Page 44 of Pedal to the Metal

“I know, I didn’t plan on you finding out like this Creed. You’re one of my best friends and I love you. I know how long you’ve had feelings for Alivia. You held her on some kind of pedestal. I knew if you found out the truth, you’d probably change your mind about her considering how you felt about Ryce. I didn’t want to shatter your dreams of her. I didn’t want to be the one that told you because honestly, I didn’t have the guts to tell you. It’s like if I talked about the whole situation…that night…it made it real.”

Creed is very quiet for a while and looks up at the sky, but you can’t see the stars tonight. Finally, Creed says, “I can understand that. You had gone through so much in such a short amount of time, so I can understand not wanting to talk about it. I get that you wanted to keep it to yourself, so it wouldn’t seem real, but you should have told me.”

I nod my head in agreement, “You’re right I should have. Jagger told me to, but I just didn’t know how and then the day I finally decided to you were heading out to meet with Alivia, so I chickened out.”

Creed takes his glasses off and rubs his eyes with the palms of his hands. “I was so blinded by her that I’d just ignore anything she did that was questionable.”

“I’m sorry Creed," I tell him.

He looks up at me slowly. “I know you are, and I forgive you but promise me that you will talk to me next time.”

“I promise.”

Creed opens his arms and closes the distance between us, making me wrap my arms around his neck. As I lay my cheek on his red and black flannel shirt, I feel the warmth of it. He smells like Creed, a mixture of aftershave and books. Creed asks. “How did Jagger know?”

I pull back and take a seat next to Creed. “I told him the night he left town. I had decided that I wanted more with him, but I knew I couldn’t have that if I wasn’t completely honest with him. He needed to know about Spirit and what had led up to that point, so I told him everything.”

“Wow, I bet that was scary.”

I laugh, “Terrifying! It didn’t help that he hauled ass and disappeared for a month afterwards, but I understood his reasons for leaving. You should know that he encouraged me to tell you a while ago, but I was a coward.”

“A coward? Londynn Parrish you are not a coward. You are one of the bravest people I know. Everything that has been thrown at you in life you have met head on. They knock you down and you get back up. You’re so brave but you don’t see it," he tells me. He wraps an arm around my shoulders and pulls me into him. After a while he tells me, “Come on let’s go home. It’s getting late.”

“Okay. Would you mind following me to drop off Kynlee’s Jeep then dropping me off at my place?” I ask him.

“Of course not.” He extends his hand and I take it. As we cross the field, I can’t help but feel like even though I’ve knownAlivia all my life that Creed is actually the best friend I’ve ever had. I never would have thought that my best friend and boyfriend would come from such a different world.

When Creed and I pull into the parking lot in front of the condo I now live in I notice Jagger’s Camaro parked in my assigned spot. As Creed pulls up behind it, I see Jagger get out of the car. I watch as he makes his way towards us, when he reaches the trunk, he leans back against it and waits for me. “Thanks Creed. I’ll see you later.”

“Yeah, have a good night," Creed tells me as I get out of his car. I stand a few feet from Jagger and cross my arms over my chest again. I had been so upset at the races I hadn’t noticed how good he looked. His dark denim jeans and vintage Guns N’ Roses t-shirt with his black leather jacket over it makes him look like some kind of male model. I want to close the space between us and wrapped up in him, but I can’t do that right now. Instead, I tell him, “I didn’t call you.”

“I know but I needed to know that you got home okay.”

I look off into the distance and shake my head. “Well, since you’re here you might as well come inside so we can talk.” I walk past him while rummaging through my purse for my keys. I notice that Farrah’s Range Rover isn’t here which means she’s with Connor and probably knew Jagger was coming here. I don’t know how this talk is going to go and a part of me is scared to open the door.

Chapter 25

Londynn

Once we step inside, I search for the light switch but suddenly the recess lights that frame the small dining room and living room come on. I turn around and see that Jagger found the switch. “Do you want something to drink?”

“Sure," he answers.

I walk into the kitchen and look in the fridge all Farrah has stocked it with so far is wine, beer and water. I take a water out for me and a beer for Jagger. When I turn around Jagger is standing in the doorway of the small kitchen. I have to fight the urge to go to him again I extend my hand to him, and he takes the beer. “Thanks.”

“Yeah.”

We stand in the kitchen as the tension builds, an uncomfortable silent place. Finally, Jagger clears his throat. “Listen Londynn, I’m sorry. I know I’ve said that a lot these last few days, but I really mean it. I didn’t mean to hurt you and I didn’t even now Creed was there when I was talking to your brother.”

I know he didn’t mean to hurt me or Creed, but I have a feeling Duke did know and caused the whole thing. “I know that Jagger. Besides I think Duke was behind this scene tonight. I’m sure he knew that Creed was there and considering how close he and Ryce have always been I’m sure he already knew about Alivia. I think he meant to cause a fight between us thinking I’d run back home. So, actually I owe you an apology for my brother.”

Jagger shakes his head. “You don’t owe me anything and I know your brother is probably a lot of things and that you know him better than I do but I don’t think he’s as bad as you think.”

“Trust me Jagger, Duke is my father made over and that’s not a good thing. He loves that world we were raised in. He’d do anything to stay in it even if it meant breaking us up," I tell him, but I can see the disbelief in his eyes.

He nods his head while rubbing his chin. “Okay.”

I study his amber eyes and I know that I could never stay mad at him. “I also owe you a thank you.”

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