Page 44 of Ignition

I swallowed, trying to dislodge the sudden knot in my throat, and my gaze slipped away from his all-too-knowing one a little too fast.

“Someone… crossed a line. Needed to remember I could still control something.”

My jaw tightened as soon as the words left me.

There was no line, and Liam had no obligation to me. It wasn’t like I was pursuing her or some shit. Even so, dark jagged shrapnel twisted in my guts as her laughter rang in my ears again. The one he’d stolen.

What was worse, I kept picturing an alternate universe where she’d come out of that bathroom to find me waiting for her instead. Where I’d been faster. Where maybe she wouldn’t bristle, expecting a taunt or a scathing joke.

Would she have pushed me away?

I’d never know.

And that stung most of all.

He tugged his green puffer jacket a little tighter around himself and wisely made no comment on whatever he’d gathered from my face.

“Yeah, I get it, kid. Been there.” He chuffed out a breath. Happily married for over twenty years as he was, I didn’t doubt it. “You know where to find me if you wanna talk about it, yeah? Until then, ride safe.”

He pulled me into another hug, tighter this time, like he knew I needed it.

I considered telling him everything.

Except I wasn’t quite sure what everything even was.

I gave him a small nod instead, barely there, but enough.

Helmet back on, I fired up the engine again. The sound rose to a growl, filling the silence between us and saying what I couldn’t.

I mirrored his biker’s salute and took off, blending into the night, only my taillights visible to him where he stood on the curb, watching me go.

The lights blurred by as I rode back to campus, the streets so empty and quiet now, it felt like the end of the world. I glanced at my watch: two in the bloody morning.

No wonder he’d come to check—I’d do the same for him if he was running mad laps around the circuit at this hour. The night air bit at my lungs as the helmet hissed off, and the engine died, leaving silence pressing down on my eardrums. The kickstand snapped down with an entirely too loud click that echoed in the hollow between my ribs, where my heart was supposed to be.

The ride had helped, but something dark and unshakable clung to me as I trudged back to my room, smelling of gasoline, smoke, burnt rubber and—little though I wanted to admit it—jealousy.

1. Warm greeting used by Italians on the phone; it translates to “Hello, dear” and it’s used for good friends, close family, or a partner.

2. Affectionate way of saying “old man.”

Chapter fourteen

Mia

I’m not sure how I would’ve bounced back after the humiliation if it hadn’t been for Liam’s easy humour and innate ability to make me laugh, even at the most disconcerting of topics.

Pri remained blissfully ignorant—or if she knew the extent of it, she said nothing. But even his jokes and her comforting presence couldn’t dislodge the prickle on the back of my neck that trailed me wherever I went on campus.

Things were quiet. Too quiet.

It didn’t sound like peace—but the hush before a wildfire.

I attributed it to Josh keeping his distance. Surely, my fans would have got the picture: there was nothing between him and me. Therefore, no reason to pick on me.

If only it had been so simple.

As I stepped into the bright marble bathroom, the smell of cigarettes hit me first, slicing through the scent of damp stone and something earthy floating in through the open window.