9. Stella

9

STELLA

I bury my head in Will's chest, breathing in his scent and listening to his heartbeat. My own heart races as I come down from the lovemaking session we just had. Because that's what that was: slow, gentle lovemaking.

A final goodbye before we go our separate ways. My heart feels heavy, but even if distance wasn't an issue, there's no way I could be with a straight-laced lawyer like Will.

Everything's black and white for him, and if he found out about my past, he wouldn't want anything to do with me. It's best this is left as a fling, no matter how right it feels to be held in his strong arms.

I must doze off, because I wake with a start as Will moves.

"You want breakfast?" My stomach rumbles at the word and Will looks down, amused. "I take it that's a yes."

"Breakfast sounds good. "

"I'll get us a couple of breakfast sandwiches from the place across the road." Will slides out of bed, and a cool shiver runs through me. I sit up and pull the sheets around my chest.

Dull morning light comes through the curtains, and the splatter of rain hits the windows. Not a great day to be riding home.

I watch Will pull on his boxer shorts and riding leathers, a reminder that we'll soon be going our separate ways.

"What time's check out?"

He frowns as he pulls his jacket on. "Ten o'clock. We've got an hour."

It feels like a sentence. An hour to spend together before I never see Will again.

"Stay right here." He leans over the bed and kisses me on the forehead. "I'll be back in five minutes."

I wish I could stay right here. I wish I could stay right here forever.

The door closes behind him, and I climb out of bed. As much as my body craves Will, I want the last lovemaking session to be how I remember him.

I decide against a shower because I don't want to wash his scent off me. I want to keep a part of Will with me as long as I can.

I grab a fresh t-shirt out of my duffle bag and pull my clothes on. I'm just brushing my hair when there's an urgent knock on the door.

"Stella, are you in there? "

I open the door to find Cleo. Charlie clings to her, and his face is red and his crying pitiful.

"Charlie's sick." She has dark circles under her eyes and probably hasn't slept. "I think it's a respiratory virus again." Charlie's been sick before and spent two nights in the hospital the last time.

"We need to get going. The nearest medical center is an hour away. I've got an emergency appointment. It's on the route home. But we have to leave now."

My stomach knots. I thought I'd have a little more time with Will. But I'm not going to ride back without Cleo and the Crows.

"Right now?"

She shifts Charlie onto her other hip and rubs the top of his head. "Kray's packing the bikes. We'll be ready to roll out in five minutes."

My stomach drops, and she must see the look on my face. "Say your goodbyes, hon," she says gently. "It's time to go."

Charlie lets out a wail and she jiggles him on her hip, whispering words of comfort as she kisses the top of his head.

I can't ask her to stay any longer. Not with a sick child and not after everything she's done for me, taking me in when I needed somewhere to find my feet.

"I'll meet you at the bikes in five."

She's already turned away before I close the door.

My bag's half packed, and I grab the rest of my clothes scattered around the room and retrieve my toiletries from the bathroom .

Will should be back any moment, and there will just be enough time to scarf my breakfast and say goodbye.

But five minutes later my bag is loaded onto my bike, and there's no sign of Will.

I stand on the walkway outside our room and grip the railing tight. The roar of bikes and hum of conversation hangs over the parking lot. Lots of people are leaving today, and the parking lot is full of bikers loading their gear.

I scan the crowds looking for Will, but I don't see him. The breakfast place he went to is across the road and around the corner, and I can't see it from here.

"You ready?" Cleo calls up to me.

I strain my neck, scanning the bodies down below, but I don't see Will.

Charlie lets out a mournful wail, and Cleo holds him to her chest. "We gotta go, Stella."

She's right. I can't wait any longer. Maybe it's for the best. Maybe it's better that there's no goodbye, that the last memory will be of making love this morning.

"One minute," I call down.

I duck back into the hotel room and rummage in my purse until I find a scrap of paper and a pen. I scribble a quick note for Will and leave it on the bedside table.

With one final glance around the motel room, I pull the door shut behind me.