AllFreeNovel
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“Yeah, I saw her on my way to get you. Her and Violet were outside by Charlie eating.”
I grab onto his forearm, stopping him before we get outside. “The swing set… I don’t know how I’ll be able to repay you for it. And the clothes, they’re too much.”
He frowns. “I never bought it thinking I’d be paid back.”
“I know, but…” I feel so fucking guilty.
“Hey,” he grabs onto my chin, tilting it up so our eyes meet. His warm finger spreads heat throughout my entire body. “it was a gift. Just accept it and move on.”
I bite my lip and watch as he zeros in on it. Nodding, I whisper, “Thank you, Aziel.”
He nods at me, brushing my lip with his thumb. “Did you want to go say goodbye to Lilah before we head out?”
I shake my head. “No, I probably won’t be able to leave her if I see her again.”
It’s him that stops me this time. “Are you sure you’re okay? Leaving her? We don’t have to go if you aren’t comfortable with it.”
“No. No, I’m fine.” I wave him off.
He stops at his motorcycle, hopping on. I do nothing, staring at him with a confused look on my face.
“What the hell are you doing? Hop on.” He says.
“We’re ridingthis?” I point at it like it’s a murder weapon.
“Yeah. I don’t ride a car. Not unless I have to.”
“I’ve never been on one of these before.” Nerves twist my stomach into an uncomfortable knot.
“One ofthese? It’s a fucking motorcycle, Ivy. And I’m not asking you to ride it. All I’m asking is that you wrap those arms and sexy little legs around me and enjoy the ride.” He gives me a rare smirk, a dimple popping out and almost making me fall to my knees.
He turns on his bike, the loud roar vibrating deep in my chest. “You comin’ or not?” He revs a couple times, showing off his sharp teeth as he gives me another smirk.
“Fine.” I say, more to myself as I slide on behind him and wrap my arms loosely around his abdomen.
He grabs onto my arms, giving them a yank until my front molds to his back.
“Better.” I can barely hear his voice over the rumble of the motorcycle. I can feel the heat radiating off him and seeping into me.
He revs the engine again and we’re off. I jolt backwards and my fingers clutch onto his shirt. His back moves, and I can’t tell for sure, but it feels like he’s chuckling at me.
I pinch his side.
The bike swerves to the side for a moment but he quickly rights it.
This time I settle in, lacing my fingers together around his stomach and rest my cheek against his back. I watch the desert landscape turn into city as we ride down the highway. Palm trees start to pop up and before I know it, we’re making our way to the top of a hill. Once we make it to the peak, I can see the expanse of the Pacific Ocean laid out in front of me.
“Wow.” I say, lifting my face off his back and looking at the monster in front of me. It’s the scariest thing I’ve ever seen, even scarier than Santiago in some respects. The ocean could swallow me whole and I could never be seen again in the blink of an eye. It doesn’t care for my feelings or my beliefs. The waves will cover obliterate anyone in its path, its arms curling around you and sweeping you out to its darkest waters.
It’s tragic, and beautiful. And I love it.
We ride down the hill and ride along the coast for quite some time. We ride past teenagers in swimsuits. Kids on skateboards. Mom’s hanging out together with overly expensive handbags. Dad’s looking like they’re running late to a board meeting. Life going on as normal as I ride with a man I barely know on the back of his motorcycle.
The warm air slides across my cheeks and the sun heats my skin. There’s a touch of a breeze that mixes in from the ocean air. It smells different here. Not stifling. Different from Mexico, but also different from the mountain air. Out here it smells fresh. The smell of beach and sand. A hint of sunscreen lingering in the air. Out here I can finally breathe, and I love the salty air.
Aziel slows down and pulls down a back alleyway, parking in a makeshift parking spot. Kicking down his kickstand, he slides off, lifting me off and settling me on the ground beside him.
“What’d you think?” He flips his hat backwards and pulls a cigarette out of his pocket, sparking it and leveling me a look.
