Page 14 of Barker

I pull under the parking cover and make my way to the front door of my apartment. Before I enter, I look back to the street where I see Barker still sitting there. Even with his helmet on, I can tell he’s watching me. I can feel it. Opening the door, I slip inside quietly and head for my bed. Exhaustion doesn’t even begin to cover how I feel right now.

****

Barker

I drive around the deserted streets of Hollows Cove with the rain beating against me. Kissing Annistyn was inevitable. I knew it was coming and even though I knew it was a bad idea, I didn’t stop it. I don’t think I could have even if I tried. Now, I’ve been riding the bike for hours with my mind moving faster than the tires across the asphalt. It’s replaying every second leading up to the kiss itself, and of course, the aftermath.

That kiss had been so much more than anything else I had ever experienced. It’s no secret I’ve kissed my fair share of girls in my lifetime, but nothing even came close to what I felt when my lips met Annistyn’s. It was overwhelming and it scared the hell out of me, but at the same time, I can’t shake this feeling. The entire ride back to her place and even now, hours later, all I want to do is pull her back into me, claim that mouth of hers, and face this fear I feel.

Stupidly, I had thought that once I kissed Annistyn all the thoughts I’d been having about her would just go away. I was wrong because it only made them stronger, and now… now I don’t know what to do.

Annistyn’s scared. I can see it in her eyes. If I ask her, I know her well enough at this point to know she’ll deny it. Talon knows everything about her, but he’s loyal to her and wouldn’t tell me what has her so scared. I wish I knew because right now, I’d give anything to have her back in my arms.

Eventually, I pull into the garage and head inside, going straight for my room. I’m exhausted, yet fully awake at the same time. I strip out of my wet clothes and climb into bed, but before I drift off to sleep, Annistyn is what I see, what I feel. Her and that damn all-consuming kiss.

Fourteen

Barker

My sleep wasn’t restful; actually, it was far from it. The memory of my kiss with Annistyn refused to let me find peaceful sleep. Instead, her scent still clung to parts of my skin and invaded my senses. The memory of her body pressed against mine, the way her lips were soft and sweet like the cotton candy lip gloss she wears, and her taste of Mountain Dew lingering on her tongue. It all kept me restless because even when sleep did find me, all I could do was dream about what could have happened had she not stopped and got that scared look in her eyes.

My phone pings from somewhere in my room. It’s probably still stuffed in the pocket of my jeans or my cut, which are both lying on the floor in a pile. I groan because I want nothing more than to get some sleep, but it’s not happening. I check the time and see I’ve been in bed for five hours. I guess it’s as good a time as any to get the day started. I crawl out of bed and head straight for the restroom, where I splash some cold water on my face to help wake me up. When I look in the mirror, I’m not all that shocked to see I look like shit. The dark circles under my eyes aren’t all that surprising.

I head back into my room and search for my phone before throwing some of my clothes from last night in the laundry, which is overflowing. Another thing I need to do. Checking the phone, I see a text from Gunner.

Gunner is one of my best friends, aside from my brothers, he’s the only person I’m really close to. I guess in some ways, I see him as a little brother since he’s just a senior in high school. Overall, he’s a great guy with a good heart, but he’s made some bad decisions and his reputation in this town isn’t the greatest. He’s working to redeem himself now which is good, especially if he wants to be part of our club. Gunner is desperate to join, but it’s going to take some time for him to prove to everyone that he’s changed his ways and that he’s worthy of wearing our cut.

I had totally forgotten that I had asked Gunner about changing the color of my car and adding some racing stripes. Gunner works in a garage that paints and details cars as well as creates logos for them. I’d been wanting to change my Camaro to royal blue with white racing stripes to match my bike.

I shoot him a quick text that lets him know I’ll be there in a few. I slip on a pair of jeans, my sneakers, a baby blue t-shirt, and my aviators and head out to my car. On my way to see Gunner, I stop at the local diner and grab us each a coffee and muffin to go. Within fifteen minutes, I’m walking through the door of the garage. Gunner rolls out from underneath a car. “Hey man,” he says.

“Morning,” I tell him, as I make my way over to him. I hand him the breakfast I brought for him and he gives me his reluctant smile.

“Thanks,” he mumbles, as he takes a bite out of the muffin.

I look around the shop and see it’s empty, but then again, it is Saturday so I think a lot of people are either at the beach for the day or sleeping in. “You started early today,” I comment.

Gunner shrugs. “Yeah, trying to stay out of trouble.”

“That’s good. Keep it up. I’m really proud of you for making the changes you have been and I’m sure the club will recognize it too.” I try to give the kid as much encouragement as I can.

He holds his head down and points toward the office. “We’ve got the samples back here if you want to see them.” I follow him back to the office where the sample of paints lay on the desk. I can feel my excitement growing. I may not control what happens with Annistyn, but I can control this.

Over the next hour, I just hang out with Gunner while we work on cars. He’s always willing to learn something new, especially when it comes to cars. It is something I really respect about him. After we finish up, I head back home to do some laundry before finally heading out to work. Then I get an idea, but the question is should I do it? If I don’t, working next to Annistyn is going to be so hard to do now that I know what it feels like to have her in my arms.

****

Annistyn

By the time I got home, there was only a chance of getting a couple of hours of sleep. I had a study group in the morning, which meant driving into the heart of Los Angeles to get to the campus of UCLA. And then afterward, I always go by and visit with my daddy for a little while before heading back home to go to work for the night.

Once I drag myself out of bed on what little sleep I managed to get, which might as well be none, I grab Augustus and take him outside. It isn’t until we’re back in the apartment that I realize Talon isn’t home. I notice a piece of paper stuck to the fridge with one of his many motorcycle magnets. Apparently, he’s already on his way to downtown Los Angeles to bid on a job to create a new website for a company there.

Opening the fridge, I drag out some Chinese leftovers and eat them out of the carton. My phone rings and my heart stops. I don’t know the number, which means it could be about my dad. I swallow and answer it with a sick feeling in my stomach. “Hello.”

“Good morning, darlin’.” That husky rasp wraps around me suddenly and calms the sickness I was feeling.

“Barker.”

---