The next day, I was walking out of work. Still thinking about Spence and the conversation we had, my heart feeling achy like an overworked muscle.

Would things ever be right with us again? I wasn't entirely sure.

The only bright side was that Leann was waiting for me and we were going to pick up my car. It was her day off and she had a date in a couple hours, but best friends always come through, and mine was a blue-haired rockstar. I couldn't thank her enough for–

Completely betraying me?

Because it wasn't her waiting for me at all?

The sound that fled my mouth was somewhere between a sigh and a cry of agony. This can't be happening.

As I approached Leann's usual parking spot outside the police department, her SUV was nowhere to be seen, replaced instead by Spence and his insufferable motorcycle.

"Hi there." I crossed my arms over my chest, not giving him a chance to return my sarcastic greeting before I looked his bike over from wheel to wheel and gave him a firm, "No."

Spence laughed, ignoring me entirely as he held his spare helmet out. "Hop on."

Those two words flitted around in my stomach, almost distracting me from the goal. "No," I repeated myself.

He pushed the helmet against my still crossed arms. "Like you have a choice."

"I already have a ride."

"No, you don't."

As soon as he said that, my phone buzzed with a text.

Leann: BTW, Spencer is taking you to pick up your car. I'm sorry but he made me an offer I couldn't refuse.

I stared at the words on my screen, hands tightening around my phone and irritation building in my chest. I couldn't begin to think of what he offered her for this, but I wasn't even surprised that it worked. Or that he was here. And that my other options were sitting at zero because Dante hadn't responded to any of my texts in days.

Fuck my life, again.

Glancing up at Spence, I took the helmet from his hands. "I told you, you're not the person I call for these things anymore."

"And look at that," he responded, his tone a mix of sarcasm and bitterness and humor. "I'm letting you know that you don't even have to call. All you have to do is express a fucking need."

"And you'll resort to hijacking?"

"If that's what it takes to keep you safe," he said, mounting his bike and patting the spot behind him. "Now, hop on, Davina."

With no other ideas or useful resources, only the need to get to my car as soon as possible, I did as he said. Just like I used to, all those summer nights ago. When he got me on the back of his Ducati and gave me my first taste of freedom, set against a canvas of beautiful sunsets and the warmth of his body. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little excited to experience that again.

The freedom and the sunsets. Not the warmth of his body.

I shifted around on the seat, familiarizing myself with the feel of it and trying to remember the best hand placement for when I would inevitably have to reach around and hold onto Spence. I was so fucking nervous, I made a fist once and then twice, before wiping my hands on my jeans, sweaty palms sliding against smooth denim. I couldn't gather my thoughts.

When I took too long to put my arms where they belonged, Spence made a sound suspiciously like laughter. Then he reached back, taking my hands into his and pulling my arms forward to wrap around his waist.

He was gentle but commanding in his movement, and I swallowed hard before exhaling a breath that fogged up the shield on my helmet.

Spence turned the engine over and revved it a few times. "You ready?" he shouted over the blast of noise.

I squeezed him tighter, my answer anytime he used to ask me that, and then his right hand came down and patted mine before we took off. Another habitual gesture between the two of us. I tried not to think about it too much.

The ride to Renlow Park was nothing short of exhilarating. I'd forgotten how truly freeing it was to travel by bike, how different it was from the confines of a vehicle where the windows keep you from fully experiencing the journey around you. Wind in your ears, the power between your legs, the landscape swishing by in blurry shades of watercolor.

The trip was all blues skies and green grass, white puffy clouds and the swish of blacktop at our feet. I felt more connected to the earth with every mile we rode, and I wanted to kick myself for putting so much time between my last ride and this one. Especially since it was over so damn quickly.

Before I knew it, Spencer was pulling the bike into the parking lot of Duke's. That's when it hit me just how dedicated he'd really been to swindling this task from Leann. I hadn't even told him where we were headed or what time my car would be ready. He had it all fucking figured out. I never stood a chance.

As soon as he cut the engine, I hopped off the Scrambler and looked around the parking lot. My car was sitting a few yards away, all four wheels standing at the correct height and looking fantastic. With a skip in my step, I headed toward the entrance without a word. Spence had plenty of those for both of us anyway.

"I'll wait," he shouted at my back, just to be annoying. "I'll be following you home as well."

I flipped him off and went inside. A bell rang overhead, and I found who I could only guess was Kip waiting for me. He was an older gentleman, tall and wiry, with dark skin and a beaming smile.

"You must be Davina," he said, holding up the key fob I'd left in the box yesterday.

I smiled back. "I am."

"Your car's all ready to go, miss," he said, waving me over to the counter. "Come on and take care of a few things, and we'll get you on your way."

The next couple minutes passed smoothly as I signed off on the repair and paid my bill. I was putting one last signature on the shop's receipt when Kip let out a small laugh. "I have to say, you've got a good friend looking out for you out there."

I looked up at him. "I beg your pardon?"

What friend was he talking about?

Please don't tell me Spence had taken this little favor even further.

"Tall? Black hair? Scary blue eyes." Kip tilted his head at me. "He was here a little bit ago, might still be here. He checked the car over and made sure everything looked good, made sure I wasn't overcharging you or anything, not that I would have."

The blue eyes gave it away, although I wouldn't have called them scary. To me, they were...entrancing. Shiny like a sapphire, mysterious as the ocean.

Alex.

He was here? Checking things out for me? That's so...wow.

Scribbling the last of my signature down, I slid the paper across the counter in a hurry, eager to find the closest window. 

I scanned the parking lot again, for a different car this time. Only, it occurred to me very quickly that I had no idea what Alex's car looked like. But that didn't stop me from looking, and I found what I was searching for easily enough. It was hard to miss.

Parked two spaces away from mine, Alex was climbing out of a bright red Honda, and his eyes settled right on mine through the window. I gave him a little wave and he waved back.

"Am I good to go?" I asked Kip with a glance over my shoulder.

"Sure are," he replied, smiling again.

The bell signaled my exit as I practically skipped out the door. I spared one look at Spence and then turned all my attention to Alex as he met me in front of my car.

"Hey stranger," he said, his voice even smoother than I remembered. "All good in there?"

"Yep," I answered happily. "With some thanks to you, I hear."

"It was nothing." He took a step toward me, the proximity enclosing me in the scent of mint and a dash of pine, the slightest brush of tobacco. Something I'd missed before. "I just wanted to make sure everything was fair and square and done in a timely fashion."

"I appreciate that," I said to him. "But you didn't have to come all this way."

"I was just up at the restaurant, so it wasn't any trouble." He shrugged, shoving his hands in his pockets as a mischievous smirk crossed his lips. "Besides, I couldn't stop thinking about our meet-cute, ya know?"

"Our meet-cute?" I let out a small laugh. "You mean the one where I accused you of being a serial killer?"

"Yeah, that one." He nodded. I studied the line of freckles under his eyes as he smiled at me. "But mostly, I've been thinking about the part where I should have asked for your number, but I chickened out."

"Oh, uhm..." My heart lurched in my chest, but I wasn't immediately sure if it was from excitement or despair, and my response only continued to come out in a mortifying stammer. "My number...wow, I..."

"Sorry if I'm being too forward," Alex blurted out on a nervous laugh. "I don't do this a lot, but I really enjoyed spending time with you yesterday, and I...well, I haven't been able to get you off my mind..." He paused for a breath. I swear his cheeks turned the tiniest bit pink, and the last part of his pitch came out fast and furious. "I'd love to take you on a date, maybe get to know you a little better?"

I couldn't help my smile. In a world taken over by technology and digital communication, where people were mostly found shooting their shot behind a phone screen, it was refreshing to be asked out in the traditional way. Face to face, tripping over the occasional word, but risking the embarrassment all the same.

For a moment, it felt like we were two people in a simpler time, but it was also a fresh reminder of how my current state of life was nothing short of entirely complicated. Since losing Dalton and ending things with Spence, I'd been a wreck. That's why I'd resolved to do a little soul searching, find myself, make lemonade and sugar cookies again.

I needed to see that through, no matter how nice Alex was.

"I'm flattered, I really am..." I let out an awkward laugh, knowing how stupid I was probably being, but that something deep from yesterday returned again, the needle in the pin cushion that wouldn't let me rest. "I'm just...not really dating right now."

"I see," Alex said softly, eyes shifting to the ground. I felt terrible, letting him down like that, but when he looked up at me again, the slyest little smile graced his lips. "Can I ask you one thing?"

"Of course."

"Does that have anything to do with the guy over there by the bike?" He tipped his chin in the direction behind me, where Spencer still stood, waiting next to his Ducati. "Is that your boyfriend or something? 'Cause if it is, I'll feel like a real jerk. Not to mention, my life might be in danger, considering I'd be six feet under right now if looks could kill."

Good grief.

I didn't dare turn around to see that look for myself. For one thing, Spence didn't need any encouragement. But I also knew exactly what it looked like.

I'd seen that face more times than I could count, had known many guys on the receiving end of it. During our highschool days, especially, and occasionally at work. His fellow officers loved to put the moves on me. One or two had been serious about it, but mostly they were trying to get a rise out of Spence, and he performed exactly as they expected and hoped.

"No." I shook my head, answering Alex in an even tone. "He's not my boyfriend."

"Protective older brother?" he asked, grimacing. "That could potentially be worse for me."

"Not my brother either," I laughed, hoping to mask the anxiety I felt at trying to classify what Spencer and I were. After a moment, it came out on a weary sigh, "Just...someone complicated."

Alex nodded slowly, and I watched his brow furrow as he thought carefully about his next words. "Well, until it uncomplicates itself, any chance you'd want to get a drink with me?" he finally asked. "As friends?"

"A drink as friends," I hummed with intrigue, thinking about it for a minute.

It didn't sound so bad at all, considering I wasn't quite ready to part ways with this guy just yet. Not to mention, it was the least I could do for all he'd done in my distress.

I bit down on my lip, an attempt to curb my bigger than necessary smile. "I'd like that actually."

"Great." Alex beamed right back at me, pulling out his phone.

I gave him my number and he sent me his contact card. I hit download, just as he received a call that interrupted a potentially awkward goodbye, with Spencer still staring our way and me being...myself.

"I have to take this," Alex said, placing a warm hand on my shoulder and squeezing gently. "But I'll be in touch soon, okay?"

"Okay." I nodded and watched him head back to his car, leaving me with one last smile and a wave.

I stood there as he drove away, my phone clutched into my hands, thinking about my newest contact and how I was actually looking forward to hearing from him. Even if only a friendly drink was on our horizons, I could always use another friend. Especially a hot one.

As soon as my gaze swung back in Spence's direction, I wasn't shocked at all to find him heading straight towards me. Speaking of hot...

Footsteps quick and certain had him closing the distance between us in mere seconds. His walk was so stupidly attractive, all casual but determined, his posture pristine. My stomach did a little twirl as he drew near, but then he ruined it with his big, dumb mouth.

"Who the fuck was that?" he said, tilting his head in the general direction that Alex had just left.

"Don't worry about it," I mumbled as I headed around my car to the driver's side, fully remembering my irritation with him and indulging heartily at the reminder. It made it a lot easier to forget how hot he was if I was angry at him.

"I'm gonna worry about it, Davina," he insisted. "Was that the person who waited with you outside the store yesterday?"

I turned on a heel of fury. "And what if it was?"

"You're exchanging numbers with strangers now? You hate me that much?"

"Spence." I looked up at the sky and sighed. "I don't hate you." The thought was absurd, I could never hate Spencer Lovejoy. Too much of myself was woven into him. Hating him would mean hating myself. Slowly, my eyes fell and connected with his. "But I'm not waiting around for you either."

Whatever he was feeling—whatever emotions those words called upon—they worked their way over Spencer's face, flushing all traces of calm from his eyes and tightening his jaw. "What do you even know about him?"

"His name is Alex," I answered, wracking my brain for any and every small detail I'd collected. I was pleased with how many there actually were, after only a day of knowing him. "He's from Upstate New York. He works in roofing, he likes baseball, and his brother owns a restaurant up the road from here."

Spence looked satisfied enough with my answer. But he shook it off and put on the tough guy routine anyway, crossing his arms over his chest. "Do you know his last name?"

Shit. Did I know that?

If I didn't, he'd seriously have a point there.

Lifting up my phone, I checked the newly downloaded contact info, finding the information I needed right away and blowing out a sigh of relief. Alex Ryan. His last name was Ryan.

"I know his last name," I told Spence, my face as smug as could be as I looked back up at him.

His eyebrows lifted with curiosity. "What is it?"

"Right," I laughed out loud. It was the only right thing to do. "So you can run a background check on him like a psycho? No thanks."

"What's the problem with that?" Spence shrugged. "He could be lying to you. He could be a fucking serial killer."

Anger flooded my veins, despite being guilty of having had the same thought when I first met Alex. The accusation just hit different, coming from Spencer and all.

I yanked my car door open, slid inside, and turned the engine over. "You know what else he could be?" I asked, seething up at him as he hovered a foot away. "A good fucking person who actually tells the truth."

Spence stared back at me, his wolf eyes holding a similar anger to what I felt, but I didn't give a shit.

I slammed my door shut and drove away.