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The clouds have let loose; water comes down in sheets. There’s no sense in shielding my hair, so I don’t. Taking quick steps, I follow Ridge, rushing outside.

I pride him in not reacting. It’s more than I would have done. Brooks approached with the intention of causing a scene, and Ridge didn’t give it to him.

Ridge’s in front of me, his eyes wild, his mind elsewhere. He keeps walking, his hands clasped behind his head as he stares up at the sky like it holds the answer.

Tentatively, I step toward him. Hearing my heels clicking against the stone, he turns, his eyes closed, lashes drenched in drops. “Do you want me to get Henry? He can give us a ride.”

He shakes his head, a denial, a plea to let him go alone.

But then he surprises me and whispers into darkness, “Come with me.” Dropping his hands. He looks so much like the boy in a stolen car, begging for my innocence. He wants to escape.

This time I’m going with him.

Wind slaps at my face, a constant wall of water obscuring my vision of him.

I nod, no words needed and reach for his hand. His finds mine, fingers tightening, holding, assuring me it’s going to be okay. We run through the rain, to his motorcycle where he straddles it, kick starts it and then hands me his helmet.

I have a moment when I hesitate because this isn’t safe. This is unexpected, and I didn’t plan for it. But I also didn’t plan on falling in love with my childhood friend.

I get on the bike with him, which isn’t easy seeing how I’m wearing a damn dress, but I manage to do it. “Are you. . . ?” My words fade, my eyes closing, tears swallowed instead of released.

Ridge shakes off my question, revving his bike. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

I don’t blame him, but I also don’t want to let him leave. Closing my eyes, I try to stop thinking. Taking a breath, I push weight against my chest.

He wastes no time getting to his trailer, and we shuffle inside, his hand still on mine until we get inside, and he finally let go. I feel the loss of heat immediately.

He looks at me, his hair soaking wet and matted to the side of his face. No words. No reaction.

I have no idea what to make of everything that just happened, so I remain quiet, waiting for him to speak first. My body is still running on pure adrenaline, and it’s taking all that I have to remain still, much less remain quiet.

My body shakes from the cold, my dress ruined, my hair. . . I don’t even know, but I know it’s flat, stuck to my face and my makeup looks like I should have joined the boys watchingThe Walking Dead.

I close my eyes and try to stop thinking, but I can’t. Not any longer. “Is Brooks really your dad?”

After kicking away his shoes and tie, Ridge turns, ripping his wet jacket off, and slaps it on the ground. He flops down on the couch just inside the trailer. “Father.Notdad.”

I step closer. “Are you. . . how long have you known?”

Ridge leans forward and rips his white dress shirt away, tossing it next to his jacket, leaving his chest bare and him only in his black slacks. “Since the night I left town.”

“And that’s why you drove the car through the building?” I sigh into my hands.

Ridge dips his chin down and runs his thumb over his lower lip. “That’s why.”

My heart aches for him, his reactions that night finally make sense. “Did Mike know?”

“I never asked. Madalyn says he did, but I never confronted him about it.”

Okay, he’s talking; this is good. It’s then, and only then I have the courage to finally ask, “That night in the car. . .” I pause. His eyes find mine, knowing what’s coming next. Something I’ve always wanted to know but haven’t had the courage to ask yet. “Why did you want to have sex with me so bad?”

He breathes out slowly as my words fade with each pause. “Aly, you’re putting too much weight into it. I was fifteen, angry, and not thinking.”

I sit next to him, my dress clinging to my body, and I’m half tempted to rip it off like he did his shirt and jacket. “Was it because of him?”

He raises an eyebrow, leaning his head back against the couch. Wiping water from his face, he sighs. “Who?”

“Austin. Did you want to have sex with me because he asked me out?”