Ride or Ruin

First Dance

My body felt colder without Cole pressed against me, despite the heat of the room. I turned to Lily with a look of innocence plastered on my face, trying to hide the surprise of the bombshell he just whispered in my ear. "What in the actual f**k, Harlow?" She asked. Before I could answer, she grabbed my wrist and pulled me to her side. As if to protect me from the big bad wolf, "Lily," Cole growled. "It's none of your business."

Lily chuckled in a sarcastic way. "Oh, but it's yours? Leave her alone, Cole."

"She's a grown woman, she can make her own decisions." His voice was cool and calm, while Lily's was harsh and defensive. "Guy's I'm right here," I stated, feeling invisible.

Lily gave me a sour look, "I thought I told you to stay away from him and then I catch you slow dancing and practically riding him?"

Her words felt like a slap to the face, like a disappointed mother scolding me for staying up too late. "Lily, he's right. I can make my own decisions, plus, he's not that bad," I said quietly and with no confidence.

This only made her anger grow. "I'm trying to protect you. As your friend, I'm telling you. If you know what's good for you, you'll run from Cole. You thought Ricky was bad, this guy will break you down just for fun. He's not just dangerous, he's a monster." Her words stung and I looked to Cole, who stood composed but obviously angry.

She must have been able to tell from my expression that I didn't believe her because she threw her arms and made an exaggerated exit. How was I supposed to believe her though, when she wouldn't tell me why. I apologized quickly to Cole before chasing after Lily, leaving too quickly for him to respond. I felt like if I stayed in his presence any longer, I wouldn't leave and I needed to make sure Lily was ok.

Outside the bar, Lily was stumbling around. "What are you doing?" I asked her, "Where's Mikeal?"

"I ditched him and I'm finding a ride home." She drooped her arm around a random man who was sitting on his motorcycle and took the cigarette from his mouth. She took a drag and asked, "Do you want to give me a ride home?"

"Lily, you don't even smoke. Come on, let's go back to my place. You're drunk and I don't want to spend my first night alone there." I grabbed her arm and, to my surprise, she followed while laughing. Maybe she's drunk enough to forget about seeing Cole and I together when she wakes up in the morning. She held onto my arm, giggling and stumbling as I guided her the few blocks back to my apartment. That was the best part about this small town, everything was within walking distance.

Once we made it back to the apartment, I unlocked the door just in time for Lily to bust through the door declaring she needed to pee. I turned to shut the door when a dark figure on a motorcycle drove up. For a moment, I thought it might be the stranger whose cigarette Lily stole. But as he entered the streetlights, I recognized Cole's lean and muscular build.

Checking to see if Lily was aware first, I could hear the faucet running in the bathroom. I snuck out to meet him. "What are you doing here?" I asked as I approached him. I knew he was a rider but now that I was up close to him on his bike, a twinge of attraction bolted through me. His motorcycle was all black and chrome, surprisingly large, with the club's emblem painted on its side. He held it steady with ease, whereas it would probably crush me under its weight.

"I wanted to make sure you got home ok. With the convention in town, there are a lot of strangers in places they shouldn't be."

"Well, thanks, but I have to go. Lily's inside." He shifted in his seat and I wanted to ask about their feud. I needed more time with him, time when Lily wouldn't interrupt. He would be straight with me and I could find out what was really going on in this small town. As if answering my thoughts, Cole asked, "Speaking of the convention, there's a bonfire down by the river tomorrow with my crew. You should come." It bugged me that he spoke in demands where questions should be, but this might give me the opportunity I need to talk to him more.

"I'll think about it," was all I would give him before rushing back inside before Lily noticed my absence. He revved his bike before driving and I prayed Lily wouldn't ask about the noise as she opened the bathroom door. "You don't have any toilet paper, so I had to take a shower." I hadn't thought about that. The apartment was actually very empty except the few boxes and suitcases from Lily's car I had yet to unpack.

Luckily, I am a very organized person and was able to quickly find the blankets for the stripped bed and glasses for water. After getting tucked in with Lily, I lay on my side to stare at her. She reeked of whiskey and I was surprised she hadn't thrown up after all she drank. "What happened with you and Mikeal?" I asked, not quite ready for sleep, my adrenaline still high from being around Cole.

Her eyes were closed, yet she still answered, "I told you, I was just having fun with him. The fun's over and so are we." She rolled onto her side and opened her eyes to look at me. "What are you doing with Cole?" I knew she meant well, I also knew she might be right. "It's like I feel this pull towards him that I've never experienced with anyone, not even Ricky. I'm trying to fight it, I really am. There's just something about him that I just don't want to stay away from." She sighed and turned away from me. "Why do you hate him so much anyway? If I knew the specifics then maybe it would be easier to stay away."

She didn't answer. I waited until I heard a faint snore coming from her and turned to look at the ceiling in the dark. My thoughts raced with questions and my confusing feelings for Cole Lawson. I wanted to know more about my father and the club and how I knew Dozer even though I couldn't remember. Part of me wanted to sneak away right now to search for Cole so he could hold me tight in his strong embrace and set my mind at ease. Instead, I replayed our dance together over and over in my mind, savoring every feeling until I finally drifted off to sleep.