Page 38 of Fall For Me
“Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me. I didn’t do anything. I was flailing in there. The minute Brad saw Sean, his eyes lit up.”
My shoulders drop in defeat. “I don’t want him dropping money on me,” I whisper, careful to keep others from hearing our conversation.
“He didn’t pay a single dime for that bike. He traded his time.”
Confused, I look up at my best friend. “What do you mean traded his time?”
“Exactly what I said. He traded his time. It was worth more,” he states, pushing my bike out of the dealership as I hold open the door. “Offered to be in a few commercials, and the owner saw dollar signs. I don’t have the clout Mac has, Hannah. Brad saw me and thought ‘this rich boy can pay full price,’ but when Sean walked in and started making offers, Brad called up the owner. Sean’s face will sell a lot of bikes for them,” he says, placing the helmet on my head.
Feeling like a jerk, I lower the visor in an attempt to shield my shameful eyes from Aiden.
“I should probably apologize.” My voice echoes inside the helmet.
He reaches out and flips my visor back up, forcing me to lock eyeswith him. “You should. And while you’re at it, ask him to dinner one night as a thank you for saving your ass a hundred thousand dollars.”
“I’m not trading a date for a bike like a fucking prostitute.”
“It’s dinner, not a blowjob, Han-Han.”
Rolling my eyes, I swat him on the chest with the back of my hand. “Whose side are you on anyway?”
“Yours, darlin’. Always yours. Which if you opened your damn eyes, you’d see that also happens to be the same side Sean’s on . . . fuck . . . I swore to myself I’d stay out of it . . .” Trailing off, he shakes his head.
I toss one leg over the bike and park my ass on the seat. Aiden pulls a backpack out of the shopping bag, takes out the paper stuffing, and hands the backpack to me. I shove my purse into it, then pull the straps over my shoulders.
“Stop being hateful to him,” Aiden surprises me by saying, and before I can open my mouth to speak, he slams my visor closed, shutting me up. “And give him another chance.”
So much for staying out of it.
“Love you!” he calls out, walking to his car. “I’ll run this stuff to your house later.”
“Thank you. Love you,” I say with a wave, even though he’s too far to hear me.
I fire up the bike and watch as Aiden folds himself into his driver’s seat. Then I take off onto the side street, weaving in and out of traffic. Cars blur, my t-shirt ripples, whips, and flaps, and a rush surges through my veins.
Ah, this is the life!
Twelve
Aiden
I’m a fucking shit friend.
And before you go defending me, and I know you will because you love you some Aiden Brodie . . . you should probably know that I’m secretly in love with my best friend. No, not Sean, I don’t swing that way. Not that I think there’s anything wrong with someone who does. Love and fuck whoever the hell you want. The best friend I’m referring to is Hannah. Yeah. I know. And on top of that I’m fucking my friend, Cam, who happens to be the sister of my other friend, Carter.
See . . . like I said, shit friend.
I’ve always had a thing for Hannah, but she friend zoned me out the gate. The more time I spent with her, the more I wanted her. How could I not? She has this energy about her that drew me in like a fucking magnet. Not to mention, she’s gorgeous as hell.
Unrequited love . . . ahh . . . fucking sucks.
I was shoved into a little box and left untouched. She never had romantic feelings for me, which I get.
I’m younger. Fuckable. Handsome.
Nah, maybe I don’t get it, but I’ve come to terms with the fact thatshe’s in love with Sean, and our relationship will never be anything more than platonic. Even if she was interested in something other than friendship, that ship sailed into the abyss the minute Sean slid in and swept her off her feet. I might be a shit friend, but there is one thing I’ll never ever do: fuck over my boy, Sean.
