What did he mean by that?
Twenty-Four
Hollis
Can’t Tell You Noby Muscadine Bloodline floats down the hall from where it’s playing in the living room as I brush my teeth. It’s Saturday morning, I’ve got the next two days off, thanks to our weekend farm hands, and I’ve got all the windows open. The smell of freshly cut grass and wildflowers drifts in, reminding me of long summer days spent as a kid running around by the creek and through the woods with my brother. The conversation I had with Ford a couple of weeks ago comes to the front of my mind. There’s nothing quite like growing up country. I can’t imagine being a city slicker. Never getting to experience nature in its truest form. No better way to live, in my opinion.
The slowed-down life.
The simplicity.
Thinking about Ford brings back other memories… More sordid ones, like the time in his office. Fuck, my dick gives an appreciative twitch just at the thought. That was so goddamn hot. It always is with him. Since we started sleeping together, Ihaven’t had any interest in finding it anywhere else. This is the closest I’ve come to monogamy in years. I go back and forth with how I feel about that. Some days, it freaks me out. This thing with Ford feels very akin to a relationship, or at the very least, like we’re dating, and as somebody who swore that off a decade ago, it’s a weird thing to think about. But then other days, I don’t even bat an eye about what we’re doing, and how Ford makes me feel.
With him, it’s easy.
Natural.
And there’s no denying that Idofeel something more for him.
Swishing some mouthwash, I pause when I hear what I think is the door. Tapping on my phone screen, my brows pinch together, wondering who the hell could be knocking right now. Maybe it’s my brother. Though, he usually texts me first.Oh…Maybe it’s Ford. That sends a zap of heat down my spine as I turn off the bathroom light and meander down the hall. I switch over the deadbolt and pull open the door, coming face to face with neither my brother nor Ford.
“What’s up, man?” Stepping to the side, I gesture for Remi to come in. “Everythin’ okay?”
Confusion wrinkles his forehead as he spins around to face me as I close the door. “Yeah, why wouldn’t it be?”
“Just wonderin’. You never come over this early.”
Flashing me a grin, he holds up his helmet. “It’s a nice day,” he drawls. “Figured we could take a little day trip up to a certain waterfall?”
“Which one?” I ask, just as it comes back to me. “Bay Ridge Falls, right??”
“Hell yeah.” Remi snaps his fingers. “You down?”
It doesn’t take much consideration on my part. Nodding, I say, “Let’s fuckin’ do it.”
“Cool. Get your shit ready so we can hit the road soon.”
“Five minutes,” I promise, patting him on the back as I stroll past him toward my room.
Bay Ridge Falls is about two and a half hours south of Wolf Creek. Neither of us has ever been, but Remi recently discovered it on social media, and I knew we had to go at some point. He’s a huge sucker for a waterfall, and based on the pictures he showed me, this place is beautiful. Plus, I’m always down for a day trip on the bike.
Once I’m dressed, we’re on our way. As soon as we merge onto the highway, the same jolt of adrenaline that hits me every time I ride rushes through me. The rumbling of the engine is steady and wild. I feel it everywhere—in my chest, my spine, my legs, even in my teeth. The world quiets down when it’s just me and the open road—well, and Remi. I love my bike, but I don’t get to ride nearly as much as I’d like, so days like this are rich and therapeutic for me.
Twisting the throttle, she surges forward, and with the wind pressing against my chest and whipping around me as Remi and I pass every single car around us, a smile splits my face under my helmet. It’s freeing.
We make it to Bay Ridge in good time, and despite it being a Saturday morning, the place doesn’t look too crowded…yet. I’m sure that’ll change as time goes on. It’s hot as hell outside, and we have to hike about a mile to get to the waterfall, but once we do finally make it, it’s worth it.
“Damn,” I huff, my t-shirt clung to my back, thanks to the endless amount of sweat from the no-shade trek here.
“I know, right?” Remi flashes me a toothy grin as we keep walking closer. “It’s even better than the pictures.”
The breeze coming off the water feels great against my overheated skin, and luckily, there’s a few shaded spots here. Taking a seat, we spend a little while people watching. There aren’t many people here, but the ones that are, are interesting.
“Think they’re on a first date?” Remi asks, nodding toward a couple that can’t be older than twenty-one. She’s in a red sundress, her hair perfectly curled, and he’s in what I can only guess are his nice Carhartts.
“I’m goin’ with third,” I guess.
“Why do ya think that?”
