Page 84 of Bend

“It means you should be grateful I’m flirting with you this nicely.”

“Oh, I know you’re flirting, love.” I glance at her mouth, then back at her eyes. “Could’ve just called me gorgeous and left it there, though.”

“Where’s the fun in that?”

By the time we reach the bikes, the heaviness in my chest has eased enough that I can breathe around it again.

Not gone.

Just quieter and more manageable.

Echo grabs her helmet and turns back to me with that look she gets right before she says something she knows is going to annoy me.

“What?”

She grins. “You are absolutely the kind of guy who’d look good in one of those little paper birthday crowns.”

I stare at her. “You’ve ruined the moment.”

“No, I improved it.”

I shake my head, smiling despite myself, and swing a leg over my bike. “Hurry up and put your helmet on.”

“So bossy.”

I shake my head amused. God this girl is going to be the death of me.

She pulls the helmet on, then points at me. “Definatley pinning on the beach, but, still looking gorgeous though.”

I laugh under my breath and start the engine. “Hop on before I leave you here.”

“Lies,” she says, climbing on behind me. “You’d miss me in five minutes.”

I glance back at her. “Three.”

That gets a smile out of her I can feel even through the helmet.

Then she swings onto her own bike and fires it up, pulling out onto the road while I fall in right behind her.

Nothing about any of this shit with the team and us is normal.

But we’ll figure it out.

For now, it’s just the two of us heading back to the garage together.

Chapter Twelve

Echo

By the time I pull into the garage behind Wolfe, I’ve managed to convince myself I’m completely normal about everything.

Which is impressive considering twenty minutes ago I was sitting in his lap on a beach telling him not to give up on another man while he had his hands on my hips.

Super normal.

Very healthy.

Nothing to unpack there.