Page 29 of Z For Butterfly Man
“No!” The word comes out too quick, too desperate. I bite my lip. “I mean... I love our time together, too.”
The smile he gives me is different this time. Softer. Charming. It makes my heart fly. “Good. Now c’mon.” He hands me the helmet. “Got somewhere I wanna take ya.”
“The mall?”
“Nah. It’s a surprise.”
My eyebrows shoot up. “A surprise?”
“Just get on the bike, baby.”
I climb on behind him, wrapping my arms around his waist like I’ve done dozens of times now. I don't think I’ll ever get used to how solid he feels, how warm and safe and…hot. The engine roars to life, and we take off.
We don’t head toward my neighborhood. When the ocean comes into view, my breath catches.Oh my God, we’re going to the beach.
He parks near the sand and kills the engine. Waves crash against the shore as I slide off the bike. “Shane... what are we doing here?”
He pulls something from his saddlebag. “Your birthday’s tomorrow.”
My lashes flutter. “You... you remembered?”
“’Course I did.” He walks over to me, holding a small wrapped box. “Can’t be in Jacksonville tomorrow, so I’m celebrating with you today. Just us.”
Tears prick my eyes. No one has ever remembered my birthday. No one has ever celebrated it. My mother... She’s at her worst on my birthday. The day I was born, the day she believes I ruined her life. Last year, she locked me bleeding in the closet for twelve hours.
“Shane…” My voice breaks.
“Hey, none of that. No tears on your birthday.” He cups my cheek with his free hand. “Open it.”
With shaking fingers, I unwrap the box. Inside is a cell phone. Not just any cell phone—one of those new ones with a flip screen and a tiny keyboard.
“Oh my God.” I stare at it. “Shane, this is... This is too expensive. I can’t—”
“You can, and you will.” He takes it out and shows me. “Now you can call me anytime. Text me. Go online. Whatever you want.”
I don’t even have a computer at home. I’ve only used the ones at school. And now I have a phone with internet? “I can’t accept this. It’s too much.”
“Nothing’s too much for my baby girl.”
It cracks something open inside me. Before I can stop myself, I throw my arms around him, hugging him tight. “I love you,” I whisper against his chest.
The words slip out before I can take them back. Heat floods my face. Oh God, why did I say that?Kill me. Kill me now.
But Shane doesn’t pull away. Instead, his arms wrap around me, holding me tighter. Then he tangles his fingers in my hair and looks at me. “I love you too, Reagan.”
My heart explodes. I must be dreaming. This can’t be true. We stand there for a moment, wrapped up in each other, and I never want to let go. If it’s a dream, let it last forever.
When he finally releases me, I’m still clutching the phone. “Does your work with the club make you that much money?”
He laughs. “Why? Want a job?”
“Actually...yeah. I’m smart. I’m a fast learner and a hard worker. I could help with—”
Anger darkens his face. “No.”
I scowl. “Why not?”
“That’s no place for someone like ya.”
