Page 30 of This for That (The Edge of Retaliation 1)
“Really?” I say, unable to hide my smile. “That sounds great.”
“Of course! I’ll text you my number. You’re welcome to bring any friends, too.”
Friends.
Joanne and Ethan are the only friends I have. My mind goes to Jessika and Sophie, and I wonder if they have anything to do with my car?
I haven’t seen or heard from either of them since the accident. Sophie was messed up mentally, and she and her parents moved away. I saw her once in the hospital briefly, and then she was gone. Jessika refused to see or speak to me after losing her leg. I get that. In the end, she lost a lot, too. She lost so much.
But would they torment me? I don’t know.
I plan on seeing both of them, I just need to find the courage to do so. I want to apologize, I want to tell them I’m sorry for sending their lives on such downward spirals, but I’m not sure if they’ll even see me, let alone accept that.
Still, I have to try.
“Sounds great,” I tell Andrea, coming back to the here and now. “I’m sure my best friend, Joanne, would like to come.”
“Perfect! I’ll text you the details later.”
She goes off and finishes her break, and I get back to work.
When my shift ends at five, I clock out and head towards the road. I’m going to have to call a cab, considering there is no possible way I’m going to drive a car spray painted with ‘killer.’
“Need a ride?”
I spin around and see Tanner walking up the sidewalk towards me.
My heart nearly leaps out of my throat, and as I take him in, it quickly starts racing. I really wish he didn’t look how he looks; it makes it that much harder for me to concentrate. He’s walking towards me wearing a faded pair of blue jeans, those boots, and a tight black tee that stretches across his muscles in a way that makes my mouth water.
Just a little.
“Tanner,” I say, pressing a hand to my chest. “You scared me. I didn’t hear anyone coming.”
“You should pay more attention,” he murmurs, stopping in front of me. “Not everyone approaching you is as nice as me. Wouldn’t want to see you getting into trouble. How are you, Callie?”
The way he says my name. Hell, the way he talks? It nearly brings me to my knees. “I’m good,” I lie. I obviously can’t tell him about the incident, because, well, he’d have way too many questions. Questions I’m still not ready to answer, or face.
He tips his head to the side, and says in a husky, low voice, “You’re a poor liar.”
Shit.
“Sorry, long day,” I say, smiling. “Your sister is lovely, by the way. She’s been so nice to me.”
“Glad to hear it. Where’s your car?”
I swallow, and say, “I don’t have it today. It’s broken, so it’s in getting fixed. I have to take a cab.”
“What’s wrong with it?”
Shit. Shit. I completely forgot he’s a mechanic. I have no idea what even goes wrong with cars, so I don’t even have a good lie to share. My heart starts racing, and I mutter, “Not too sure. Joanne took it in. I said I’d grab a cab for a few days.” I smile, hoping that Tanner won’t ask any more questions.
Thankfully, he doesn’t.
“C’mon. I’ll give you a ride.”
I look past him and down the street a little, and see his bike. A motorcycle. I’m bad enough in cars; I can’t imagine what I’d be like on that death machine. “On that?”
He turns and glances at his bike, then looks back at me, grinning. “Yeah, darlin’, on that.”
“Oh. Well, no thanks. I’m good right here.”
He chuckles. “I didn’t pick you for the nervous type.”
I huff, “Well, you picked me wrong. That thing is crazy. I don’t feel like dying today.”
His grin gets bigger. “Well, you’ll just have to trust that I won’t kill you, and jump on.”
“No, no. I’m good.”
“Come on. I’ll take you for something to eat, my treat, and then drop you home.”
Dammit. Why does he have to say things like that? Because now I really want to go. The idea of getting something to eat with Tanner feels pretty darn good. The idea of wrapping myself around him on that bike doesn’t feel so bad, either.
Still . . . it’s a motorcycle.
“I don’t know.” I hesitate. “I mean, I want to eat with you; I’m just a little nervous . . .”
He puts out a hand, a big, manly hand. “Trust me, Callie. I won’t hurt you.”
I hold his eyes, and then my hand moves of its own accord, placing itself into his.
I trust him.
I’M TERRIFIED.
For a brief moment, I’m terrified.
As Tanner’s motorcycle speeds down the road, I clutch him as if the road is about to swallow me up. The helmet doesn’t make me feel any safer, but having my arms around him? That kind of helps.
