Chapter Sixteen

Robyn checked the side-view mirror a few times every minute. It was a nervous tic, one she couldn’t get rid of. After smuggling Matt out of the apartment complex under protective custody, that just left her and Avon to get out of town – possibly with eyes on them.

 

Or not. She nibbled on her bottom lip as she rechecked the mirror. She was on unofficial tail duty, though really Avon would be the one to determine whether or not someone was secretly following them. They were still within the city limits, and the bright morning sun made it hard to distinguish who was following them and who was just riding their ass from impatience to get to their destination.

 

“I think that Corolla is following us.” She squinted. The Corolla sped up and changed lanes, bypassing them. “Never mind.”

 

Avon chuckled, squeezing the steering wheel. “You don’t have to watch, you know.”

 

“But I need to help. You’re preoccupied.” She cast him a sideways glance. She could tell he was a biker in so many ways, but the unexpected pièce de résistance was watching him drive a car. It was like he’d forgotten, and was trying to remember the proper order of things. He’d stepped on the brake too hard enough times to make her neck hurt. She had to bite back the laughter at this point.

 

“What do you mean?” He glared out the window as he changed lanes, then hurriedly put on the blinker.

 

“You. Driving a car.” She cleared her throat, grabbing onto the handle above the door. “It’s not exactly your forte.”

 

His lips formed a scowl. “What are you trying to say?”

 

“Uh, you suck at driving.”

 

He sighed tersely, accelerating to get around the car in front of them. They were just inches away from hitting the guy. “No, I don’t.”

 

She bit back a smile. “Well, I can tell you’ve been on motorcycles for plenty long. So…”

 

“I drive fine.” His brows formed a hard ridge.

 

“Okay. You’re right.” She smiled into her palm as she looked out the window. There was something sweet about his oblivion. She wanted to hang onto it. It made her feel like they’d been together forever, and not just for a handful of weeks in this bizarre series of events.

 

Avon tsked, scrubbing his jaw. The traffic slowed to a stop. The whirr of the air conditioner was the only sound between them as she looked over at him, unable to contain the smile.

 

“You have a shit-eating grin on your face.”

 

“I think it’s cute that you get stressed when you drive a car.” She pulled a heel up onto the edge of her seat. “I’ve never seen you like this before.”

 

“Well, enjoy it. This is why I don’t drive cars.”

 

“I thought you were a good driver, didn’t you just imply that?” She poked his side.

 

His eyes narrowed. “Watch what you say to me, sweets. Or else I’ll make sure you get what’s coming to ya at our hotel.”

 

She giggled, leaning over the console. “I thought that was the plan already?”

 

He laughed, squeezing her knee as the car lurched into motion. Her head banged against the headrest.

 

“Owww.” But all she could do was laugh it off.

 

Once they made their way out of the early morning traffic jams and out onto the open highway, she was better able to keep track of the other cars around them. Avon had relaxed slightly, and good thing too, because they had a five-hour drive ahead of them into the Appalachian Mountains.

 

The drive was easy going and fun, even with the strange tension following them as they left Ohio and entered the rolling hills of West Virginia. As the road twisted deeper and higher, it seemed they were able to forget more of what they’d left behind.

 

The fears. The uncertainty. The questions.

 

After a few pee breaks and a stop for lunch at a dingy trucker diner, they made it to their destination: a mid-grade resort tucked away in the rolling mountains. Surrounded by trees and hiking paths, they were miles away from a city and even farther from any place that felt even remotely populated. Avon parked the car in a small gravel parking lot, and they stretched before making their way up the winding stone path to the front.

 

“This is going to be interesting,” Robyn said, smiling up at Avon.

 

The sun was heavy on the horizon, ready to make its final descent to dusk. The hotel stood proud and tall before them, an oversized cottage that looked as stately as it did cozy. The air felt purer here, and even though this had been a forced vacation, she wasn’t upset about it.

 

“I’ve never been to a place like this before.” He tilted his head back to appraise the hotel. “Hell, I’m not sure I’ve ever been on vacation before.”

 

She swatted his chest. “Are you serious?”

 

“Not many club brothers like to spend their money on shit like this,” Avon said with a laugh.

 

“Good thing it’s on Morales’ tab then, right?” Robyn poked his side as they pushed through the large main doors. A lodge-style foyer greeted them, with animal skin rugs leading the way to the check-in desk.

 

After checking in under Robyn’s name, they were led to a room toward the back of the hotel on the second floor. It overlooked the heavily wooded acres sprawling behind the property. After the bellhop left their things, Robyn and Avon watched each other in silence.

 

She couldn’t believe they were here. Alone. Acting like this was some sort of getaway and not a necessity to stay alive.

 

The weight of what they’d been escaping came bearing down on her again, reminding her of all the things they’d tried to outrun.

 

But one thing was clearer than all that.

 

“Things are different now,” she blurted, without even meaning to. Her cheeks heated up instantly and Avon stepped closer, running his fingers up the side of her arm.

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“Between us.” She couldn’t yank her gaze off him. He was a magnet, one that had hooked her from the very first day. Even when she knew better.

 

Avon slid his arms around her waist. Over his shoulder, the sprawling expanse of the Appalachians receded into a hazy horizon. She couldn’t tell if this was romance or just plain delusion.

 

“Explain,” he said, rooting himself in front of her.

 

“I don’t know.” She buried her face in his chest. The emotions were welling up now, becoming thick and hard to decipher. “I feel like we’re on vacation, but at the same time, we’re not. Just like whatever it is that’s going on between us. I feel like we’re a thing, but at the same time, we’re not.” She tilted her head up, pressing her chin into the solid plane of his sternum. “It’s confusing.”

 

Avon’s face softened, and he dragged the pad of his thumb over her chin. “It’s not confusing, sweets. In fact, it’s real simple.”

 

“Oh yeah?” She squeezed her arms around his waist, loving the depth in his dark eyes. “Then explain it to me.”

 

“We’re together.”

 

Tears pricked at her eyes, and for some reason, it felt like a betrayal. She shouldn’t care so much that he’d said those words. She shouldn’t want them to be true. “Are we?”

 

“Mm-hmm.” He nodded slowly, dragging his thumb over her cheekbone. “You and me. It’s a thing.”

 

She laughed softly. “But what about when you get custody of Matt? I’m not gonna lie; it’s nice having you in my house. But you’re trying to move out. And I’m guessing you’ll stick around once you do. I mean, for the baby, sure, but not for us.”

 

“And why wouldn’t I?”

 

The question was posed earnestly; there was no trace of sarcasm or aggression in his voice. He simply wanted to know. The honesty stole her breath, and all she could do was gape up at him for a moment.

 

“I didn’t expect you to say that,” she whispered.

 

“I know.” He brushed his lips against hers. “I’m not sure if you caught on yet, sweets, but this is all new to me too.” A slow smile spread across his face, and his dimple glinted in the golden hour sunset streaming through the balcony window. “But this isn’t just because of the baby. It’s more than that.”

 

“It’s more than that.” She’d mumbled his words back to him, feeling their vibration down to the core of her being. God, he was right. It was simple.

 

“Why don’t we just see what happens?” He started swaying slowly, their bodies bumping lazily. “Wherever it leads… I’m here.”

 

She swallowed a thick knot in her throat, nodding up at him, hoping he didn’t see the sheen of tears in her eyes. “Yeah. Okay. I’m here too.”

 

“Good.” His smile spread wider, and he laced his fingers through hers. “Now, let’s try out this bed. See if it can stand up to all the pounding I’m gonna put it through tonight.”