RIDE YOU DOWN

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

RAVEN

I said I hadn't seen him in two months. Well, I lied. Jake was everywhere I was. Every morning when I woke, I could smell the aroma of his food oozing out of his apartment.

He was always with the elderly ones at the cafe or drinking with a couple of married men who wanted space from their overbearing wives. Or he was at the park with the kids.

I have tried to ignore him but he was always showing up everywhere. Smiling, laughing, taking care of everyone, the elderly, the young children, the girls.

Eli said he was different. Eli said he was a good person and if I am being honest, Jake was living up to that reputation.

But I have been deceived, not once, not twice and I refuse to make that mistake again.

And so it ignored him. Even though watching him play with the kids was funny, even though he handled the married drunk men very well, I still ignored him.

Every single day.

Whenever he saw me, he never failed to greet me, wave, smile, or nudge but each time I pretended like he didn't exist now.

Now I am here in his garage, my left hand holding his shirt, with my lips glued on his.

Fuck!

Fuck!

Fuck!

What did I do?

Should I stop? Should I push him away? Should I continue? Should I pretend like it was a mistake?

Before I could react, he broke the kiss. I won’t call it a kiss because he didn't respond, he just stood there with my lips on his until he pulled away, his wide palm on my shoulders.

Our eyes locked.

I’m confused and I am sure my face is not hiding that fact. But more important, I am freaking embarrassed, how would I face him again after this?

For two months I have been mean, arrogant, and rude… and I just ruined everything.

“I’m going to pretend that I am not offended that you kissed me without my permission because your lips were soft but Birdy… I think you’re the p*****t here… you could have asked me to kiss you.” He lightened up the mood, almost like he could see that I was already regretting my actions.

“I am not a pervert.” I snickered.

He raised his hands to surrender, “Whatever you say, Birdy.” He sang and walked into a little room.

I shut my eyes and groaned, hitting myself for what I had just done and allowing Jake to take responsibility for not making it awkward.

You are such a scum, Raven.

I should just leave, I can come back for the bike. Jake won’t do anything to my bike.

I turned around to sneak out when the main entrance’s door jerked open, and a couple of huge guys walked in.

They were gangsters. Not major ones but still a little scary, not for me at least. I have sealed with men bigger and scarier than then, but these never learn.

I dropped my bottle, “How may I help you?” My voice came off rather mean, unwelcoming, demeaning, and stern. This was my Gang leader's voice. The voice that tells you not to mess with me without me having to say it.

The man standing in front, covered in tattoos, which I could see through his see-through shirt must have thought was fashion but rather a wardrobe malfunction.

“We are here to see the owner.” His not-so-deep voice came off harsh, probably trying to return the energy I gave.

This jerk.

I was about to speak when the mini door opened and Jake stepped out, holding a new plug and a bottle of engine oil.

He was on there getting the plug and oil for me?

His eyes landed on the men at the entrance of his garage, his brows furrowed, he turned to me, his eyes asking if I knew them but I shook my head.

Oh s**t, how did I know what he was asking just by looking at him?

What the hell?

“Are you the owner?” The thug grunted, his hands sliding into his pocket as he turned to Jake.

Jake dropped the oil and the plug on the table and slowly walked up to me, he stood in front of me, shielding me from the thugs who stood in front of his garage.

What the?

Why is this nerd acting all tough and dangerous? I am the gang leader, not him, why did I suddenly get this intimidating aura from him?

“How may I help you?” His smooth deep which I found a little seductive earlier was now harsh and stern.

The thugs turned to each other, their brows arched before they turned to Jake again.

“We want you to be our gang engineer.” The guy blurted.

“No!” He answered immediately, “This is a personal space, I am not an engineer.”

The guy smirked, “Really? But you are standing there, working on her bike?” He grunted, glaring at Jake.

Jake turned to me and then back to them, “Do I have to explain why I am helping my neighbor/ landlord fix her bike?” He retorted.

Jake bowed to them, “Sorry, but I do not repair bikes, this is just my hobby.” He apologized. “I’m honored you came all the way to seek my help, and I’m sorry I disappointed you, I can give you a bottle of beer for the trouble.”

Jake ended up giving them a pack of his beer then locked up his entrance. He turned to me and found me glaring at me where I sat.

“Why are you glaring?” he rasped.

“So you are a pushover, huh?” I blurted. “You let people walk all over you? I hate people like you the most.”

He stood there without saying a word, watching me.

Why is he looking like that? Why can’t I tell what he is thinking?

He ignored me and walked to my bike and began fixing it like I did not just say anything.

I shook my head and rolled my eyes, “When would I be able to get my bike?” I rasped.

“Stay ten more minutes and you should be able to drive it out yourself.” He said without sparing a glance.

For the next ten minutes, he was awfully quiet, he didn't blink at me not even once all he did was work on my bike.

“It’s done,” He announced.

I slowly walked to my bike and kickstarted it and it came on right away.

I reached for my purse and pulled out my phone, “How much for service?” I asked.

He scoffed.

“As I mentioned to those men, working on the bike is just a hobby, it’s not my source of income.. Also… please leave already.”

“What?”

“Take your bike and let’s go back to pretending like we do not exist in each other's life.”