He arches a brow and points at the empty bar. “It isn’t like anyone will miss us.”
I still don’t know what we are doing but I follow him out onto the outside patio into the rain.
I look to Nate as he pulls me to him and starts swaying to the sound of the rain as it beats down on the pavement. “Have you lost your mind?”
“I never claimed to have had it to start with.” He laughs as the rain continues to fall and I lay my head on his shoulder and do my best not enjoy the moment he is giving me. I try not to think about Joey right now but it’s hard. This is the sort of thing he would have done for me.
God do I miss him, but if I am being honest. Nate is taking up a lot more space in my head these days. It makes me feel like a shit person, but Joey isn’t here.
Chapter 13
Nate
Motherfucker. Audrey is making me crazy. I don’t know how much longer I can take seeing her face, and hearing her voice every morning and night, while she sings her way through her apartment, and into the shower.
I’ve been beating off to the sound of her voice every morning while taking my shower. Not to mention the fact that my sister took off to the Bahamas, leaving me alone with Audrey on the days Lewis has scheduled off. I can’t escape her or my growing attraction to her.
After four days, the sexual tension between us is at an all-time high along with my anxiety. I’ve had to have my dosage upped on my medication to cope. I’m drinking more than I’d like and so is Audrey.
I don’t know what came over me when I asked her to go to the fair. Lewis is closing tonight so I thought we could both use some time away from the bar. A little fun and a chance to cut loose.
I’m waiting out back by my motorcycle when I see Audrey walking toward me.
She’s breathtaking in her dark skinny jeans and graphic tee. My lips immediately tug into a smile. “You ever been on a motorcycle?” I question, noting her nervous expression as teeth graze over her bottom lip.
She shakes her head. “No.” I explain to her how to get off and on first. Telling her where to put her feet on the pegs and how she should sit, keeping her arms secure around my waist and not lean when I take a curve or corner.
I go over the directions with her twice just to be sure she gets it. I’ve been riding my bike since I got back, but I haven’t ridden with a passenger since before I left for the Army.
When I hand her a helmet she scrunches her nose. “That will totally flatten my hair,” she whines.
“Better your hair to be flat than banging your head on the pavement if something were to go wrong.”
“True. Very true.” I get on first and tell her to use my shoulder for balance if she can’t get her leg over.
Once Audrey is on with her arms snug around my waist I set off on the short drive to the fairgrounds.
She does good for a new rider. I only have to remind her not to lean once.
We arrive at the fair and I pay for our tickets and parking.
I’m tempted to take her hand in mine, but don’t want to make her feel awkward as we stroll through food vendors making our way past the games to the rides.
“What first? Ladies’ choice,” I tell her.
“Do you promise not to laugh if I tell you something?”
“Of course,” I answer, knowing it’s a promise I can’t keep.
“I’ve never been on a ride before?”
“Never? Not even a carousel?”
“Nope.”
“Ferris Wheel?”
She shakes her head and I take her hand in mine, liking all too much the way it feels. “We’re gonna have to do something about that. Are you scared of heights?”