

Confusion flashes over Xander’s face before he is able to mask it. “She’s not?”

“Nope,” Zach replies. “She’s Trillian.”

Xander looks even more confused after that comment.

“Where’s the birthday girl?” Zach asks.

“On the dance floor,” I reply, pointing to where April is dancing with Amanda and Molly, a friend she works with.

“Looks like she’s enjoying herself,” he says. “You coming home with me, tonight?”

I’m watching Xander when Zach asks me that, and I don’t understand his expression. He looks… angry?