Page 78 of Offside Attraction
“I know. I give you permission to do to me whatever you want if this turns out to be a trick.”
“You don’t have to give me permission ‘cause I will break your fucking nose if you try shit,” I warn him, shooting him a glare. Hayes chuckles and nods in agreement.
Fuck.
After a moment of hesitation, I pull the helmet on and follow him to the bike.
Climbing onto the back of the motorcycle is the weirdest thing I’ve done in a while. My hands hover awkwardly in the air, unsure where to put them. I’m close to him—too close. I can feel the heat radiating off his body, his scent—something clean, like soap and leather—filling my senses. It’s unnerving how familiar it feels. My heart pounds in my chest, and I tell myself it’s the adrenaline, not the fact that I’m about to ride off into the night with Hayes Griffin.
“Hold on,” Hayes says over his shoulder.
Right. My hands land on his sides, lightly at first, barely touching him. But as soon as the engine roars to life and he pulls out of the garage, I have no choice but to grip tighter. The bike jolts forward, and instinctively, my arms wrap around his waist. I swallow the awkwardness, telling myself this is just about not falling off the damn thing, nothing more. Hayes tenses against my hands, and I hear him take a slow deep breath. I can feel the quickening of his heartbeat against my fingertips, a steady reminder of the tension crackling between us, like a current neither of us can control, yet neither of us wants to stop.
But as we speed down the driveway and onto the empty road, something shifts. The wind whips past us, cool and sharp, and the world becomes a blur of streetlights and shadows. My heart is still racing, but not out of fear. There’s something about this—the cold air biting at my skin, the powerful hum of the motorcycle beneath us, the solid feel of Hayes between my arms—that feels almost…right.
I tighten my grip, my fingers brushing against the fabric of his jacket, and that’s when I realize just how close we are. His body is firm under my hands, every movement he makes sending a ripple through me. I can feel the muscles in his back shifting as he steers, the steady rise and fall of his breathing in sync with mine. It’s strange, almost surreal, being this close to him without a fight, without anger burning between us.
It’s unsettling how natural it feels, though. My mind wants to rebel against it, tell myself this is wrong, that I shouldn’t be feeling…whatever the hell this is. I hate him. I’ve told myself that a thousand times. He’s the guy who made my life hell, the guy I’m supposed to be punishing. So why the hell does this feel so… easy?
The road stretches ahead, and I can’t help but focus on the way my body molds to his as we ride, how every turn makes me grip him tighter, press closer. It’s weird—awkward even—but at the same time, it feels like there’s something more to this. Something I don’t want to admit.
The rumble of the motorcycle drowns out my thoughts, but they’re still there, swirling just beneath the surface. What am I even doing? Why the hell did I agree to this? Why did Hayes ask me? None of this makes sense, but it’s happening. I’m here, holding onto him like we’re anything but enemies.
And that’s the part that messes with my head the most. Because for all the tension, for all the history between us, right now, it’s like none of it matters. There’s just the bike, the night, and Hayes, steady under my hands.
I glance up, my eyes tracing the sharp line of his jaw as he focuses on the road ahead. He doesn’t say anything, but somehow, this silence is different from the usual standoff. It’s not filled with resentment or anger. It’s something else.
We ride on for what feels like hours, but it’s probably only a few minutes. Still, in that short time, something shifts. Maybe it’s the wind, or the fact that for once, I’m not thinking about how much I hate him. Instead, I’m wondering what the hell is happening between us.
I don’t know where he’s taking me, but for the first time since I came back, I’m not thinking about running. I’m holding on, and for now, that’s enough.
Theroarofthemotorcycle fades into the background as we pull up to a hidden lakeside spot, the kind of place that feels like it exists just for moments like this. The water glimmers underthe soft light of the setting sun, casting a golden hue across the surface. Trees line the shore, their leaves rustling gently in the breeze, adding a serene soundtrack to the picturesque scene. I’m not used to this kind of quiet, this kind of stillness, especially not when I’m with Hayes.
I slip off the motorcycle, removing the helmet, the cool air wrapping around me as I take in the beauty of the place. The lake is surrounded by towering trees with their leaves reflecting off the water’s surface in the moonlight. It’s quiet, almost untouched by the outside world, and the air smells fresh, mixed with the earthy scent of the forest. The only sounds are the occasional rustle of leaves and the soft lap of water against the shore
Hayes kicks the stand down, a small smirk on his face as he watches me soak it all in. I can’t help but feel a rush of emotions—a mix of confusion, anger, and something else, something warmer, bubbling just beneath the surface. The tension between us is almost palpable, even in the stillness.
“What do you think?” Hayes asks, his voice pulling me back to the moment.
“It’s… nice,” I reply, trying to keep my tone casual, even though my heart races in my chest. I can feel my pulse pounding in my ears, an irritating reminder of the effect he has on me, even when I don’t want him to. It’s weird being here with him, away from the prying eyes of our families and teammates, where it’s just us. Where things feel different.
He steps closer, the space between us feeling charged, electric. “I thought you could use a break from all the chaos.”
“Chaos?” I scoff, but there’s a hint of a smile tugging at my lips. “You mean your idea of fun?”
Hayes chuckles, the sound rich and warm, and I can’t help but feel a little lighter. I hate that about him—that he can make me feel like this, that he can make me forget, even for a second, theyears of resentment, the anger that’s burned between us for so long. “Yeah, well, sometimes a break is good.”
I glance at the lake again, the gentle waves lapping at the shore, and I can feel the weight of our earlier fight still hanging in the air between us. But here, away from everything, it’s easier to breathe. The tension still simmers beneath the surface, but it’s different now. More like a current running between us, pushing and pulling in ways I can’t quite explain.
I take a step toward the water, the sand cool beneath my shoes. “Why did you bring me here?” I ask, half expecting a sarcastic answer, but instead, he surprises me.
“Because I thought you’d like it.” His gaze is steady, searching mine. There’s an intensity there that makes my heart skip, a connection that feels undeniable, even in the midst of all our rivalry.
I shake my head, trying to brush off the warmth creeping into my cheeks. “You could have just told me to go home.”
“Maybe I wanted to spend some time with you, away from everyone else.” He shrugs, but the sincerity in his voice makes it hard to ignore.
“Why?” The question slips out before I can stop myself, and I watch as Hayes’s expression shifts, his eyes narrowing slightly.