Page 30 of Keys

I got the vibe that Aubrey was down for the full biker experience. I wasn’t sure how to feel about that since I didn’t exactly enjoy being treated like someone’s vacation from their nice, pretty reality. I didn’t bother making conversation on the way back to her apartment. “So, we’re headed back to Sierra High?”

“Sure. Where else would we be headed? Nothing stays open past ten around here, maybe a little later on the weekends.” I laughed about that because it was still something I had to get used to. Thank fuck for the clubhouse when I was feeling stir crazy. I understood the necessity of having a club in the area, but beyond the geographical convenience we needed, there really wasn’t much here.

It was a place where people came to retire, live a quiet life, or for newer couples who were tired of the city to come to raise a family. There were the locals too, but many of them were beginning to choose to go elsewhere. Some would bounce back here after they realized big city life was vastly different from their tiny town. A few would do it because the big city scared them, others because they were used to being the big fish in a little pond and it hurt their egos to be overlooked in the wide ocean.

I didn’t mind it so much. Outside of missing the occasional convenience, and having a choice in bars that stayed opened past 10 pm, I sort of liked it. The outdoor activities were off the charts. I also found that they were easier on my body in a way. While requiring exertion, recovering from that was nothing compared to recovering from a two-night bender with my club brothers.

“Oh, you’re dropping me off at home.” Aubrey’s voice finally made it through my stream of thought.

“Yeah.” I parked the truck outside of her apartment, as I had when picking her up earlier.

“That was a quick date.” She was hinting at something, but I honestly didn’t want to take the bait, so I didn’t say anything in response. “Well, I don’t suppose you want to come up and-”

“Listen, I had a good time with you tonight, but this was kind of a last-minute date, and I still have things to get ready for with the club. Normally, if I’d had time to plan something, it wouldn’t be ending so soon. This was the best I could do on short notice though.”

“Oh. I get it. Don’t worry.” She leaned over and tried to kiss me on the mouth, but I wasn’t turned toward her enough and she ended up planting a sort of wet kiss on my cheek instead. “Oops,” she giggled. “Let me get that.” She swiped her thumb across the wetness she left behind and I could tell by the blush on her cheeks that it must have been slobber, but she attempted to play it off. “Some of my gloss transferred.”

“Gloss is dangerous like that.” When she didn’t move to get out, I sighed. “Listen, Aubrey, I really do have to go. Tomorrow is an early one for me and there are still things I need to do as the club’s VP before I get to hit the sack tonight.”

“Right.” She shifted and started to back out of the truck seat then. “Sorry. Call me when you’re not so busy and we’ll set something up, okay?”

“Sure. See ya later.”

Once she was gone, I felt better. I chalked it up to just having felt jittery about being out with someone who wasn’t Keys. Still, getting the woman out of my space felt freeing somehow. I wasn’t sure if trying another date with her was wise at that point. Then again, there was the other part of me that told me I had to get over Keys sometime.

~*~

I’m not even sure how I ended up on a second date with Aubrey. It started with an innocent enough text.

Aubrey: I had a great time at dinner. Hoping we can continue to get to know one another.

Quickshot: Can I be honest with you?

Aubrey: I would prefer it.

Quickshot: I don’t think I’m going to be what you’re looking for.

Aubrey: You mentioned a recent breakup. I have my own past to contend with. How about we meet up for drinks and just see where things go. I already told you, no expectations. We’ll just get better acquainted and then take it from there.

I was running out of excuses. Either I moved on or stayed stuck in a fucking holding pattern where no one seemed appealing anymore. I wish I was like the other men and could just take one or more of the club’s whores to bed and fuck all the feelings out of my system, but that wasn’t me.

Quickshot: Give me a time and place. I’ll meet you there.

Aubrey: The Brewery at 9

That was how I ended up sitting at a little outdoor table at The Brewery with Aubrey on a Friday night. She was dressed to kill if biker babe was the look she meant to go for. Her pants were black leather, the red halter top she wore dipped low enough to show off cleavage even though her breasts were a bit too small to really give it that oomph an outfit like that should have had. It should have screamed promises of hot, sweaty, all-night-long sex. Instead, it just felt like she was trying to play a role.

“Do you like?” She asked when she noticed me assessing the outfit.

I shrugged my shoulders but offered up a smile anyway. “It doesn’t exactly seem like a look you normally wear.”

Her lip poked out as if she were about to pout – something she seemed to do often, like one of those spoiled rich girls who used to try to get with me in high school. They couldn’t fathom being told ‘no’. The pout slipped away as she watched me basically critiquing her. “Well, to be honest, I wanted to dress for all eventualities.”

“All eventualities?”

“Yeah, I thought maybe I could convince you to take me a on a ride. The moon is full, no rain in sight, and it’s unseasonably warm. It seems like the perfect night for it.”

“Not happening tonight.” I shook my head as I spoke and didn’t miss the narrow-eyed grimace she wore before slipping into her mask of acceptance.

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