“That’s the plan,” Archie said. “I called Jeremy. No sign of Edward. Jere’s getting food and drinks sorted out for us. He also promised to distract and warn us if Edward shows up. So we’ve got you covered there.”
The sun warmed away some of the chill as I cut a look to Ian. He moved the helmet back and forth between his hands.
“I’ll run you two home for that, and Bubba can follow Archie out, and we’ll meet you two there.”
“Actually,” Ian said. “Do you mind if I give Frankie a ride?” Though he was asking them, he focused on me. “The guys can take your backpack. We’ll get your stuff…maybe talk?”
The offer should have relieved me, but I was suddenly clammy and my stomach knotted with nerves.
“Maybe we wait for the heavy discussions?” Archie suggested. “We’re supposed to be celebrating Frankie’s success, not pissing on her day further.”
I winced at the description.
“I wasn’t asking you, Archie. You may be rich, but you don’t own everything, and you really don’t own her.”
“Never I said I did,” Arch retaliated. “I also didn’t bail.”
“And on that note…” Coop stepped between them, focusing on me. “Frankie, what do you want to do?”
Jake’s hand had tightened on mine. “You don’t have to,” he said.
I sighed, fighting was the last thing I wanted. “I know I don’t have to. I want to…” Relief crawled across Ian’s expression.
Frowning, Archie straightened. “Then you be damn careful with her on that bike.”
“Do you mind keeping my bag to bring to Archie’s?” I asked Jake rather than feed more fuel to the fire. At my question, Jake dragged his gaze off Ian to me, and he nodded.
“Of course I don’t mind,” he said. “We’re going to be right behind you anyway.”
True.
I squeezed his hand and let go. For a second, I thought he wasn’t going to let me go, but then he did.
Ian held out the helmet to me as I crossed to him, and I accepted it. Suddenly aware of three gazes focused on us, I pasted on a smile. “Ready when you are.”
He nodded. “Thanks,” he murmured, and then motioned to his bike. I tried not to glance at the others, even as the sound of slamming car doors echoed as I waited for Ian to climb on the bike first.
Once he put on his helmet, I tugged on my own and tightened the chinstrap before I climbed on behind him. I was a little wary of putting my arms around him, so I settled for putting my hands on his hips and hooking my fingers in his belt loops.
The engine rumbled to life, and I stole a look at Jake’s SUV. He and Coop were arguing in the front seat, and a sigh rolled out of me.
What weretheyfighting about?
Archie was behind the wheel of his car, and when he caught me looking, he blew a kiss.
“Ready?” Ian said over his shoulder.
“Yes,” I assured him, and tightened my grip as he rolled forward. Even with the long line of cars to get out of the lot, Ian went around most of them and slipped away.
Oh, Jake would be annoyed. Hard to follow us if he was stuck trying to get out behind the other vehicles. The wind brushed against us as we zipped onto the road and then made it before the light changed. Something in me just relaxed as I leaned into him and followed the lean of his body when he took the corners.
It was over all too soon, and we were pulling into the apartment lot. I tightened my grip. Somehow, I’d managed to go from holding his hips to wrapping my arms around him. Even as I spotted my car, I didn’t see any sign of Mom’s.
Ian swung his bike in to park next to me and then waited for me to hop off. Reluctantly, I slid free and tugged the helmet off. After shutting the bike down, he took the helmet from my hands and hung it next to his.
“You want me to wait down here or go up with you?”
“Hard to talk to me if you stay down here.”