Page 52 of Where You Left Me

I do too. We sit like this for a long time. In silence. Just watching the people in town as they move about their day. But our conversation buzzes in my mind.

Rosie

Give up the details about you and Jones or I take back my offer of free coffee.

Cammie

Is it true you spent the night with Jones?

Rosie

Is he as good as he used to be?

Cammie

Should I be worried?

Rosie

Did you at least get yours before he did?

Cammie

Let’s have a girl’s day at the cabin. You in?

Rosie

Guess y’all are coming over Friday. Suppose I can wait for all the dirty details until then.

Me

Since when do you say y’all?

The paved bikepath starts in town near Main Street. It continues straight for about 2 miles before the path turns to dirt and takes you through the pine trees. It follows the creek and after 3 miles, it widens to a bridge. The path continues all the way to the mountain and veers off into multiple bike trails with steep and bumpy terrain. There are three options when signing up for Bikes and Beers. 15-, 30-, or 45-mile routes.

But Jones and I have only planned to go as far as the bridge, which is only about 6 miles. It’s too late in the afternoon to complete any of the routes. We meet at the gazebo in the center of town. This is where the after-party for the event will take place. Jones’s hair is messy and sticking up and it causes my body to hum. His bike is a newer model which surprises me, considering he’s still driving around the same truck he did in high school. Mine is a rented one from the store. I’m not really sure what happened to my old bike, and I didn’t want to bother Dad with it.

“How long has it been since you rode?” Jones asks while he gestures at the bike held awkwardly in my hands.

Being back with him has my mind sex-crazed and so my first thought is,I just rode last night. But that’s not what he’s referring to.

“Uh, it’s been a few years.”

Honestly? It’s been more than a few.

“You sure you’re up for this?”

“I don’t have a choice. This is for research purposes, right?”

He shrugs. “I mean, it’s the same route we’ve been having the riders take the last five years.”

“Yeah, butIhaven’t done it. If I’m one of the event hosts, don’t you think I should at least know what the route is like?”

“Then are you sure you don’t want to do the full route?” He waggles his brows at me.

“And get stuck out there in the dark, not a chance.”

“C’mon, does it sound that terrible getting stuck with me in the dark?”

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