Page 10 of Oops! I Fell for the Biker Next Door

I want to ask her the question I should've asked ten years ago.

I want her to come back to Meadow Falls with me and leave this damn mountain behind once and for all. At the same time, I want to kiss her until she's forgiven me.

Before I can let my weakness seep through the cracks she's creating, Zoey catches me off guard by planting a hand on my chest and pushing me back. I stumble back, giving her the space she needs.

"You were right." She stumbles over her words as she does the same, trying to leave her chair. "You're a good kisser. Congratulations."

She's going to run away. I can see it in the way her gaze is flicking toward her front door.

Why do I feel like if I let her go, I won't get another chance to see her? She'll go back to avoiding me all over again.

"Zoey, wait—" A desperation I don't recognize falls from my lips. "Your plants, they still need their sunlight. Why don't you come with me? We can go on another ride while they get their fill."

She pauses, and I can see the worry written all over her face. Her eyes dart toward her collection of pots, and she swallows thickly.

Could she be feeling things, too? If that's what spooked her, then I want to prove I won't make the same mistake twice.

"We don't even have to leave the mountain. Just..." I try to steady my voice so it sounds like I still have control of the situation. "Come with me, please. I'm not ready to end this just yet."

The way she grimaces, she thinks it's a bad idea. Hell, maybe it is. Maybe I should take that as a sign she isn't interested in me the way she was before. Still, I don't back down. Not until she tells me no, straightforwardly.

Despite her expression being quite telling, she catches me off guard with a slow nod. "Okay, fine. A short ride, but that's all. Let me go fetch my jacket."

Before I can become even greedier and offer mine up, she slips back into her cabin. Despite the task being quick, she takes much longer than expected. Almost long enough to make me think she'd changed her mind and decided to leave me hanging. When she reappears, she looks far more collected and relaxed.

Knowing I shouldn't press when I've already made her panic, I can't help but offer my hand. Wanting to feel her hold it, I notice her bite her bottom lip before, ever so slowly, she accepts.

Heading toward my bike, I keep my word and stick to a path on the mountain. Instead of going down, I travel higher. Unclear of where I want to go, it's not until I spot a familiar turn that an idea pops up. Suddenly, I have a destination in mind.

Zoey keeps her body securely wrapped around me, her grip tight as we take each turn. Eventually, we reach the end of the line. She gasps when I don't slow down.

"Hold on tight," I warn her before we go off-road. The moment my tires hit grass, she calls me reckless and clutches on.

It's not the safest decision to go out this far on my bike, but my motorcycle is an extension of me. I know what it is and isn't capable of.

Heading to the same spot we spent so many days after school, I slow to a stop as I notice the view. Funnily enough, it's the same spot where I tried to confess my feelings to her so many times, but chickened out each time.

Once Zoey realizes where we are, she sucks in a breath as she pulls off her helmet. "You remembered this place?"

Getting off with her, I shrug off my cut. As much as I shouldn't disrespect the patch on my back by laying it out on the grass, there's no way I'll have Zoey sit down and dirty her clothing. When I motion to her to sit, her mouth curves as she accepts.

Sitting down next to her, I look out toward the town. From here, it looks even smaller than it already is. If I squint hard enough, I might even see the shape of Meadow Falls. Instead of searching, I'm looking over to see if she's caught up in the same view. She is.

"With how many days we spent out here, how could I forget?" A sigh leaves me. "This is a staple in my life."

"You always hated the mountain," she reminds me before she stretches her limbs out. "I never knew how badly until it was too late."

"I liked being here, with you." Admitting the truth makes my chest feel tighter. It's a lot easier to say it now, but knowing she'll be on the fence about believing me makes it a little rougher. "You made it survivable."

She doesn't reply for the longest time as she looks out. "You know, it took me a long time to forgive you for leaving. Mary Lou explained the situation, and I understood why you did what you did, but it still really hurt. Especially after I..." She groans softly. "I made a complete fool of myself."

Leaning toward her, my shoulder brushes hers. "You were really cute, you know."

Zoey scoffs, not buying it. When she turns to look at me, it's impossible not to notice her blush is back in full force. "I think I made you leave the mountain even quicker."

She's somewhat right. If I hadn't left immediately, I didn't think I'd be able to go a second time.

"I should've come back sooner." Pursing my lips together, a frown forms. "I assumed you would've gone and found a man who wouldn't have fucked up as much as I had. Zoey, I—"