Chapter Eight
Brynn
You know those times where people tell you not to go anywhere with a stranger? Yeah, apparently I didn’t remember those times either. I went to lunch with Aaron, and he happened to be one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met, and he is hot as hell to boot. The ride there was super uncomfortable, but he did his best to get me to stop freezing while staring at him and we actually had a pleasant time.
When I got back to the office, I had Robbie sitting on my desk with a knife in his hand. He was staring at Aaron as he walked me back to the door. Aaron on the other hand was the complete gentleman, unlike my new office mate.
I give Robbie a dirty look, and he just ignores me.
“I had a fantastic time,” Aaron says, grinning at me.
“Me too. Thank you for lunch.” I tried to pay for my portion, but he refused and insisted that I let him pay for my food since he invited me.
“Anytime. Maybe we can do it again sometime.” His boyish charm doesn’t disappear even with Robbie shooting him dirty looks the whole time. Just as I’m about to answer, the door to the office opens and slams shut, bringing another biker into my little office.
“Sorry Romeo, but she’s got to get back to work and you being here isn't helping.” I turn my head and see Sebastian standing there with his arms crossed. I don’t know him all that well, but I do know that he can be a real ass when he wants to. Ever since his brother’s girlfriend got attacked, he’s been worse than normal. They don’t mention her very much, but I know that Elijah and that girl had been together a long time.
“I’ll call you later,” Aaron says with a smirk.
I watch him walk out the door and turn to stare at the two men that are still in my office.
“What is your guy's problem?” I huff out. I don’t appreciate them trying to ruin my dating life just because their brother is a moron.
“Please Brynn, that boy can’t handle you. You need someone a little more rough around the edges,” Sebastian says leaning back against the door frame. His eyes scan me over once before he whistles. “I don’t know why Bent let a pretty little thing like you go.”
That just pisses me off more. Maybe it’s the fact that I’m still hurt, or maybe it’s just to say a big fuck you to Bentley, but I don’t care what they say, I am going to date Aaron whether they like it or not. Bentley walked away from me, not the other way around.
“Why don’t you go and ruin someone else’s life,” I bark out, tossing my purse on my desk. They both stare at me like I’ve grown a second head, but I don’t care anymore. I’m done being the cute little girl that they think they can fuck with.
“Oooh, she’s got a bite,” Robbie says running his finger over the knife one more time. He closes it and puts it back in his jeans pocket before standing up.
“Yeah and if you don’t get out of here, I can show you exactly how I feel about you forcing him to leave.” They both just smirk, and I seriously want to scream. They are like children.
As they walk out of my office, I flip them the bird, and drop into my chair and let out a deep breath before getting back to work. The rest of the day goes by without another kink, and I get to go home without the pressure of those guys from out in the shop.
---
By the time I get to my apartment, my feet are killing me, and I want to relax in the bath. Just as I’m about to strip down to get into my bathtub, my phone starts to ring. Sighing, I make my way back to my room to grab it, and as I check the screen, I don’t recognize the number.
Instead of answering it, I let it go to voicemail and head back into the bathroom to soak in the tub. As I sink down into the water, I hear the voicemail go off, and I close my eyes, trying to force myself to relax. Part of me doesn’t know what I am doing anymore. I’m twenty-six and have nothing more than this apartment, and my job.
At one point, I thought that things with Bentley would be more, but I can see that it’s not going to go anywhere. Plus, he was the one that left, not me. I am still here almost praying that he will come back and say he was an idiot.
Instead of continuing to think about Bentley and everything that is wrong with us being together, I think about my lunch with Aaron. He was a complete gentleman. Not once did he try and ask me personal questions or force me to talk about something I didn’t want to talk about. He asked what I liked to do and how I spent my time after work.
We had some similarities, and I guess we just clicked. It was weird but exciting all at the same time. Maybe it is just the thought of someone new, or maybe it’s more of a way to say fuck you to Bentley, I don’t know.
As I continue to think about Aaron, I decide that maybe I should take that chance and just go for it. What could it hurt? The worst that might happen is that he turns out to be a dick like Bentley who sleeps with me once before hitting the road never to return. Fuck it, when I get out of the bath, I’m going to text him and see if he wants to get dinner or something. Women can make the first move right? It’s technically the second move. He did invite me to lunch today, not the other way around.
After I finish my bath, I drain the water and wrap a towel around me. Before I can chicken out, I grab my phone and send off a text message asking if he was interested in grabbing dinner tonight. It’s not like I have anything else planned and eating alone doesn’t sound all that appealing right this moment.
More thoughts of a certain biker might make their way into my head, and I don’t want that. I already have enough going on in there to drive me insane on a good day.
His response is almost immediate, and I can’t help the stupid grin on my face when I read his words.
Aaron: I’d love to treat you to dinner. How about I pick you up in an hour?
I tell him that it would be perfect and send him my address. As I dance around my bedroom, trying to find the perfect outfit for tonight, I forget all about the missed call and voicemail. Instead, I spend way too much time trying to find something to wear while doing my hair and makeup.
By the time I hear him knocking on my front door, I am almost ready. Zipping up the back of my dress while I all but hop on one foot to the front door. I open the door, not even really sure how strange I look right at this moment. His eyes take me in, and a grin spreads across his face.
“Wow,” he says under his breath.
“Please come in. I swear I am almost ready.” He doesn’t seem to mind, so I let him follow me inside as I hop my way back toward the bedroom. He doesn’t follow me, and I can’t help but grin. “I’m almost done!” I call out when I finally get my dress zipped all the way. I find my other shoe and slip it on my foot before grabbing my small clutch.
Coming back into my living room, I see him looking at the photos on my fireplace. The ones that are the closest to my heart are displayed proudly. “Beautiful family,” he murmurs looking at the last family photo we have.
Not long after it was taken, my brother was killed by a drunk driver. They swerved into his lane and hit him head-on on his twentieth birthday. I never tell anyone because then they start to feel sorry for me and I am not okay with that. I don’t like people pitying me because I lost a brother and most people don’t understand that.
Ever since Trevor died, I have been living my life safe. I’ve been trying to figure out where I belong in this world and I thought I found that when I started working at Wayward Cycles, but I guess I was wrong. Bentley made me feel small and like I wasn’t good enough, something that hasn’t happened to me before.
Instead of dwelling anymore on my brother and Bentley, I ask Aaron if he is ready to go. I need to get out of my apartment now before more memories of my brother overtake me. Most of the time, I don’t look at the photos on my fireplace because of the memories that they bring up.
Sometimes I think that Trevor’s death has hit Tessa way harder than me, or maybe I just don’t let my emotions show like she does. She kind of went off the deep end with the drinking and the partying after he died. Most nights she outlasts most men and doesn’t give up until she’s puking her guts up. I’ve seen her at her best, and the way she’s been living isn’t it.
The ride to the restaurant isn’t very long, and it doesn’t take long for us to be seated at a booth in the corner. Putting my napkin over my lap, I scan over the menu and order a drink when the server comes around. After Aaron orders his drink, the server leaves to put the drink order in and I can’t help but grin at Aaron.
“I didn’t expect your message earlier. I thought for sure that you would make me wait before I would get the chance to take you to dinner.” An easy grin spreads across his face, and I love seeing the smile on him. It makes him even hotter if that is possible.
“I guess it’s your lucky day.” He makes it easy to flirt with him after I got over my initial stuck in stupid moment the first time I met him. He doesn’t make my whole body heat with just a glance, but right now, that doesn’t matter. Being here with him is right where I want to be.
Bentley can go fuck himself for all I care.
“It definitely is.”
The server comes back with our drinks, and he suggests we make a toast before taking the first drinks. We both raise our glasses and the boyish grin forms on his lips. “To the assholes who let you go. I’ll thank them personally if I ever meet them.”
I blush and duck my head a little. He couldn’t possibly know about what happened between Bentley and I, so I tell my brain to chill out. He probably just means in general. I’ve dated plenty of men over the years; there is no way he knows about my one night stand with the only guy who makes my heart accelerate as he runs his finger across my skin. Nope, can’t be.
I clink my glass to his and take a deep drink from my glass. I think I’m going to need more alcohol than I thought to forget about that stupid biker.