Ride Or Remember

CHAPTER 21

LIORA

Despite this being our usual afternoon routine of Ryder driving me to my new therapist office, waiting around for me to finish, then drive me home, something about today feels off.

He has never been much of a talker, but he feels very much quieter today, and the tensed up aura around him isn’t helping in anyway.

He pulled over outside the hosptial’s parking lot, his grip still tight around the steering. “make sure you make it into that office.” He warned, “I am going to check in with Lauren at the end of the month to make sure you actually showed up, and she will under no circumstance, lie to me.”

“You leaving your work to drive me here everyday shows how much you want me to get better, so I am going to work towards that.”

He gave me a curt nod, his eyes staring straight out the windscreen, waiting for me to leave the car. When I didn’t make a move, he spared me a quick glance, his first time looking at me since I got into this car. “Aren’t you leaving? You’re going to be late.”

“Are you pissed at me over something?” I blurted out, not bothering to hide it my thoughts or keep them to myself. “you’ve been acting out of your usual self since morning.”

I watched his jaw clench. “I have a question for you Liora, and I hope you answer me sincerely.”

I was right! Something was really bothering him. “I’m listening.”

“Why were you eavesdropping on our conversation last night?”

I froze, blinking slowly at him, my forehead breaking out a cold sweat. “I wasn’t eavesdropping.”

His eyes moved to me, cold and icy. “don’t f*****g lie to me Liora. I know what I saw, and this is me giving you the chance to give me a reasonable explanation before I tag you a mole and throw you out of my house.”

Just the thought of Ryder kicking me out, and us going back to being strangers got my heart racing. “I really wasn’t eavesdropping.” I mumbled, staring down at me intertwined fingers. “I mixed a drink for the boys, which they claimed was the sweetest mix they’ve had in a long while, and I only wanted to bring you some, which was why I came towards that house.”

Even without looking up, I could feel his eyes on me, which made me even more worried.

Biting my lower lips, I blinked back tears. “I saw you, Logan and Kane walk towards that direction, which was how I got to find out you were in that house, but I didn’t know you three were discussing something important. It wasn’t until I got to the door that I overheard what sounded like serious conversation.”

“So you did hear something.” He deadpanned.

My head wiped up, quickly staring at him with wide panicked eyes. “I didn’t hear anything meaningful.” And that’s the truth. “I wasn’t there up to few seconds when I heard you ending the meeting and the chairs scraping as someone stood up. I panicked, fearing that you would believe I was eavesdropping, which was why I ran.”

He stared unblinkingly for a while, and I honestly expected him to snap at me. I deserve it afterall, but instead, he reached forward and cupped my cheek, his thumb wiping the tear stains on my cheeks.

“You are not my old lady Liora,” he whispered in a deep husky voice, “nor do you have my property patch. Don’t make it difficult to protect you.”

I blinked slowly at him. “Are you guys really bikers?”

He stared, his hand slowly leaving my cheek. “What do you know about bikers?”

Shrugging, I exhaled and looked away from him. “Just all the details in the books I review.” I mumbled.

“Yes,” Ryder confirmed. “we are a riders club, and I want the only knowledge you have of us to be just that which you got from your books. Don’t go seeking for more.”

I nodded, my hair pouring into my face. “I won’t.”

Everywhere went silent at first, until I felt his hair suddenly on my hair, tucking it behind my ear. My breath hitched, my heartbeats coming in loud pounds that I feared he might hear it.

This is a man whose touch I was so used to in the past before the accident and his fake death, why am I suddenly feeling nervous and breathless all of a sudden whenever he touches me?

“Stay out of trouble,” he whispered, “and I will try my best to keep you safe.”

I wasn’t sure what that meant, but I did what he wanted to hear or rather see, which was nodding. I nodded in agreement.

“Use your words Liora.”

“I will stay out of trouble.” I whispered, staring at him from beneath my lashes.

He smiled, a small crooked smile. “Good girl. Now run along, you don’t want to be late for your appointment.”

My lips slowly stretched into a smile as I reached for the door, opened it and stepped out into the cold winds.