Midnight Rider

Chapter 13

I heard and felt the truck door thud shut. We were back at Tanner’s house, I must of dozed off during the ride. I rubbed my eyes as he came around and opened the door for me.

“What time is it?” I asked sleepily.

“A little after midnight, sorry I didn’t know we’d be out this late.”

“It’s ok I didn’t either,” I smiled up at him.

“Do you wanna just crash here? It’s late and I know your tired, I can take you home in the morning.”

I bit my lip while thinking about it. I am really tired so staying seems fine but I am NOT sleeping in the same bed as him. Tanner must have been able to tell what I was thinking because he added, “You can have my bed and I’ll sleep on the couch.”

“Then ok,” I leaned my head back against the seat and shut my eyes, “you’re right I’m pretty tired anyway.” I felt his arms go around me as he picked me up out of the truck. I started to protest that my legs aren’t broken and I could walk just fine, but, I was tired. What girl doesn’t want to be carried by a hot guy right?

“Are you gonna unload the trailer?” I asked putting my arms around his neck.

“In the morning I figured I’d shower and sleep for now.”

When we walked into his room I was surprised to see it was clean! Of course we aren’t in high school anymore but I don’t think I’d ever seen the floor from all the clothes on it back then.

“Hey,” I stopped him and pointed to his bed, “these sheets clean?”

“Wow, thanks! Yes it’s clean!”

“Just asking…Hey!” he threw me onto the bed and laughed. He leaned over me and kissed me.

“What?” he smiled. He stood up and grabbed some shorts and an old T shirt for me. “Here you can wear these if you want to sleep in.”

“Oh thanks”

“I’m gonna take a shower, just make yourself at home,” he gave me another kiss before grabbing some clothes. Tanner’s bathroom is connected to his room. The last image I saw before he closed the door was of him taking his shirt off. I smiled a little giddy at how well this was going so far. I just need to remind myself to take it slow, no commitment. I felt slightly guilty. Talking to two guys but not committing to either of them. I told myself however that I did tell them that beforehand and they agreed. I changed into Tanner’s clothes and climbed into his bed. I was close to dozing off when I heard the shower turn off.

I pretended to be asleep as he walked out. He was only wearing shorts. I tried not to move as he walked over to me and stroked my hair. He leaned down and kissed me on the forehead. I heard him whisper “sweet dreams” to me before he left the room and I fell asleep.

I woke up and stretched underneath the covers. I jumped when I heard the Trans Am start up. Tanner must be unloading the trailer. I get up, change my clothes and splash some water onto my face in his bathroom. Upon checking my phone I see its 10:00!!!!!!! How did I sleep this long??? I also have several missed texts and a call, but I shoved the phone into my pocket, I’ll check on them later.  I briskly walk outside to confront Tanner on why he didn’t wake me up. He’s unloading the cooler from the truck when I get to the driveway. I stopped in my tracks because he’s still only wearing the shorts he slept in last night.

“Hey uh do you need any help?” I stumbled the words out while not trying to hide that I’m staring.

He turned around and smiled at me, “No I’m done now actually, good to see you awake.”

“Yea why didn’t you wake me up sooner by the way?”

“I couldn’t you looked too cute while sleeping” he winked at me. Tanner walked toward me and tried wrapping his arms around me to kiss me but I stopped him.

“Oh no you don’t, I missed going to church, I can’t be here all day, and now I’m starving.” I tried giving him a stern look but I don’t think it worked because all he did was smile at me.

“Ok I’m sorry I didn’t wake you up, let me grab a shirt and I’ll take you home.” He walked past me into the house.

While he was inside I pulled my phone out of my pocket. I had a missed call from Ciara. Probably calling asking how it went with Tanner. Most of my missed texts were also from Ciara and Dominique. They didn’t catch my attention as much as the missed texts I received from the Rider. I checked the times on each text. They were all after 1 o’clock in the morning. So after I fell asleep and Tanner was out of the room.

Hey beautiful….you awake?

I was in the mood for a long ride and didn’t know if you’d be interested?

20 minutes later.

I’m guessing you’re sleeping. Hit me up later. Goodnight.

“Hey what you looking at?” I didn’t hear Tanner walk up behind m

“Oh nothing,” I shoved my phone back in my pocket, “just seeing where Ciara and Dominique were blowing up my phone last night and this morning.”

“Trying to find out all the dirt about me?” he raised an eyebrow at me and smiled.

“You know it, it’s what we do” I laughed. He opened the door to his mustang and I climbed in. As we pulled out of the driveway my stomach growled.

Tanner laughed, “Do you wanna grab some Denny’s on the way to your house?”

My stomach growled again in answering. A few minutes later we sitting in a booth at Denny’s.

“Get whatever you want, I’m buying.” Tanner said before I could protest.

“Damn, I don’t l see lobster on the menu. To bad, I guess I’ll settle for French toast and bacon,” I looked over the menu and laughed at him.

“Cute..” he smiled at me before a waitress came up. She looked  about our age, and pretty. She smiled at Tanner but not at me.  Her name tag read, Serenity.

“Well hi Tanner! Nice to finally see you again!” she laid it on thick while talking to him.

He looked up at her and gave a slight quick smile, “Hi Serenity, I’ll take coffee and the grand slam.”

“Ok and for your little friend here?” she turned to me and the smile disappeared. I don’t know who this girl is to Tanner, but if she thinks she’s going to intimidate me, she’s got another thing coming.

I put on a big fake smile at her, “Well I’ll have orange juice, French toast and bacon, thanks. Serenity.”  She grabbed our menus and stocked away.

I turned to Tanner, “alright, what was that about?”

He smirked at me, “she thought we were more than what we were. I actually forgot she worked here til we walked in, but maybe now she’ll leave me alone.”

“What did you say to her?”

“I told her I wasn’t looking for anything serious just someone to have some fun with and that’s it. But I guess she had other ideas.”

“So you were f**k buddies and she caught feelings? Is that what your telling me?”

“yes”

“How many do you have? Is that what you’re expecting of me?”

“Uh no I don’t have any now and no that’s not what I expect you to be. I told you my feelings for you are different.”

I chose to believe him for now, but I may be more on my guard.

“Ok,” I whispered.

Serenity didn’t come back to the table, another waitress was with us instead. After eating in silence Tanner drove me home. He turned to me after parking in the driveway.

“I’m sorry about what happened back there, I’m not proud of some of the things I’ve done in the past but I can’t change them. I do have real feelings for you and I intend to prove it to you.”

“I understand and I’m sorry too.  I had a really good time yesterday.”

“Me too, I’ll call you ok?” he leaned forward and gave me a small kiss.

“Ok, see you later,” I got out and walked inside.

Christian and Dru were still gone to church so the house was empty. I showered and then decided I’d cook them some lunch for when they got home. The house smelled of fried chicken when they walked in.

“Either Angel is home or someone broke in and was hungry,” Christian laughed as he walked around the corner.

“Someone finally decided to come home!” Dru smiled and hugged me.

“I crashed at Tanner’s last night. It was pretty late by the time we got back and then he brought me home a little bit ago.” I grabbed some plates and started loading up food.

“So how did it go?” Dru asked sitting down at the table.

“Ok actually, except we ran into some old fling at Denny’s this morning.”

“He’s got other girls? That’s not something you should be involved in.” Christian sternly told me.

“I agree, he says currently he has no one because he has certain feelings for me and wants to prove it to me.” I answered.

“He’s got a lot to prove then,” Christian said stuffing chicken into his mouth.

“What about Gabriel?” Dru asked.

“I really like him, he sends me texts throughout the day usually. He seems sweet. I know he’s had girlfriends in the past but he doesn’t really talk about it. Course I don’t like talking about my past relationship either.”

“Well I’m team Gabriel…” Christian stated.

“This isn’t a competition, you don’t pick sides. Just outta curiosity though, why did you pick him?”

“He owns a bike shop, maybe I can get parts for free,” he laughed. Dru and I rolled our eyes.  They offered to clean up the kitchen so I went into my room to call the girls.

C- oh my gosh finally! So how did it go?

Well the drag strip went great, I crashed at his house last night since we got back so late.

D- oohh!! Really?! Did you two cuddle all night?

Haha, no he slept on the couch. I did see him shirtless when he got out of the shower though. Wasn’t a bad image to fall asleep to.

C- Get it girl!

Something interesting happened this morning though, when he brought me home.

D- What?

Well first off I didn’t wake up til 10! He said I was ‘to cute asleep to wake up’ (this got aawwws from both girls) so he took me to eat before he dropped me off at my house. We went to Denny’s and some waitress there had at one time been f**k buddies with him and according to him she caught feelings even though he told her he didn’t want that.

C- Do you think he lead her on?

D- How many girls like that does he have?

Both things I thought about. He says he told her up front so I don’t know and he says he doesn’t have any girls now because he has real feelings for me and wants to prove it to me.

D- You said he was a player in high school right? I just don’t want you to end up with another Jason.

Yea I don’t either. I’m trying to take it slow and keep a little guarded. I also missed a couple texts from the Rider too.

C- Oh! What did they say?

He was just seeing if I was awake cause he wanted to take a ride. How was the date with Eric?

C- Just the usual dinner. We were going to try and see a movie but it got sold out. He’s really sweet and funny, he even took me on a carriage ride since we couldn’t do the movies.

Aww that’s so cute!

D- He sounds great!

I got off the phone with the girls. I needed to get some laundry done before work tomorrow. I texted the Rider to see if he was awake.

-Hey I’m so sorry I didn’t answer last night. I had crashed at a friends house. I’m home and up for a ride if you are.

Only a few minutes later and I had a response.

Hey good looking, it’s ok but yes I’m always up for a ride with you can you be ready in a hour?

Absolutely, see you then.

I finished my laundry and changed into jeans, a tank top and hoodie. I grabbed his hoodie to give back to him. It had lost all of his smell, plus if all we were gonna do is flirt without him telling me who he is then maybe I don’t need it. I came down the stairs as Dru and Christian were coming up them.

“Uh where do you think your going?” Christian asked.

“I’m just going on a ride with a friend,” I winked at Dru.

“Fine, be careful,”

“I will! Goodnight guys!” I closed the door behind me and waited in the driveway. My heart skipped when I heard his bike. He pulled up and shut the bike off.

“Hey beautiful, what you got there?” he pointed to his hoodie.

“Well I was gonna give it back to you. I figured you might need it.” I lied.

“I already told you that you could keep it though. Is something wrong?”

“Kinda….”

“Just tell me”

“Well, not that I don’t like when we text or hang out, but I still don’t know who you are. I also don’t know what’s going on between us, exactly.” I secretly still hoped that he’d just instantly tell me who he was and it would all be fine.

He sighed, “I understand. The truth is Angel I really like you, but now is not a good time to tell you who I am. I promise that the moment I can tell you though that I will, and even though you may not know who I am I want you to know that you can always count on me being there for you.”

Although it wasn’t the answered I’d like to of heard, it was still a good answer. “Well considering you’ve already saved my ass once, I know I can count on you. Also the hoodie has lost your smell so I don’t want it now.” I smiled at him.

He laughed, “Lucky for you then.” He pulled a similar hoodie out of the compartment on his bike and handed it to me. “Give me the other and I’ll wash it. I put this one in after I gave you the last one.”

I had a big smile as I buried my face in the hoodie and took a deep breath. “It smells amazing,” I signed.

He shook his head at me, “what’s it smell like?”

“Cologne and fuel”

“And you like that? The smell of fuel?”

“I love it actually”

“You’re different…in a good way, that’s why I like you”

I took my hoodie off and threw it up on the truck of my parked car. I heard him whistle at me when I turned around. “Damn girl, I didn’t think it was gonna be that kind of ride.” He laughed.

I turned back around and rolled my eyes at him. I put his hoodie on as he started he bike. I took his hand to help me up. I held on tight as we took off.