Page 70 of Until Forever

“Are you coming?” he asks while turning on the engine and revving it.

I suck in a breath, my pulse rapidly increasing. It’s been years since I’ve been on the back of a motorcycle. After Jasper left and I found out I was pregnant, there was no need. And I made it a mission to stay clear of all men who rode them.

“Yeah.” I step up to him, putting my hand on his shoulder, using him to brace myself while I lift my leg over the leather seat.

His body is hard and warm even without the Tennessee heat. He smells like musk and laundry detergent—a scent I find comfort in. A smell that lingers on my bedding even though we’re still pretending that he sleeps on the sofa. A scent that sets butterflies in flight in my belly.

“Don’t you need a helmet?”

He glances at me over his shoulder. “I’ll be good.” He pauses. “Well, as long as we don’t get stopped by the police.”

I shake my head and kiss the corner of his mouth. “Go slow, then.”

“Softails aren’t meant to be ridden slowly. Now hold on tight.”

He takes off, and a yelp erupts from me. I do as he suggested and grip his waist as if my life depends on it. My heartbeat drums in my ear as the wind whips through my hair.

My senses are heightened, and everything around me moves at warp speed. The trees, cars, buildings all blur. Jasper turns on his music, and it plays through the Bluetooth helmet. I don’t care what the lyrics say. I just let it soothe me and lose myself in the ride.

I forgot what it felt like, the adrenaline rush that comes from speeding down the road with the wind in your hair. Or maybe it’s something else entirely? Maybe it’s being here with Jasper and feeling some sense of happiness with him? And maybe I’ve got a brain tumor that’s making me see this whole situation as more than it is? Maybe my dad has a point?

Jasper coasts us onto a two-lane street surrounded by nature. I look around, recognizing where we’re headed. Warmth floods my veins, nostalgia making itself present.

We ride down a dirt path, following the curves all the way to the peak. We come out at the top of the mountain at the point that overlooks the city.

The tires roll over the gravel, and we pull to a stop. Jasper kills the engine and secures the kickstand. I remove the helmet and take the hand he holds out for me. Once I’m off the bike with his support, he takes the helmet and hooks it to the handlebar.

“Wow.” I glance around, kicking at the rocks under my feet.

“What?” he asks and stands behind me, his body pressed into my back.

“I haven’t been up here in ages.”

“Yea?”

I nod and step toward the ledge. “I never really had a reason to. I’m not exactly a teenager anymore.”

“Fair enough. Do kids still come up here?”

“They do. I couldn’t tell you how often, but some of the nurses have teens, and they hate it.”

He laughs. “Guess that’ll be us in a few years.”

“Ugh. Don’t remind me.” I shake my head and face him.

“Ours will be different?”

“Ha.”

“I’m serious.”

My shoulders shake from a chuckle. “Have you met our son? You two are way more alike than I think you realize. You literally just went on about how much my father should have worried. Do you really think JJ isn’t going to be up here with some girl in a few years? He’s already told us he has two girlfriends.”

“He did tell us that.” Jas smirks, picks up a pebble and tosses it into the trees.

“So, why did you bring me out here? It’s the middle of the day, and you’re not about to get lucky out in the open.”

“Actually, that doesn’t sound half bad.” He winks and steps closer.

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