AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I wish I could say that I was able to keep Bodhi off of my mind, but lately he’s been popping up a lot more than I’d ever admit out loud.
Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that I would find myself at Bodhi Kane’s house. If only my teenage self could see me now. Although I’m sure she would be a lot less confused about the situation than I am.
I don’t have time for guys, and I know that. I have successfully stayed in my own lane all these years, trying to take care of business. I don’t need the added stress of a guy, and here I am dealing with three of them.
Mateo, I have learned how to deal with, and as much as I would love to turn him in, I know that his guys would come after me in a heartbeat. It’s easier to just make the payments and bide my time until Eli gets out of jail and can handle the situation himself.
Sander, I have successfully managed to keep at arm’s length since he got back from the police academy, but it seems like no matter what I do, he finds a reason to insert himself into my life once again. I know how callous that sounds, because we’ve been best friends for so long, and I appreciate every single thing he’s done for me and my family, but I can sense that he wants more, and that’s not something that I can give him right now, if ever. Sander has been like a brother to me for so long, I don’t think I could ever see myself filling that role for him.
Then Bodhi happened, and of course the universe had a sense of humor, because I figured after the night of the accident, I wouldn’t have to see him again. The joke is on me, I guess. It doesn’t help that the man is absolutely infuriating at times. But as of late, he’s shown a different side of himself that I never would have expected was there.
I know how complicated the situation has become, and that borrowing his car only made things even more tangled, but I can’t help the pull that I feel in the pit of my stomach every time I’m around him. It’s driving me crazy because I know that it’s only going to make matters more difficult. Not to mention, getting close to someone right now would feel an awful lot like putting a target over their heads. I couldn’t in good conscience do that to someone. Even Bodhi. Despite him being a cocky asshat in the beginning, He honestly wasn’t all that bad.
Being able to just race one another yesterday without a care in the world was the most freeing experience I’ve had in more than a year, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to experience that again.
I reach into my hoodie pocket and pull out my phone, swiping through my contacts until I come to Bodhi’s name. I don’t even know what I want to say to him, only that I have the urge to talk to him. After a few minutes, I click his name and pull up the message he sent to himself with my name. I honestly figured he would have texted me by now, but what do I know? Bodhi is confusing.
I decide that I should probably ask him whether he cares if I get into another race this weekend. I honestly should ask since it’s not my car, and I don’t want to jump to conclusions.
I type out a quick message, and just as I go to hit the send button, a voice calls out from behind me.
“Hey you. What are you doing out here?” Sander’s cheerful tone sends a wave of guilt through me, and I quickly lock my phone and shove it back in my pocket.
“Hey,” I respond, looking up at him as he approaches my side. “Just sitting out here thinking.”
“Mind if I join you?” he asks.
He’s dressed in a pair of blue jeans and a red and blue windbreaker, the collar of a white T-shirt visible from behind the top of the zipper.
“No, go ahead,” I say.
He plops down next to me, kicking his white-sneaker-clad feet out in front of him, his arm brushing mine as he shoves his hands in the front pockets of his jacket.
“You should have texted me and let me know you were off work. We could have grabbed some food,” he says, no underlying suggestion in the statement.
“Yeah, sorry. I’ve just had a lot on my mind, and I completely forgot about doing lunch.” I offer him an apologetic smile.
“No worries.” His warm smile reminds me of all the reasons he’s such a great person to have as a best friend, while simultaneously making me feel like a shit. When he reaches around my shoulder and pulls me in close, a position we’ve sat in a hundred times before, I struggle to remain still and not brush him off.
“Any word on the Camaro yet?” he asks as we stare out at the setting sun.
“No, not yet,” I sigh, wishing it wasn’t taking so long.
“Bummer.”
“Tell me about it.”
“So then, who’s car is in your driveway?” he asks, right on cue, and it doesn’t matter how hard he tries, all his questions sound like an interrogation these days.
“Just a loaner until the Camaro is fixed,” I say nonchalantly.
I really don’t want to get into it right now, but Sander has other plans.
“Is it from that guy, Bodhi?” he asks, his voice holding a note of jealousy that I choose not to touch on at the moment. But also, there is no reason he should come to that conclusion, which only means one thing.
I turn my head to look him in the eyes, squinting accusingly at him.
“What?” he asks, feigning innocence.
