I took the helmet from Nate and put it on.
Nate grinned at my mother. “Sophia, I promise to keep her safe.”
She patted his back. “I know you will. You’re a good boy.”
“Can’t say anyone’s ever called me that before.” He winked at Gael. “Be good, little man. I’ll protect your sister as long as you protect your mother. Deal?” He held his hand out.
Gael flashed him a wide, toothy smile as he shook his hand. “Yeah. I will.”
Nate caught my eyes and gave me a pained smile as he put on his helmet. In that look, I saw how much he cared about me. Even though he’d never had a real family before, he knew this was hurting me.
When Nate started the bike, an ache speared through my heart—not for me, but for him. I had my mother and Gael. It wasn’t fair that Nate was moving through life with nothing and no one. He shouldn’t be doomed to a life alone. Hopefully, things would work out and he’d join JC’s pack, too. I knew he was struggling with the decision, especially after spending his entire life as a lone wolf. We could be packmates together.
With the support of JC and Ollie and all the people in the pack, life might not be so bad.
36
Cameron
The cool wind whipped around me as Nate’s bike rocketed down the highway. Rather than being afraid, I simply enjoyed the ride. Unlike my first time on the motorcycle, my fears were no longer as pronounced. There was a thrill to it, an open freedom I struggled to explain to myself.
That freedom was anchored by the warm steadiness of Nate’s body. Arms wrapped tightly around his waist, I took comfort in being near him as the world flew past us. Even without speaking, I felt connected to him, although there was still a weird distance between us. Neither he nor I had truly voiced our feelings about our argument. Too much had happened since then that needed to be processed. The juxtaposition of feeling both close to him and far away was discomforting.
Twenty minutes into the ride, Nate slowed and turned into a side street, then pulled up at the address JC had sent him. He flipped the kickstand down, then got off the bike and helped me. As soon as my feet were on the ground, he started taking our things out of the saddlebags, never once looking me directly inthe eye. I stared at him, trying to mentallyforcehim to face me, but he didn’t.
Keeping his head low, he motioned toward the apartment. “Let’s head inside. Looks like it might rain again.”
I opened my mouth to say something, to bring up the fight, but I closed my mouth, cutting off the words before they could even start. As I followed him inside, I tugged the helmet off my head.
The small apartment was clean and neat, which made me wonder why the pack had so many properties at their disposal. Either way, I was happy we weren’t hiding out in some shitty, roach-infested place.
“I’m going to check the doors and windows,” Nate said after putting our things on the couch.
He checked every entrance, jiggling locks, testing window latches, and closing all the curtains. I made myself comfortable on the couch, doing my best to relax as I watched him secure the apartment. With nothing else to do, I zoned out the events of the last few weeks cycling through my mind.
“How do you feel?” Nate asked eventually, startling me.
“I’m fine,” I said. “A lot better, actually.”
He nodded once, then continued checking every nook and cranny. Everything about him—from his body language to the look in his eyes—told me he was struggling being alone with me. It was no surprise since we’d said things we shouldn’t have. It had been a big miscommunication, and I wanted him to know that I hadn’t meant what I said, at least not the way he’d taken it. We’d talked it out a bit after leaving the clinic, but it felt like more needed to be said and done. Words wouldn’t come, though. Maybe I could show him with my actions.
We both had past trauma to deal with. Mine came from difficulties in past relationships and now Rick. Nate’s stemmedfrom the abandonment that went back all the way to his childhood. It wasn’t going to be easy.
“Do you want me to order dinner or something?” he asked when he’d finished his sweep of the apartment. “I could try a takeout place.”
“Sounds good,” I said. “I’m going to hop in the shower, if that’s okay?”
“A shower?” He cocked an eyebrow, his gaze traveling up and down my body. “Now we’re talking.”
I rolled my eyes, but a pleasant warmth surged through my belly when I saw the hunger in his eyes.
“Stand down. No funny business. Just cleaning. This time,” I added, raising one eyebrow in return.
Nate lifted his hands in surrender. “I’ll tryto control myself. Anyway, do you have any food preferences?” He pulled a card from his pocket. “JC gave us a pack-issued credit card and a damn big budget. Said it would make it harder for anyone to track our movements.”
“Whatever you decide is fine,” I said. “I’ll be done in a bit.”
In the bathroom, I turned on the faucet and undressed while the water warmed. When I stepped under the steaming water, I sighed in pleasure and let my mind drift.
