“I had a great time with Gretchen last night. She’s an amazing person.” He smiled. “I think the four of us should go out.”

I was leaning over the sink, putting on my mascara. “The four of us?” I asked.

“Gretchen, me, you, and Luke.”

“I don’t date,” I said as I looked at my eyes in the mirror.

“I know you don’t, and I’m really sorry to hear that.”

I instantly looked at him. “Gretchen told you, didn’t she?”

“Yes, she told me all about your ex and what had happened at the church.”

“Damn her. Just wait until I talk to her,” I said in anger.

“Don’t, Lily. She’s worried about you. She told me that she’s happy you moved to Santa Monica because then she can keep a closer eye on you. She doesn’t want you to be lonely.”

“I like being lonely. Did she say anything else?” I asked as I ran a brush through my damp hair.

“She told me that your family isn’t dead and that they’re still living in Seattle.”

“My family’s dead to me, Sam. What my sister and mother did is unforgivable. I want you to forget about that conversation, and don’t ever mention it to anyone. Do you understand me? I’m starting my life over, and that’s my story. I never plan on seeing either of them again.”

“Ok, I’ll forget about it, but I want you know that Luke isn’t a bad guy like you think he is. He’s hiding himself, just like you are.”

“I don’t care about Luke, Sam. I’m not interested in men, period. I don’t care who they are. They’re all lying, cheating bastards who break my heart over and over. I refuse to ever let it happen again.”

He put his arm around me and held me tight. “I understand, and don’t worry; your secret’s safe with me.”

“Thank you, Sam.”

“I have to go, or I’ll be late. Have a good day with your students.” He smiled as he turned and left the apartment.

“Have a good, professional meeting!” I yelled from the bathroom.

As I was blow-drying my hair, I couldn’t stop thinking about what Sam had said about Luke; that Luke was hiding himself. I didn’t care about Luke or his life. I threw my hair up in a ponytail and headed out the door.

The students were wound up, but we had a productive day. I was sitting at my desk as the students were doing a writing assignment when Charley came up to me.

“Miss Gilmore,” she said.

“Hi, Charley, what’s up?” I asked.

“My uncle’s taking me to the carnival Friday night,” she said with a huge smile plastered on her face.

“Wow, what a nice uncle you have.” I smiled back.

“He’s the best! He takes care of me a lot while my mom’s working. He helps me and my mom out since my daddy isn’t around.”

Hearing Charley say those words broke my heart. I knew what it was like not having your dad around.

“Your uncle sounds like he’s an amazing person.”

“He is, and I love him very much. I think you would like him, and he doesn’t have a girlfriend. She died.”

“Oh, Charley, I’m sorry to hear that. I’m sure that I’d like him.”

The bell rang, and the end of the school day had arrived.

“Bye, Miss Gilmore.” Charley smiled and waved.

“Bye, Charley. See you tomorrow.”

The classroom emptied, so I walked around putting things away and straightening the desks. I grabbed my bags, got in the Explorer, and started driving down the road. As I was driving and listening to my favorite tunes, my car started to shake. I quickly pulled over onto the side of the road, and it stalled. I turned the key to try and start it, but it was dead. I sighed and got out my phone. I tried to call Gretchen and Giselle, but there was no answer. Shit—shit—shit! I said as I got out and leaned up against the side of the Explorer. I tried to call Sam, but he didn’t answer either, so I left a message and told him where I was.

Thirty minutes had passed, and I was getting ready to start walking when a motorcycle pulled up behind me. I was a little nervous. He pulled off his helmet and looked at me. I couldn’t help but smile as Luke got off his bike and started walking towards me.

“So, you’re my knight and shining armor?” I asked.

“Something like that,” he said. “Pop the hood so that I can take a look.”

I popped the hood and stood next to Luke as he examined the engine. “Try and start it,” he said.

I got inside and turned the key—nothing. “Sorry, but it still doesn’t want to start!” I yelled form the driver’s seat.

Luke shut the hood and walked over to me. “It’s probably the alternator. You’re going to have to get this towed.”

“Great,” I said as I put my forehead on the steering wheel.

“My buddy owns a garage not too far from here. I’ll call him and have him come tow it.”

I looked over at him. “Thank you, Luke.”

“No problem,” he said as he walked away and made the phone call.

He walked over to me and handed me his helmet. “Here, put this on.”

I looked at him confusion. “Why?”

“Because I don’t want you on the back of my bike without one on.”

I looked at him like he was crazy. “I’m not getting on the back of that thing. I hate motorcycles.”

“Suit yourself,” he said. “The guys won’t be here for another two hours. If you want to sit in the hot sun, or the hot car, that’s fine with me. I really don’t care either way,” he said as he walked away.

I sighed as I got out of the truck. I sat down on the ground next to it. This is going to be the longest two hours of my life. Luke got on his bike and started it. He pulled up next to me and yelled over the roaring engine. “Are you sure? This is your last chance!”

“I’m sure,” I said.

He sped away and left me sitting there on the side of the road in the hot sun. I pulled my phone from my pocket, and it was dead. Of course it was; could this day get any worse? A few minutes later, I heard the roaring engine of a motorcycle. I look up and saw Luke getting off his bike. He walked over to me and grabbed my arm.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?!” I yelled as he pulled me off the ground.

“Taking you home, and watch your mouth,” he said.

“I’m not getting on that thing, and you can’t make me!” I said as he was dragging me to his bike.

He stopped dead in his tracks, turned around, and looked at me. “What is it that you’re scared of, Lily?”

“Nothing,” I said as I walked back to the Explorer. “Just leave me alone, and go home, Luke.”

I sat inside to try and escape him. He opened the passenger door and climbed in. I stared straight ahead and wouldn’t look at him.

“Something about motorcycles has you freaked out. Tell me what it is, and maybe I can help you.”

“You can’t help,” I said as my eyes started to tear. He wouldn’t stop staring at me, and once again, he was making me feel uncomfortable.

“Please, just tell me, Lily,” he whispered.

I sighed and took in a deep breath. “I was in a motorcycle accident with my dad when I was a child. I can still remember the pain, as if it happened yesterday. I haven’t been on a bike since, and I don’t plan on starting now.”

“I can understand that, but you’ll be safe with me; I promise.” He said.

I turned my head towards him. There was something in his eyes that drew me into him. It was hot, and the thought of sitting here for the next two hours wasn’t a pleasant one. “Fine, I’ll go,” I said hesitantly. “But just to let you know, I may have an anxiety attack.”

He reached over and touched my hand. I should’ve pulled back, but I couldn’t. He tilted his head and smiled. “You’ll be fine.”

We both got out of the Explorer and walked over to his motorcycle. The memories of the accident started to flood my mind. He handed me the helmet and saw I was shaking. He clasped my shoulders.

“Take a deep breath. You’ll be safe.”

I took the helmet and put it on. There was something soothing about his voice. I trusted him, and I started to calm down. He straddled his bike and started it. He patted the seat behind him and told me to get on. I climbed on and leaned forward, wrapping my arms around him as tight as I could. I closed my eyes as he took off down the road, and the only thing I felt was the wind against us and Luke’s muscular form. He looked back for a second and asked me if I was ok. I told him I was. The sick feeling that I had a few minutes ago had passed, and it wasn’t so bad riding with him; he made me feel safe.