Page 23 of Barker

“I won’t argue with that,” she says, with another laugh.

I look around the area. “I got to finish up here. You want to wait and I’ll give you a ride home?”

“Well, you kind of have to because I sent everyone else home,” Annistyn tells me looking bashful.

I laugh. “And what if I had been an ass and turned you away?” Annistyn shrugs and I laugh. “Just thought this was a sure thing, huh?”

“Well…” she replies coyly.

I chuckle before leaning forward and kissing her one more time. “Let me finish up then I’ll get you home.”

On the ride to Annistyn’s place, I savor the way her body fits against mine and her hands wrapped around my waist. I park my bike and help her off the back, then walk her to the front door. “Well, tonight was…”

“Good,” she finishes my sentence.

My head falls back in laughter, because the last word I would have used was good. “Well I was thinking along the lines of freaking amazing, but we can go with good.”

Annistyn shakes her head. “I like freaking amazing better.”

I lean toward her and whisper in her ear. “Me too, but it’s just like you.” Annistyn slaps at my chest while laughing. I wrap my hand around her wrist and pull her mouth to mine. I allow myself to get lost in her for a bit, before I finally pull away. “You better get inside now.”

“Goodnight, Barker,” she tells me before she kisses my cheek and disappears behind the door. I’m on freakin’ cloud nine the whole drive home. That sweet scent of hers still lingers on my clothes and I can smell her all around me. It’s almost like she’s on the bike with me.

****

The next morning I wake up early. My body feels like it does when I sit behind the wheel of my car right before I break away at a race. The excitement is racing through my veins, pumping my blood harder, and it’s all because of Annistyn. Instead of trying to get back to sleep, I get up and get ready for the day.

Once I’m dressed, I head out to check in with Gunner and see how he’s doing. It’s been a few weeks since I’ve heard from him and I know the kid has a lot on his plate. I pull into the garage and I’m not shocked to see Gunner’s bike parked along the side. However, I am shocked to see the big smile on his face as I enter. “Hey Barker,” he calls out. If the smile threw me off then the happy-go-lucky tone of his voice definitely has my eyebrows rising in question.

“What happened to Gunner?” I ask, looking around like he’s been abducted by aliens.

Gunner rolls his eyes. “What? Can’t a guy be happy?”

I laugh. “Yes, a guy can but you… not really. What’s up?” Gunner shrugs. “Man, come on. I know you and I know everything on your plate right now, so I get why you were being so moody before, but this smile I don’t.”

Gunner laughs. “A lot has changed since the last time we spoke. Paris and I are back together and she even says she loves me.”

“No shit,” I tell him shaking my head. I mean, I’m happy for him because I knew he really cared about Paris and she seemed to be good for him, but I’m wondering how honest he’s being with her. “What about Brit?” Gunner lost one of his brothers a few months ago and his wife, Brit, has been giving the family hell ever since.

“It all worked out. Come on, let’s go have a seat and I’ll fill you in,” Gunner says, as he tosses his rag on top of the engine he’s working on. Once we are seated, Gunner fills me in on all the craziness I missed while playing this game with Annistyn and running from Giselle. “So, everything worked out really well.”

“Sounds like it. I’m happy for you man. Are you still walking a straight line?” I ask. Gunner got into some trouble a few months ago for putting graffiti on a building, but for the club, any kind of trouble is a no-go for us. I need Gunner to stay on the right side of the law in order for him to join the club.

“Hell yeah, I am. I have even more of areason to now. Paris would kick my ass if I didn’t.”

“Good, I like her already,” I tell him with a laugh. I have to admit, it is good to see this kid with a smile on his face. I was beginning to wonder if he’d ever catch a break. “So, let’s talk about some new designs.”

Gunner and I spend time going over some new designs for my car when he asks, “Can Paris and I come to one of the races some weekend? I’d really like to show her my best work and that’s always on your car.”

“Of course you can. You know you’re always welcome.”

Gunner smiles. “Thanks. So, are we going to talk about what’s going on with you?”

“What do you mean?”

Gunner gives me a curious look. “That big ass smile onyourface.”

I roll my eyes, but instantly my mind wanders back to Annistyn and the night before.“You remember that girl, Annistyn?” Gunner nods his head yes. “Well, I think we may have both taken a step in the right direction.”

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