Page 26 of Love at First Ride
AJ Callahan. Noah’s half-brother, and someone who took up way too much space in my brain evenbeforeI went chasing after him last night.
He asked me a question before he left, and it kept me awake. Would I have acted differently if I’d known Noah was AJ’s half-brother? Would I have brought Noah to my apartment, knowing I’d have to see AJ again?
I’m torn.
Most of the girls at Eastvale High had a crush on AJ Callahan. He’d arrive at school on his motorcycle, often alongside Mo Mariano, who also rode a bike, oblivious to the level of thirsty stares directed his way. He wore a leather jacket with a quiet, reserved confidence. He had ripped jeans that hugged in all the right places. He had tattoos and tousled dark hair, which he would casually rake his fingers through; he always looked good, as though he woke up looking that way. He barely had to smile at a girl before she’d melt over him. Even the teachers, who reserved a special kind of contempt for the kids who came over from Rapture, seemed to give him the time of day.
He could have any girl he wanted, and I definitely wasn’t his type.
It wasn’t like I was tortured though, caught in a cycle of self-flagellation, wondering if –boohoo– he would ever notice me. The rich kids of Electric Hills were the ones who barely knew I existed. No, AJ and his friends noticed me, all right. And they made a hobby out of making my life a special kind of living hell.
I can’t say that AJ was the ringleader though, nor did he act alone. Chase Brennan, Balthazar Reyes, Moses Mariano… I can picture them now and they were all in AJ’s crew. I remember there was a girl too: Nicole Escribano. They all came from Rapture. Chase was very much my high school bully. The others just seemed to all go along with it.
So, am I happy about having a chance to see AJ Callahan again?
My romantic, beating heart is thrilled. My sensible head is plain horrified.
Yet, this morning, my heart is winning, hands down, and my phone remains on the nightstand.
I have a shower and make myself a coffee. Apparently, no amount of clattering around is going to wake Noah, even when I play the radio through my smart speaker. I send a text to Tawny, with an apology that I’m unable to volunteer at Sunset Pines today.
The sun is barely up when I hear a low rumble outside the window, the unmistakable sound of a motorcycle. I get to my feet, my heart slamming against my ribs. I wasn’t expecting him so soon. I go to the window, my breath simultaneously catching in my throat.
This time, he’s riding his own sleek bike. It’s black, sporty, with a splash of lime green. AJ’s wearing jeans, the same leather jacket from last night, and a black helmet with a black visor.
I know that I’m not myself around him. He makes me feel things other men don’t, and I’ll admit, only to myself, that the sight of him is enough to cause a physical reaction in me. My pulse flutters. A shiver goes down my spine, ending between my legs as my intimate muscles ripple at the thought of him. Which is ridiculous really, as I know for a fact that I could never be with him. Not in that way. Yet I have no control over these visceral reactions inside me.
Unable to drag my eyes away, I swiftly whip off my baggy tee and replace it with a fitted tank top. I lick my teeth, before checking I don’t have coffee breath, then smooth down my long hair as best I can.
I watch him from the corner of my window. He’s parked and removed his helmet. Standing beside his bike, he’s lifted the seat and pulls out a small backpack. Once he’s secured the bike, I see him walking through the security gate.
Seconds later, the intercom sounds.
I buzz him up, then instantly regret not having put any makeup on.
I check the peep hole. Even at school, I used to admire how he was consistently unhurried. His pace could be described as casual – his walk punctuated with a hint of a swagger. He carries himself with cool disdain. My hands brace either side of the hole as I watch.
‘What are you doing?’ Noah’s hoarse voice interrupts me, and I jump back in surprise.
‘Nothing,’ I whisper. ‘AJ’s here.’
A split second later, AJ knocks at the door. I wipe sweaty palms on my jeans, then open it. He’s quick to slide inside and close the door behind us.
‘Hey,’ he says, glancing over at Noah, and I note, not looking in my direction at all.
‘She was watching you through the door,’ is Noah’s reply, and I feel the base of my neck grow warm.
I clear my throat. ‘I saw you pull up on your bike. I, uh, was checking that there was no one else in the corridor.’
This time, he holds my gaze. He hasn’t shaved. He looks a little grungy and I feel that ripple inside me again. He looks serious as he puts down the bag and his helmet. ‘Everything all right?’ he asks me.
‘All fine,’ I say with a nod.
‘I’m hungry,’ Noah says. ‘You got any food?’
‘He just woke up,’ I tell AJ.
AJ frowns at his brother, who is getting to his feet and stretching his arms up to the sky. ‘Luke Saint was at the house, Noah,’ he says, raising his chin.
