Ride With Me

Chapter Nine

The gathering had begun to ebb back into a comfortable hum of conversations, low murmurs drifting through the night air. Occasionally, Piper caught a furtive glance from someone in the crowd, a quick flick of their eyes towards her and Knox before quickly looking away. She couldn’t blame them. The night had indeed taken a sharp, unexpected turn, and the memory of the fight was still a raw, potent presence.

Knox’s gaze drifted down to the ruined tire, the deep gashes a testament to Ryker’s petty act of revenge. Then, his eyes met hers, a silent question hanging in the air. "I'm assuming this is why you never stick around?"

Piper’s icy gaze flickered towards him, the sharpness she had worn all night momentarily resurfacing. Then, with a slow exhale, some of the tension eased from her shoulders. "I don't exactly make friends with the racers."

Knox continued walking, his steady pace guiding the bike. "Not all of us are like him."

"I know." Her voice was quieter now, her gaze fixed on the ground as they walked. "I just have shitty judgment of people."

Knox glanced over at her, a hint of concern in his eyes. "I'm sure that's not true."

Piper scoffed softly, a dry, humorless sound. "I just caught my ex cheating on me in my own home a little over a week ago, with the girl he told me not to worry about."

Knox’s expression shifted, not dramatically, but enough to convey a subtle acknowledgment of her pain. His eyes moved away from hers, settling on a point somewhere ahead, as though deliberately granting her the privacy to unburden herself without feeling scrutinized. "How long were you with him?" he asked, his voice gentle.

"Two years," Piper replied, her fingers curling slightly around the worn hem of her jacket. "We were happy, or so I thought..." She swallowed, the words catching in her throat. "That's what hurts the most about it. There were no signs. No distance. No showing up late with some stupid excuse. None of that."

Knox shook his head slowly, a gesture of quiet sympathy. "Any i***t who cheats on you should be ashamed."

A small, fragile laugh escaped Piper’s lips. "Yeah." She didn’t need to elaborate. The unspoken pain, the betrayal, hung heavy in the air between them.

They reached the other side of the truck, a quieter, more secluded area away from the lingering glow of the fire and the cluster of tents. Piper took hold of her handlebars and kicked down the stand, the motorcycle settling with a solid thud. Knox leaned back against the side of the truck, his arms crossed loosely across his chest.

"You always come to the races alone, though," he observed.

Piper looked at him, a hint of curiosity in her gaze.

"Did he not like you racing?"

A sheepish smirk pulled at her lips. "He never knew about Jessica Rabbit."

Knox's eyebrows rose in surprise.

"He knew about the bikes, but nothing else."

A quiet laugh escaped him. "Why is that?"

Piper shrugged, a gesture that conveyed a lifetime of fiercely guarded independence. "Jessica Rabbit is mine and mine alone." Her gaze drifted towards her motorcycle, her hand brushing lightly over the worn leather of her glove. "She wasn't given to me, and she cannot be taken away." A faraway look entered her eyes as she recalled her grandfather’s words. "My grandfather always told me, 'Move silently and accordingly. Never let them know your next move.'"

Knox nodded slowly, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Smart man."

Piper smiled, a genuine, soft smile that reached her eyes. "He was." A quiet tenderness entered her voice, a vulnerability reserved for cherished memories she rarely shared.

Knox’s gaze returned to the ruined tire, his expression shifting again. "I hope this..." he gestured towards the damage, "...doesn't force you back to isolating yourself."

Piper looked at him, a slow smile spreading across her face. Then, she laughed softly. "I think it did the exact opposite." Her smile widened, transforming into a radiant beam. "Even though I'd already agreed to stay." She glanced towards the tents, a playful challenge in her eyes. "Now I need a ride in the morning."

Knox moved a little closer, the space between them diminishing until Piper had to tilt her head back slightly to maintain eye contact. "I got you handled."

Something about the unwavering certainty in his voice sent a flutter through her stomach. She tried very hard not to acknowledge it.

Around the other side of the truck, Chloe and Maya, beginning to wonder about the extended absence, peered past the vehicle.

"Where are they?" Maya asked, her voice laced with concern.

Chloe shrugged. "I don't know." Then, the dim light caught the mangled tire. Her expression shifted, a look of shocked realization dawning. "Oh."

Maya followed her gaze, her eyes widening. "What happened?"

Before Piper could formulate a response, Knox answered for her, his voice calm and steady. "Someone didn't like losing." He glanced towards the damaged tire. "I handled it."

Chloe’s eyebrows shot upward, a look of utter astonishment on her face. Maya’s gaze darted from Knox to Piper, her voice incredulous. "Someone did what?"

The sound of their conversation, now carrying clearly in the night air, drew the attention of other riders.

Diesel was the first to emerge from the gathering, his usual jovial expression replaced by a dark scowl the moment he saw the shredded tire. "What the f**k?" he exclaimed, crouching beside the bike, his eyes scanning the deep gashes in the rubber. He straightened, his gaze sweeping across the property, his voice a low growl. "Where is the piece of s**t?"

Knox didn't even bother turning. "I handled it."

Diesel’s eyes narrowed, then drifted to Knox’s hands. The raw redness and faint cuts across his knuckles told him everything he needed to know. A slow, knowing grin tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Right."

Piper fought to suppress a smile. Diesel looked back towards her motorcycle, his expression softening. "I'll haul your bike back home for you."

Piper blinked, surprised by the offer. "You will?"

"Free of charge."

"It's an hour away," she protested, incredulous.

"Doesn't matter."

"At least let me pay you for the gas."

Diesel shook his head, his grin widening. "Free of charge," he repeated, his tone firm enough that Piper knew further argument would be futile. He then slung an arm around Maya's neck, a familiar gesture of camaraderie, and began leading her back towards the fire. "Come on." Maya laughed as she was pulled along, the others falling in behind them.

Chloe and Ben walked together, while Felix shook his head, an amused smile playing on his lips.

Piper watched them go, a strange mix of emotions swirling within her. She looked down at her damaged bike, then back at Knox. The night had begun with a singular purpose: race, win, disappear. Instead, she had stumbled into a web of unexpected connections. She had made friends. Lost two tires. Witnessed Knox Connor nearly dismantle a man. Been offered a ride home. And, somehow, found herself standing in the middle of a group of people who had, with alarming speed, decided she belonged with them. It was strange, unfamiliar territory, and yet, to her surprise, she found she didn't hate it.

Knox started towards the fire, and Piper followed. As they walked, he glanced down at her, a hint of amusement in his voice. "You know you're going to have to stop calling yourself a loner after tonight."

Piper smiled, a genuine, unrestrained smile. "Don't push your luck, Connor."

His mouth curved into a slow, knowing grin. "Wouldn't dream of it."

She looked ahead, hiding her own smile, a newfound warmth spreading through her. For once, she wasn't counting the minutes until she could leave.