Page 65 of The Heart Breaker

I stare at the screen until the words start to blur. Heat crawls up the back of my neck, under my collar, all through me.

She cared.

I have no idea why that loosens something in my chest, but it does.

My thumbs hover over the keyboard because the first things that come into my head are exactly the things I can’t say.

I want to tell her I didn’t want that girl. Not for a single second. That I was still half out of my mind from the feel of her mouth on me, and all I wanted after was to drag her out of that bar, get her alone, and spend the rest of the night between her legs until she forgot her own name.

Yeah. Not a chance I’m saying that.

I grind my teeth, shove down every reckless thought scrambling to get out, and type something else instead.

Me:

Text me when you stop being a brat.

Aurora:

Guess this is goodbye forever then.

I shake my head, toss my phone into my locker, and drag a hand through my damp hair. When I glance around, the locker room’s empty. The rookies cleared out. Austin and Ryan are gone. Even Logan and Nathan’s stalls are abandoned. Perfect. That means I can take as long as I want in the shower.

I peel off the rest of my gear, grab my towel and shampoo, and head into the showers, already picturing the heat loosening the knots in my muscles and?—

“Fuck, I can feel how bad you want it. You gonna come all over me, baby?”

I freeze mid-step, my brows knitting.

The fuck?

A low groan echoes from one of the shower stalls. “God, you’re such a fucking tease.”

My brows shoot up at the sound of Nathan’s voice.

“I swear to God, Logan, if you stop now?—”

I scramble backward, but my shampoo bottle falls to the tile, echoing throughout the showers. I snatch it up straight away and head out before they figure out I’m here. Whatever the hell is going on in there is none of my business.

I duck back into the locker room, get dressed in record time, and head out the back door, climbing onto my bike.

The second I get home, I toss my keys onto the counter, drop my helmet on the bed, and strip out of my clothes on the way to the bathroom, stepping straight into the shower.

When I finally climb out, I reach for my phone when Sophie’s name lights up the screen. I swipe it open and find a picture of a tuna sandwich.

Leaning back against the counter, I drag a hand over my face, my shoulders dropping. I told her to send me pictures of what she eats so I know she’s not skipping her meals again. After Dad stole the money she had stashed, I wired her more money and told her to hide it better this time.

I picked up extra hours at Ink’d Out. Took on a couple of big pieces that left my back screaming and my wrist cramped, but the pay was decent, and if it means my sister can eat, then I’m good with whatever work I need to do.

I send a quick text telling her I love her and then toss the phone onto the bed, shoving a new piece of gum in my mouth before I open my dresser to grab a fresh shirt. Flash told me I didn’t need to come into the shop today, that I’d racked up enough hours for the week, but staying in this apartment means sitting alone with my thoughts. It’s also boring as shit and I’d much rather be inking.

I put my jacket on, tuck my helmet under my arm, and grab my keys. I jog down the stairs and push through the front door—only to freeze in place.

Because my bike is parked exactly where I left it. Except straddling the seat, with her fingers curled around the handlebars, is Aurora.

I stand there for a minute, not saying a damn thing, just watching her, trying to figure out whether she’s real or another hallucination I’ve conjured out of sheer frustration.

When her eyes finally lift and lock onto mine, her mouth curves in a smirk.