Nate (A Texas Jacks Novel) (28 page)

“What was that all about?” Charlie questions, as we both watch them walk away. “I’m not thinking good thoughts about what Halley would say, if she knew he just offered to bring her home.”

“Don’t worry. He’s not fooled by her antics, let alone tempted to go there.” I turn her to face me, once again. “But I can think of better topics I would rather be discussing.” I kiss her gently.

“You’re not going to give up, are you?”

I shake my head at her. “Just say yes.”

“On one condition.”

“Name it.”

“You have to tell me if you really gave Shelley a ride on your dirt bike, and the answer better be a resounding
no
.” she narrows her eyes at me.

“Mood killer.” I sigh, knowing that I’ll have to confess to this beautiful woman how I let a bike bunny take a ride from me a time or two around the track.

“
Uh
— why does that sound foreboding?”

“I cannot tell a lie.” I start. She smiles, but smacks me in the chest. “Okay, fine. Yes, I did give her a ride a couple of times. But!” I hold my hands up in surrender, before she can whack me again. “In my defense, it was before I really knew her. I was just showing off, and trying to impress the ladies out here. It was a long time ago. I’ve since learned my lesson, and no woman has been on my bike since.” I gaze down on her. “The only woman I want on the back of my bike, is you,
Charlotte
.” I firmly tell her.

“I’m not happy that she had the first, and only other, experience with you. Though, in all fairness, I didn’t know you back then. So, I really have no right to be hurt, or upset.” She looks up at me a bit sadly, and I have a palpable feeling of understanding. I don’t want to picture any other man with her, either. “Though, I am. Just saying.”

“I get it, Charlie. I do. There’s no changing the past. We just have to move forward together and not let people like her get into that pretty little head of yours.”

“Fine. You’re right. I don’t want her to have any other piece of our night.” She pulls back from me and claps her hands, rubbing them together. “Let’s do this!” she says enthusiastically.

“That’s the spirit, little one.” I playfully swat her on the butt. She rolls her eyes at me, but I can see the smile she’s fighting, pulling at the corners of her mouth.

I grab the extra helmet I brought, knowing I was going to try and push my luck with her tonight. I help her with it, before assisting her onto the bike. I climb on in front of her, reaching back and pulling her arms tight around my waist. “Hold on tight!” I yell back at her. “Don’t ever let go, sweetheart.”

“I thought you said you were going to go slow?” she yells back at me.

“I am. Still, I want those sweet arms around me, and hey—I need to be careful out here with you. I don’t need you winding up in the ER.”

I push up the kick stand, start the bike, and rev it up really loud. It’s unnecessary, but it’s fun to do, and I’m definitely all about having fun with Charlie, tonight. She holds on a little tighter, right before I take off at a slower than normal pace.

I’m happy to have Charlie with me, but at the same time, it’s bittersweet. I promised myself I would cool my jets, and doing this with her is far from that. Something about Charlie has me holding on, for a tad bit longer. Right now, I’m sharing the most important piece of my life with her, and she doesn’t fully understand it. But I’m not going to explain it to her. For now, I’m enjoying the feel of her behind me, the bike underneath me, and the pull of the track.

Tomorrow is a new day. Tomorrow I’ll start to pull back, a little at a time.

Tomorrow.

Spending time with Nate on the track last night was exhilarating. I can’t believe I let him talk me into it. Watching Nate ride is already scary enough, but to be on the back of the dirt bike at the same time? I think I’m the mental one, now. Still, I can’t deny how much fun I had. He did go slowly for me, and we definitely went around a few times, once I got over my fear.

I just got home from work, and already my phone has been beeping with text messages from the girls. The gossiping boys have already shared what Nathan and I did last night. I just set foot into my apartment when my phone rings.

“Who are you, and what have you done with Charlie?”

“Well, hello to you, too, Halley, my dearest friend.” I laugh, as I shut the door and chuck my keys onto the table. Shuffling off my shoes, I toss my purse on to the couch as I walk into the kitchen to round up some food for dinner.

“Please tell me you just got home!”

“I’m home.”

“Good. I just pulled into the lot with Naomi.”

“Oh, goodie,” I laugh. “I’ll see you in a few,” I tell her before pushing the
end call
button. I place it on the counter, open the fridge, and a few moments later my front door flies open.

“Are you crazy?” Naomi shouts at me.

“Want to calm it down, a bit?” I ask her.

“I can’t believe you were on a dirt bike, and he took you on the track!” She’s clearly freaking out. “Charlie, that does
not
sound like you. At all!”

“Oh, please. Pipe it down. It was fun, and I would even consider doing it again.”

They stare at me in shock. “Says the girl who flips her lid every time Nate is out on the track.” Halley states the obvious.

“Right. And do you both remember that I wanted to try new things and not be such a fuddy-duddy anymore? This was my chance to do so. So, I took it. Plus, you weren’t there at the end. You missed all of the stupid drama with Shelley.”

“Oh, we heard. Holt’s in hot water with Halley,” says Naomi.

“I can’t believe he gave her a ride home! Please tell me she wasn’t all over him.” Halley pleads with me.

“Okay. I won’t tell you.” I turn my attention back to the fridge, trying to assemble something easy and quick for dinner.

“What?” she asks.

I sigh. “He was doing us a favor by trying to make her leave before she found herself face-down in the dirt, by yours truly. Yes, she tried to cast her net over him, but he wasn’t falling into her trap.”

“Right.” Halley shakes her head. “Between her and Lisa, I’m thinking I’m done visiting the guys out at the track.”

“Don’t get so huffy now. He didn’t do anything wrong. She was being ridiculous, and he was cutting off the drama before it came to blows. Cut the man some slack, will you? Besides,” I look over my shoulder at her. “She’s not even into him. She’s was trying to goad me—and Nate—but we didn’t fall for it.”

“I know. She just makes me so mad. I can’t help but be crazy sometimes when she or Lisa plays these games.”

“If anyone has a right to be ticked off here, it’s me and Charlie.” Naomi reminds Halley.

“She has a point,” I turn my attention back to the task at hand. “So, let’s not talk about either one of them, and instead move on to a better topic. Like—what are we going to do for dinner?”

“I vote for dinner, a movie, and you telling us all about that ride.” Naomi plants her butt into one of the chairs at the kitchen table. “But not necessarily in that order.”

“Right. I’m thinking we should order in.” Halley confirms, as she pulls out my menu stash from a kitchen drawer.

“I’m so hungry, I’ll eat from whatever place you decide to pick.” I tell her, as I head down the hall. “But I’m changing first.”

In the end, we ordered Chinese take-out, watched
27 Dresses,
and plotted ways to keep the guys away from the race track. Even though, they’ve been going less and less over the last month, or two, we still planned ways to keep them off for the rest of the summer, at least.

“What’s going on with you, and Charlie?” Tucker questions me, while we work out at the gym two days after the track. It’s Saturday, and I really needed this. I’ve been a bit neglectful of my work-out regimen.

“The same as you, Holt, and the girls.”

“I don’t know. I think it’s a little more special with her than you’re letting on.”

“Possibly, but if it’s special for us, then it’s the same for you and Holt.” I really don’t want to hash this topic out with the guys at the gym, but it looks like that’s the case, since I know Holt can’t keep his mouth shut.

“You don’t plan on breaking Charlie’s heart, do you? I like to think of her as the sister I’ve never had.” Holt voices his displeasure.

“I don’t plan on it, no. I’m not a jerk, man.”

“Have you even talked to her about your family?” I can hear the concern in Tucker’s voice as he questions me.

“No. And I don’t plan on it, either.” I continue to lift the bar with weights over my head, then drop it back down to my chest and up again.

“Why?” Holt seems confused, but he really shouldn’t be. He knows the score.

“That would imply that we’re headed into forever, here. You know my rules on being fully committed. It’s not a goal in my life.”

Holt narrows his eyes at me, as he starts working out his biceps. “Seriously?”

“Look, I really like her, and if I were a man who could give her his heart, completely—” I quirk a brow at him, stopping him from saying anything else, “I would. But you know that’s not me. Not after my mom. I just can’t. If I could, I would have made it work with Heather.”

“I think you should take a chance on her, man.” Tucker pushes. “She would be good for you. Her family would be great for you, too, after what you said about your visit with them. And didn’t you promise to go up there again?” he asks, while he works on his leg presses.

“Yes, but that’s not going to happen.” I tell them, as I sit up on the bench, and wipe the sweat off my face.

“I can’t believe you right now.” Holt shakes his head at me, in a disapproving way.

“What?” I ask them both. “And hold up a minute. What about
you two
? What’s the deal with Halley and Naomi?”

“That’s a different story all together, and you know it. We don’t have the same hang-ups as you.” Holt replies in a clipped tone. “Don’t even try to turn this around on us. We like the girls, and we’ll take it to wherever it’s going, but we’re not in a race to the altar here.” He looks to Tucker for back up. Tuck gives us a chin lift in solidarity.

“We’re not trying to get up in to your business, or tick you off. And I know Holt didn’t mean anything by the hang-up comment. Right?” He looks at Holt to assure us that he didn’t mean to be a jerk about my issues.