The Promise

Chapter Eight

"Get on," David commanded as I watched the other three men swing their legs over their bikes. I hesitated, wringing my hands. I was nervous as I hadn't ever ridden on a motorcycle before.

"My bike," I whispered, also not wanting to leave my method of transportation on the Boardwalk all night long. Lord knows someone would steal it before the morning sun rose from the horizon.

"One of us will take it to your house, darling," Paul winked, assuring me I would have my bike. I flushed at the attention but still hesitated to get onto the seat. I chewed at my lip, a little nervous.

"I won't ride too fast, kitten," David promised, looking at me with those pale blue eyes. He knew why I didn't want to get onto his motorcycle. As if this man could read my thoughts.

His assurance that he would be a safe and careful driver was enough to break the walls. I sucked in a deep breath, wondering if Mom would approve. But then I determined that Mom probably would. She'd tell me to leave my safe bubble and live a little. I walked over to the bike, swinging my leg over the seat. I pulled my messenger bag around my body to sit on my lap.

"You will need to put your arms around my waist, darling," David commanded, not starting the bike yet. "We don't need you falling off," I blushed a brilliant crimson color at that information.

Uncertain, I put my arms around his waist. It was a loose hold - I didn't feel comfortable touching them so familiarly, no matter the pull to know these four. David reached down and pulled me flush to his back. Heat bloomed in my cheeks and neck as I felt the same bubbling, tingly feeling while in contact with his body. The same as I had felt with Dwayne and Marko. I almost loosened my hold, but David kickstarted his bike. As he started to drive the bike, I tightened my grip on his waist.

"Which way?" David asked as we sat at the light on the main street. I realized with a start he had no idea how to take me home. I felt like an idiot before telling him the directions.

"Left here, then right on 3rd, then left on Fir," I told him. "There's a dirt road on Fir, which leads to my Grandpa's."

"That's the most I've heard you say yet," Paul winked at me, showing that he was teasing. I shook my head, a slight smile on my face. Paul liked to tease, which showed that he never did it with malicious intent, at least towards me. I rolled my eyes at him before David began to drive. He followed my directions to the farm.

Due to the colder wind and my tiredness, I lowered my face between his shoulder blades. I yawned. Too many sleepless nights were catching up on me as my eyelids began drooping.

"Don't sleep yet, kitten," David shouted over the wind and the sound of the other's engines. I let out a whine of protest but remained on the precipice of sleep. Finally, we pulled into the driveway, though I wasn't sure if I wanted the night to end yet.

"C'mon baby," Dwayne cajoled, helping me off the back of David's bike. I stumbled, yawning. I was bone tired, and my legs felt like jello, unstable and shaking. "I got you."

Dwayne lifted me into his arms, bridal style, to carry me to the house. I heard the screen door creak open as Dwayne crunched dirt and wood chips beneath his leather boots. I could only yawn and curl my head into his leather jacket. He smelled nice, I thought, dozing off in his arms.

"She's just tired," I heard Dwayne tell my Mom by the rumble in his chest. She gasped when she saw him holding me, thinking the worst.

"Oh, come in," my Mom exclaimed, holding open the door. "All of you can come in. Thank you so much for bringing her home."

"No problem," I heard Paul's teasing voice tell my Mom. In my mind, I could picture him winking and smiling at my mother.

"Come this way," my mother guided Dwayne through the house and up the stairs to my room. I heard the bedcovers rustle as they were pulled down, and then my back hit the soft mattress.

"Baby," I heard Dwayne rumble, trying to uncurl my fingers from his jacket. "Come on, let go." I just mumbled something, shaking my head.

"Let her have it," I heard Marko hiss before I fell asleep.

The following day, I groaned as I woke up to the sunlight streaming through my thin curtains. My entire room was illuminated with the glow of the California sun. I whined, trying to hide my head underneath the covers to escape the daytime. But I felt a stiff, cool material instead of my soft coverlet.

I bolted upright, not sure what was with me in my bed. All vestiges of sleep were gone as my heart pounded. Once I blinked the sleep from my eyes, I realized that the strange item in my bed was Dwayne's jacket. I pulled the coat closer to my body, cheeks reddening in embarrassment as I realized I hadn't let go.

I let my fingers stroke over the worn material in reverence as I remembered Dwayne's arms carrying me into the house and bringing me to my bedroom. I giggled a little as I held his jacket, burying my face into the material. I melted as I smelled the scent that clung to him last night. Tobacco, salt, copper, iron, cinnamon, and some weird underlying sweetness that I couldn't quite figure out. I waited a moment, then buried my head in the jacket, trying to figure out what that sweet smell was, but alas, the scent eluded my identification.

"Get up!" Sam pounded on my door like the overprotective dweeb he was. I sighed, getting out of bed. That's when I realized someone had removed my jeans and shoes last night before I was put into bed. I blushed, wondering if it was my Mom or if it had been one of the men. I was also mortified because it meant that someone had seen my body - they saw the fat rolling off of my bones.

I rushed to the bathroom, locking the door to prevent Sam's access from his bedroom. I turned on the shower and washed off. I took care of my hair, actually adding in conditioner. The salty air and sun was beginning to take its toll. When I finished showering, I unlocked the door to Sam's side and returned to my room.

I wrapped the towel carefully around my body as I perused my closet. I didn't have a lot of choices, but I decided to make an effort. I would return to the Boardwalk tonight to give Dwayne his jacket. Therefore, I wanted to put in a little effort. I finally decided on a pair of jeans that fit me tighter than the others - they were a size two, while the others were fours. Then, I pulled on a plain tank top and decided that an oversized mesh sweater would work.

I made the bed, then looked down at the jacket. My fingers traced the golden leopard embroidered on Dwayne's jacket, but I couldn't justify wearing it around the house. No matter how much I actually wanted to wear it and spend my day smelling Dwayne. Instead, I left it on the bed, making my way downstairs.