Chapter 10

Ivy

Despite my love for my job, nothing compares to the relief I feel at the end of my shift. Sawyer, the security guard stationed outside, walks me to my car as he has done many times before.

"Let me get that door for you, Ivy," he says, and I click the button on my key fob. Sawyer has been working here for a little over a year, and I'm sure he's just as ready to go home as I am.

"Thanks! Have a good night," I say as I slide into my car and toss my purse onto the passenger seat. Sawyer nods and closes the door behind me. I turn the key in the ignition, and my car won't start. I crank it again, and then a third time, with no luck.

"Damn it." Okay, stay calm. It's an old car.

After taking a deep breath, I turn the key one more time. Glancing around to see if Sawyer is still nearby, I see he's already gone. "Come on, baby girl, don't do this to me. Just get me home, and we'll take you to the mechanic for a spa day. I promise."

A knock sounds on the window, and I jump, letting out a scream that echoes inside my car. I look up to see Stone's smiling face and his hand motioning me to roll down the window.

Instead, I push open the door and stare up at him. "If I could roll down the window, I'd be halfway home already."

His brows arch in surprise. "I can look under the hood if you want. Probably just the battery."

I laugh. "You know about cars now?"

"Well, the funny thing is, I worked at a car shop in California."

I laugh. "Look at you, Mr. Mechanic."

He chuckles. "Oh, don't give me too much credit. I only know enough to impress you."

"Well, color me impressed then."

He leans forward, arms spread wide, one on the door and the other on top of the car. "What'll be? A peek under the hood or a ride home?"

I ignore the shivers that run down my overheated spine, chalking it up to the cool night air and not the words peek under the hood. I'm just tired, that's all. I swallow and nod. "A ride home would be great, thanks."

"Come on." He smiles as he opens the door, nodding for me to follow him. "Got somethin' to show ya."

I laugh. "I've heard that line before."

Stone's laugh cuts through the air, a clear sign he's up to something. "Bet you have, Ivy," he shoots back, a teasing sparkle in his eye that's gone as quickly as it appeared. Makes me wonder if it was just my imagination running wild after a long day.

"Why'd you park in the boonies?" I ask, throwing a glance at the usual parking lot.

"You'll see," Stone says, a mischievous grin spreading across his face as he beats me around the corner. With his broad shoulders blocking the view, I'm left trailing in his wake until he steps aside, grandly gesturing toward the revelation. "Check out this beauty."

Blinking away the disbelief, I'm staring at a Harley that's all kinds of shiny, sparkly, and downright stunning. And oddly familiar. "Wow. That's a beast. Yours?"

Stone's laugh is contagious, and he pulls me in for a closer look, his enthusiasm magnetic. "Believe it or not, it's the old one. Dad and the guys gave it a facelift. Cool, huh?"

I step closer, memories flooding in as I run a finger along the sleek fuel tank. "We had some epic rides on this beast, didn"t we? Even when he was more beast than beauty."

"She, Ivy. Always she," he corrects me with a playful wag of his finger.

I smile at the bike, now seeing it through a lens of fondness and respect. "Got a name for her?"

"I call her Baby," Stone declares with a pride that's both endearing and slightly amusing.

"This is incredible, Stone. Really."

"Yeah, almost shed a tear when they unveiled her."

"Tears?" I tease, nudging him lightly. "For real?"

He raises an eyebrow, his grin betraying his tough exterior. "Nah, bikers don't cry. It's the dust, always the dust."

I laugh again. "Dust? Really? 'Cause I'm pretty sure you cried when you got this bike the first time around."

"Did not," he shoots back easily.

"Did so," I reply, and just like that, it's like we're sixteen again, disagreeing over the simplest thing until one of us—usually Stone—ends the argument with a joke or a laugh. "I can't believe you made me say that again."

Stone shrugs, picking up the helmet sitting on the passenger seat. "If I recall correctly, nobody can make you say or do a damn thing."

"Except you. A few hours in your presence, and I feel like a giddy kid again."

"Feels good, right?"

"Yeah," I sigh. "It does. Remember when we couldn't wait to grow up?"

"We were fucking nuts." He sets the helmet gently on my head.

"I don't know. Being a kid was fun, but nothing beats the freedom of adulthood. Sure, we have to pay bills and taxes and shit, but Margarita Mondays are real, and they are amazing. Late nights and later mornings, nothing beats them."

"Yeah, okay, I'll give you that one." He tightens the chin strap with a satisfied smile. "I prefer adulthood."

"Me too. And my bed."

"Then let's get you home, Cinderella."

"Yes, please!" I kick my leg over the back of the bike and it's like I'm transported back in time as I wrap my arms around Stone's waist and enjoy the feel of the late night air on my skin.

Memories flood back to me of all the times we were on this bike when it was just a dream. I admit, it feels safer now, but back then, we didn't care. We were just kids out here having fun. I smile to myself. Those were the days. Hot summer nights hanging out at the big house and in the fall, riding to school on this beast.

The bike rumbles to a stop in front of my place. I hop off and stretch my legs, working out the kinks from the short ride. "Thanks again for the lift, Stone. I owe ya one."

"Anytime, Ivy. You know that. Sleep tight."

I can feel his eyes on me as I climb the steps to the front door—the one Sage insisted on painting that godawful lime green last summer on a whim. As soon as I open the door, Stone revs the engine and tears off down the street, the sound fading into the distance.

Gray's lounging on the couch, beer in hand, some movie's playing on the TV. "Who dropped you off?"

"Hey." I toss my bag on the table with a heavy sigh. "It was Stone. He gave me a ride because my car wouldn't start. Have you seen his bike? It's freakin amazing. That was so cool what Gunnar and Peaches did for him." I shake my head, thinking about Stone's bike. "How was your night?"

Gray sits up straight, frowning at me. "Are you serious? You wouldn't let me come get you, but you're happy to hop on the back of Stone's bike, no questions asked?"

I plop down heavily next to him, exhausted. "Oh, come on, don't be jealous, Gray. It was just a quick ride home. I'm not runnin' off with the guy."

Running a hand through his dark, disheveled hair, Gray gets up and starts pacing. "I'm not jealous, Ivy. I just wanna know why the hell you took a ride from him instead of waiting for me to pick you up. Is that too much to ask?"

My eyes roll involuntarily as I pull off my boots. "It definitely sounds like jealousy, babe." I flex my toes, then stand and head for the bedroom, more than ready for this night to end.

"Well? I'm still waiting for an answer here."

I whirl around, throwing my hands up in exasperation. "You really want to have this out now? Okay then! My junky car wouldn't start after my shift, and Stone was right there. He offered to either look under the hood or give me a lift home. I'm absolutely drained from working all night, so I chose the easier option. Happy now?"

"No, I'm not." Gray crosses his muscular arms, his jaw tightly clenched. "Did you even think to call me first?"

"For fuck's sake, Gray! Stone tapped on my window like five seconds after I turned the key, and the thing wouldn't start. He offered to fix it or give me a ride. I'm freakin' beat, so I just hopped on. What's the big deal?"

"Since when is Stoney-boy a mechanic?" Gray's eyes are hard and narrow.

My arms go up again. I do not want to do this right now. "I don't fuckin' know. He said he worked on cars and bikes when he was in California."

"I'll bet. Dude probably just went to the club to see you. That's why he was conveniently still around when your car crapped out."

"Gray! You are acting like an idiot. Stone's father owns the club. He might go there every night now that he's back. I thought he was your friend."

Gray's shoulders droop as he exhales heavily. "You're right, I'm sorry. Stone's my friend too. I just don't want him getting the wrong idea about you, that's all."

I soften my voice and step closer, resting my hands on his chest. "Stone's not hitting on me, babe, I swear. He's just being a friend, same as always. Don't you trust me?"

"Of course, I trust you, Ivy." Gray sighs heavily, scrubbing a hand down his face. "I do, it's just... you two were always so damn tight back in the day. I don't want him waltzing back in here thinking he can steal you away."

I smirk. "Aha, so you admit you're totally jealous." I let my lips graze along his jawline. "Stone's my oldest friend, sure. But you, Gray? You're my man. Those are two very different things."

He wraps me up in his heavily muscled arms. "I know, I know. I just don't ever wanna risk losing you, babe."

I smile as he finds that sensitive spot behind my ear, kissing and nibbling until I shiver. "Then don't act like some crazy jealous fool, and you won't. Stone being back around changes nothing for us, okay? What, were you hoping he'd just stay away forever?"

Gray's deep voice is a low rumble in my ear now. "‘Course not, babe. I'm just lookin' out for what's mine, you know?"

I'm not fully buying that, but I'm too wiped to push it any more tonight. "All right then, we're good." I slip out of his strong embrace and start peeling off my clothes. "I'm hittin' the shower. Be back in a few."

"I'll be right here waiting," he replies in that signature smoky tone of his that says his mind's already shifted to other things.

The shower is so hot the bathroom steams instantly, and I step under the spray with a satisfying moan. But I can't even enjoy the hot shower because I can't stop thinking about Gray's words. He's jealous of Stone because of our friendship.

At least the friendship we used to have.

Which is fair because now I realize that's what's been missing in my relationship with Gray. We have fun together, the sex is outta this world, and he always makes me feel beautiful. Even those times of every fucking month when I'm bloated, fat, and bitchy.

He's everything a good boyfriend is supposed to be. But if I honestly look at our relationship, we're friends all right, but not the way Stone and I were.

Remember Stone left for five goddamn years, and he never called you, not once.

That rational bitch in my head makes an appearance, and I know she's right because, after that night in the Hornet's Nest parking lot, she's never steered me wrong. Stone and I are friends, but maybe I'm viewing our friendship with rose-colored glasses. I know I'm not, but it's something to consider.

I step from the shower and dry my hair and my body before heading back to my bedroom. Gray wears nothing but deep green boxers that show off his chest and abs.

"Hey," he says in his smokey voice.

My gaze slides over his naked torso and my body responds. Immediately. "Hey," I say back.

I close the distance between us and wrap my arms around him, pressing the side of my face to his hard chest and inhaling his scent. "I'm glad you're here, Gray. Don't be jealous."

"Okay, Ivy. I won't." He hugs me tighter, and I hug him back even tighter, willing everything in the universe to stay exactly as it is in this moment.

Don't change.

Don't complicate my life.