Page 12
Story: Persistent (Adrenalin #3)
“Can you believe cars drive on that? What happens if they’re going the opposite direction? How do they even get around each other?” This time we’ve all got an answer for Nick’s question .
“Very carefully.”
“One has to back up.”
“This is why I ride a bike.”
“For real though, that was a great ride.” Nick kicks his feet up on the table and sighs contentedly. “We should do it again.”
“I wouldn’t mind doing it without the cameras. Just so we all can enjoy it.” Jace fusses with the playback, adjusting the exposure.
“You? Without a camera?” Trevor snorts beside me. “I’m surprised you haven’t figured out a way to permanently attach it to your hand, now you’re talking about leaving it home?”
“You do know the camera is the reason you get to travel the world and ride a bike for a living, right?” He sounds just like a dad who's disappointed in his kid. It’s pretty fucking hilarious, because that’s exactly how his own dad sounds when Jace and I say stupid shit.
“Yes, Daddy,” Trevor mocks him. “I know how films work. I’m just saying I’ve never seen you ride without the camera. I’m actually glad you’re willing to put it down for a day. Sometimes, you just have to enjoy the moment.”
Jace, Nick, and I exchange a startled look before Nick lurches forward and tips Trevor out of his chair.
“Dude, what was that for?” Trevor shouts as he picks himself off the ground.
“You have to enjoy the moment? What are you, the Dali Lama?” Nick chokes through a bout of laughter.
“I’m more enlightened than you fuckers, that’s for sure.” Trevor sits back down, well out of reach of Nick. “You miss the whole point of riding if you’re too busy looking through a lens to feel the bike underneath you.”
“You like the way it purrs between your legs?” Nick does his best imitation of a sultry voice, which is pretty fucking bad .
“The wind blowing through your hair?” Jace joins in. I nearly topple my chair trying not to laugh.
“Shut up. You know what I mean.” Trevor crosses his arms in front of his chest with an angry scowl.
“Why don’t you enlighten us.” I shove at his arm.
“Screw you guys,” he pouts as Nick, Jace, and I double over.
We’re all being stupid, but this is one of the things I like most about my job.
Everyone in this room has the same love for the bike I do.
Over the years, we’ve pushed each other to be better, kept our egos in check, and laughed our asses off while doing it.
Moments like this keep riding fun, especially during those times when your body starts to protest living on the road or climbing back in the saddle.
“You missed your calling, man. Should’ve been a poet.” Nick holds his stomach.
“Nah, a philosopher.” Jace grins.
“Ha, ha. You guys suck. I’m outta here.” Trevor jumps up and storms off, more for show than because he’s really pissed. I can tell because I’d do the same thing.
Nick follows, probably to hassle the guy even more, as Jace reaches around the monitor and retrieves a tiny camera. With a soft click the red light goes off.
“Got the footage you wanted, huh?” I shake my head, despite the fact I’m smiling.
“For now.” He tucks the camera into his media bag.
“That was a nice trick.” I jerk my head toward his hiding spot. “Trevor will be pissed when he sees it though.”
“He’ll get over it. Especially if I get you or Nick in the hot seat, too.”
“True,” I chuckle. “So, what’s the plan for the evening? ”
“Do you know in all the years we’ve been doing this together you’ve never asked me that?” He turns to face me, pausing to examine me with furrowed brows.
“Of course, I have.” I tip back in my chair so I’m rocking on the back legs. “Otherwise, we’d end up sitting around doing nothing.”
Jace shakes his head slowly back and forth. “Usually, you just pop up and declare you’re hungry or you want to watch a movie or something. Or someone else does. There’s almost never a plan.”
“So?”
“So, if you’re asking it’s because you have a plan, and you’re anxious to get to it,” he retorts matter-of-factly.
I should’ve known Jace would see what I don’t want him to. He knows me too well. I chew the inside of my cheek wondering how best to answer.
“Spit it out already. It’s the girl, isn’t it?” He leans forward, his voice lowering an octave as if he can sense I don’t want this conversation to be overheard.
Once again, I’ve got the perfect opportunity to come clean, yet I can’t make my mouth form the words. At this point, it’s not even the gender thing that’s the biggest news. Not to me anyway. It’s the fact that seeing Lennon is starting to feel more important than riding the bike.
“We’ve got plans later. After we all go out.” Picking at an imaginary spot on my pants to avoid his eyes, I realize I need to hang with guys some more so they don’t catch on to my infatuation over Lennon. Or worse, try to meet him.
“Sex is that good?” He arches a brow.
“You guys said you heard it.” Bile begins to work its way up my throat as soon as the words leave my mouth, but I’m not sure how else to get him to drop it. I can’t tell him what I don’t understand myself. “Might as well enjoy it while I’m here, right?”
Jace studies me for a second, his chin pinched between a thumb and forefinger. I keep a blank, almost bored look plastered on my face. That's what I'm doing, right? Enjoying Lennon's body while we're here. It doesn't sit well in my chest now that I've said it out loud.
“Might as well,” he finally agrees, letting me off the hook for at least another night.
Table of Contents
- Page 1
- Page 2
- Page 3
- Page 4
- Page 5
- Page 6
- Page 7
- Page 8
- Page 9
- Page 10
- Page 11
- Page 12 (Reading here)
- Page 13
- Page 14
- Page 15
- Page 16
- Page 17
- Page 18
- Page 19
- Page 20
- Page 21
- Page 22
- Page 23
- Page 24
- Page 25
- Page 26
- Page 27
- Page 28
- Page 29
- Page 30
- Page 31
- Page 32
- Page 33
- Page 34
- Page 35
- Page 36
- Page 37
- Page 38
- Page 39
- Page 40