Page 21 of Seasons of Love
Confusion? Wonder? Maybe.
But anger? No.
I could work with that.
9
SLADE
I'd met enough people in my forty-eight years that I was rarely surprised. I'd seen the best and the worst in people.
It was easy to understand people using my language. For instance, Mike was a bike. And if there was one thing I knew well, it was bikes. From the moment I'd laid eyes on him, I'd known all his parts, how each fitted into each other, and how to make the best of it.
Mike had been exactly what I'd needed at twenty-four. He didn't have a past, or anything to hide, so it had been easy to hold on to him and pretend I was like him. That there were not any ghosts chasing me. Our ride had been mostly smooth, at least I thought it had.
Aiden? Aiden was a car. It ran on the road, had an engine, breaks, and accelerator—just like a bike—except with Aiden I was a klutz, who didn't know how anything worked, as if I hadn't been around vehicles all of my life.
Four days after our dinner at Benny's, and I still had a feeling that around Aiden I'd end up with oil on my shirt more often than not.
I thought about the way he'd looked into my eyes, as if he could see past them and locate the soul I'd sold to the devil a long time ago.
There was something about Aiden. In some ways he was a little like Mike had been when we met, but he was also so different.
I was pretty sure Aiden was a four wheels kind of guy. He was safer, had room for more people, and he could go the distance. He was definitely not the guy for me. Or the guy I deserved.
Laughter bubbled from inside me and I couldn't help but let it out. It was a good thing Liam had gone home and Aiden wasn't here yet.
Why the fuck was I thinking about Aiden?
First of all, even though I didn't know exactly how old he was, he looked like he could be my son.
Second, he was in Chester Falls only for his research and to see his friends. I knew absolutely nothing about his life in San Diego. Maybe he even had someone to go back to when he was done with me and Chester Falls.
That particular thought made my stomach churn.
Stop it, Slade.
The only mystery I wanted to solve about Aiden was why he hadn't published anything in the last year, when he was such a talented writer. And if his next book depended on the research he was doing, then I was going to do my best to help him out. End of story.
"Hey, boss, sorry I'm late."
As always, Aiden came in wearing his worn jeans and black T-shirt, except this one had NYU in washed-out writing on the front. Why did he have to be so damned sexy?
The need to get up and kiss the shit out of him to the point his glasses were all foggy and wonky on his face was too strong. I picked up a wrench and went back to the bike. Thank fuck I was sitting on a stool.
"Not your boss. I'm not paying you, remember?" I said.
"Meh, depends on what currency you trade in."
I looked up and caught him staring unashamedly at my ass.
His eyes met mine and our gazes held for a second too long.
"So, where do you want me today?" he asked, breaking the spell.
I coughed. "What?"
"Damn, you're too easy to rile up," he said, leaning against the workbench with his hands holding on to the edge.
