Obsessed With A Biker, What A Mess!

Chapter 8

Aria

The wind tugged at my hair as I held onto Ethan's waist, the sound of his motorcycle beneath us oddly soothing. I wasn't used to mornings like this—feeling calm, feeling stable. But here I was... pressed against his broad back, breathing in the scent of leather and something uniquely him, and I actually felt okay.

Better than okay. For the first time in a long while, I felt like I was headed somewhere that made sense.

When the bike finally slowed to a stop, I opened my eyes and found a small, single-story building come into view. The community clinic.

I slid off first, smoothing down my jeans as I tried to get a better look. Ethan got off right after me, pulling off his helmet with ease.

"This is it," he said casually, like he hadn't just driven me here on a roaring bike that made my heart skip. "Your new workplace."

I stood there, staring. It looked... smaller than I expected. A little worn down.

Ethan glanced at me, a faint grin tugging at his lips. "What? Too stunned to speak?"

My eyes flicked to him briefly before shifting away. I wasn't going to admit that, yeah, I kind of was. Not because of the building but because this was real. It was happening.

"Come on. Let's go in. You'll see for yourself."

I nodded, then we walked toward the door. Something about it already felt right. Familiar.

When we stepped inside, the chatter and the faint scent of antiseptic hit me all at once. The inside wasn't huge either just a front desk, a few chairs lined up against the wall, and a couple of small exam rooms in the back. But it was busy.

A woman at the counter was flipping through a clipboard while answering someone's question. A nurse walked past holding a tray of supplies. A toddler cried somewhere in the back, and someone else coughed near the entrance.

I stood there for a second, just taking it all in. It was... good. Exactly the kind of place I'd been hoping for. Somewhere that felt real. Somewhere people came because they needed help.

It reminded me of the part-time shelter . That place had been crowded too—chaotic most days—but it kept me busy. Kept my mind from spiraling when everything else in my life felt like it was falling apart.

Back then, I'd buried myself in work just to stay afloat. And maybe... maybe that's what I needed again.

Something about this clinicthe noise, the movement, the purpose—settled something in me. Yeah. I could do this.

I was still standing there, half lost in my thoughts, when I heard Ethan's voice behind me.

"Aria. Come on."

I turned as he walked ahead, pushing open a door down the hallway. I followed him in.

There were a few people inside. Nurses, maybe volunteers. They looked up as we entered. I gave a small smile and waved a greeting. A few of them smiled back. It already felt like the kind of place I could blend into. Messy, fast-paced, and full of purpose.

A young woman stood up from behind a desk. Her eyes landed on me, and for a second, her friendly smile faltered.

"This is Mona," Ethan said, stepping beside me. "She's a doctor here. And a good friend."

I smiled. "Hi. Nice to meet you."

Mona nodded politely. "You too."

Then she turned to Ethan with a slight smirk. "Didn't expect you to walk in here with a girl."

She pretty. Confident. And the way she looked at Ethan—it wasn't just friendly.

It didn't take much to catch on. She likes him.

"She's not just any girl," Ethan answered her casually, glancing my way. "Aria's got skills. She can handle everything a nurse does."

Well, he quite did it well there. As if he knows everything about m.

Mona arched a brow, but nodded slowly. "Ah. I see." Her voice was even, but the edge in her smile hadn't faded completely.

I didn't say anything. Just smiled. I knew what she meant. And I knew she didn't like what she saw.

Ethan checked his watch, then glanced toward the door. "I've got to take care of something," he said, stepping closer to me. "Mona will show you around, help you get familiar with everything."

He paused, eyes softening just a little. "If you need anything, call me. Anytime."

I gave a small nod. "Got it."

He flashed me a smile before disappearing out the door, boots echoing down the hallway.

When I turned back, Mona was already looking at me her eyes weren't exactly warm. There was a kind of chill behind them, a quiet judgment I couldn't miss.

Bitterness stirred in my chest. So this was how it was going to be. Interesting.

A few of the staff nearby took a step forward, offering warm smiles. One of them, a petite woman with curly hair pulled into a bun, held out her hand.

"I'm Talia—nice to have someone new at the clinic," she said cheerfully.

A tall guy beside her added, "I'm Marcus. Welcome. It gets crazy in here, but you'll get used to it."

"Thanks," I said, smiling back. "I'm looking forward to it."

The friendly energy helped... a little. I could do this. I had to. But just as the warmth started to settle into my chest, I caught Mona out of the corner of my eye. She muttered something under her breath, her arms crossed over her chest.

I turned slightly toward her. "Sorry?"

She didn't repeat it. Instead, she pushed away from the wall and said briskly, "Let's go. I have an important task to handle and not enough time to babysit."

Well then.

Mona led the way down the hallway "This is the front desk," she said, barely glancing at me. "You won't need to deal with it much unless someone disappears on shift."

I gave a polite nod. "Got it. Thanks."

She didn't respond—just kept walking.

We passed through a swinging door, and she waved a hand at the shelves stacked with boxes and bottles. "Supply room. Don't forget to sign anything you take, or you'll hear about it."

"Understood," I replied, keeping my smile in place.

Her eyes flicked to me and then up toward the ceiling as she rolled them like I'd just told a bad joke. I ignored it. Its not like this is my first time in a clinic but let’s follow along.

We moved past a few exam rooms, and she rattled off instructions without stopping. "Room one's for triage. Room two—shots and stitching. Room three's consultations. Don't mix them up."

"Thanks for explaining," I said. "This is really helpful."

She didn't even bother responding that time. Well….she is testing my patience.

We came to a door she pushed open. "Break room. Not that anyone really gets to use it."

I glanced inside. A small coffee machine sat on a counter,

and a couch sagged in the middle like it had survived a hundred naps and two decades. "Looks cozy,"

Mona gave me a sharp look. "Sure. If you're into instant coffee and crusty mugs."

I bit back an eyeroll. Her attitude was exhausting.

Still, I followed as she kept going, pointing out each place like she was checking items off a list. Every now and then, I caught her rolling her eyes—sometimes at my questions, sometimes at my silence. I wasn't sure which annoyed her more.

"This is Dr. Brenner's office," she said when we reached the last door. "He's not here today. Lucky you."

I turned to her with my best neutral smile. "Thanks, Mona. I really appreciate you showing me around."

Her lips barely curved. "Mm-hmm. Let's hope you last longer than the last girl."

The last girl?

She walked off before I could ask what she meant. I stared after her, still smiling, even though I felt anything but cheerful. Her eyes earlier... the way they flicked to Ethan when he spoke to me... they hadn't been friendly.

Jealousy? Territorial vibes? I wasn't sure. But whatever this was, it doesn't have anything to do with me. Because so far I know, I am here to work not to play love.