Bad Start

Emmalee

I don't understand him at all sometimes.

There are only three bikes, so I'll have to ride with one of them. They start pushing the bikes all the way down the dirt road, and although I'm walking alongside Cade and Soren, I slow down so I can fall into step with Romain. But even that isn't enough to make him acknowledge me.

"Oh, so now you're the one who's doing the ignoring?" I ask him in a low, annoyed voice.

Romain doesn't answer me, and that makes me feel even more desperate and upset. "Look, you're the one who kissed me, so your reaction makes no sense! Why are you mad at me?"

Romain stops walking, and without looking at me, says, "The kiss was a mistake. I'm sorry."

"But why did you do it?" I ask.

Before he can answer me, Cade turns around to face me, and says, "Since there are only three bikes, you'll ride with Soren."

"Soren isn't used to driving these bikes, and I don't want to get in the way," I say, coming up with the first excuse that pops into my mind. "Why don't I go with Romain instead?"

Romain finally looks at me, but I can't look back at him. Soren smiles easily and says, "Don't worry, Emmalee. We have these exact models at home. I'll drive slow, I promise."

I force a smile. Now, I have no choice but to agree to go with him. Romain's eyes don't leave me as I get on the motorcycle with Soren. I wrap my arms around Soren's waist, and he starts the bike.

Not a minute later, we're crashing on the ground. I land on my arm, and a wave of agony spreads all through it.

"Emmalee!" I hear Cade exclaim while he climbs off his bike. Romain does the same, only he isn't saying a word.

"I'm fine," I assure him while standing up.

Romain says to Soren harshly, "If you didn't know how to ride the motorcycle, why did you insist on taking her with you? You almost killed her!"

"That's an exaggeration," I say to Romain while placing a hand on his arm. Our eyes lock, and I tell him, "I'm fine. Really."

"She's fine," Soren echoes. "You're all exaggerating. And I didn't lie about knowing how to ride the bike. I can. Emmalee, I'm really sorry. It won't happen again."

I nod at him, and Romain shoots me an accusing look while he stares at my scraped-up arm. I just want this to stop.

"Could you pick it up for me?" Soren asks Romain this while dusting his pants. It's very clear that he's talking to Romain and not Cade or even me, and he's referring to the motorcycle. His palms are bleeding from the fall, and he stares at them with a crease between his brows.

"What?" Romain asks coldly.

"Could you pick it up for me?" Soren repeats the request like it's the most natural thing in the world.

"Why don't you do it?" Romain asks back. A heavy silence falls between us as a result.

"What?" Soren asks like he didn't hear him.

"I said you pick it up yourself," Romain retorts. He's emanating aggression now, and I fear this won't end well at all.

Soren scoffs. "But isn't your job being told what to do?"

"No, that's not his job," I say, cutting in. "Look, whatever. I can pick it up. It's no big deal."

I start toward the fallen motorcycle, but Romain's fingers dig into my arm, hurting me. It tears an unexpected yelp from me. He says, "Don't you dare lay a finger on that bike, Emmalee. He's the one who should pick it up!"

"Hey!" Soren exclaims while stepping forward. "Don't touch my fiancée like that. You're hurting her!"

"I'm fine," I say loudly. Romain releases me, and I rub the sore spot.

"No, you're not!" Soren exclaims while gesturing at my arm. "You're bruising already!"

"Oh, and she's not bruising from the fall, which so happens to be your fault?" Romain asks him angrily.

Soren's face turns a pale shade of purple, and he faces Romain fully, who's a good head taller than him and is glaring at him with murder in his eyes. "What the hell is your problem, errand boy? Not only are you putting your hands on my fiancée, but you're also disobeying a direct order from a superior. Pick. The motorcycle. Up! And don't touch her again!"

I glance at Romain's face. He won't do it. In fact, he looks like he's going to do something really stupid. With the intention to diffuse the situation quickly, I say, "Both of you, calm down! This isn't—"

Romain throws a punch at Soren's face, and the words die on my tongue.