Bye-Bye Jerk, Hello Mr. Right

It felt like forever since I last rode a bike.

“Bike,” I mumbled, pointing at one nearby.

Now, we could rent them with just a scan of your phone, so Wayne pulled out his and scanned one.

I reached for my phone to scan another, but he stopped me. “You’ve been drinking–you shouldn’t be riding.”

“They seriously check for drunk driving on bikes now?” asked, tilting my head.

“Yeah, they do. And besides…” Wayne gently grabbed my arm. It was so different from Jace, who always gripped hard enough to leave marks. “It’s dangerous to ride after drinking.”

Gentle and kind–tho

words might as well have been made for Wayne.

I smiled. “Isn’t that why you’re here?”

“If you want to ride, we can do it some other time. But not tonight. I’ll take you,” Wayne said, guiding me to the bike he’d just rented.

Wayne got on the bike and pulled me onto the back seat. “Hold on tight, okay?”

I clutched his shirt around his waist. “Got it.”

The night breeze brushed against us as we rode. The memory of a boy on a bike–this was something Wayne had given me. Jace? He was never into bikes. Motorcycles were more his thing.

They were brothers, but you couldn’t find tw This content © Nôv/elDr(a)m/a.Org.

people more different. One was the epitome of a gentleman, while the other was all wild and reckless.

“Rough day?” Wayne asked, breaking the silence.

“No, it’s been fine,” I replied, trying to sound casual.

“Still not over Jace, are you?” Wayne pressed gently.

I huffed and gave him a playful punch on the shoulder. Who says I haven’t moved on? I’m so over him. After tonight, he and I are done. He’s him, and I’m me.”

Wayne didn’t push it, just kept pedaling forward. After a while, I said, “Take me to Holiday Inn. I’ve got work tomorrow.”

“Rea,” Wayne suddenly said.

I was about to respond when he asked, “Why is it that in your eyes, there’s only Jace? Why, between him and me, is it always him?”

My grip on his shirt tightened, and my heart skipped a beat.

I wasn’t oblivious; I’d noticed his feelings a long time ago. But I hadn’t wanted to admit it.

So it isn’t just that he sees me as a little sister,‘ I thought.

“Because he’s my fiancé. Everyone always told me he was the one,” I replied.

“But now that you’re no longer with him…. what about me? Wayne hesitated before continuing, “Do I have a chance?”

My heart started racing! It took me a moment to respond. “I’ve always seen you as a brother.”

Wayne didn’t say anything. just silently biked all the way to the hotel. When I got off, the alcohol must have hit me harder because I almost stumbled. Wayne caught me immediately, parking the bike in one smooth move.

“I’ll walk you up,” he offered.

“No, it’s fine,” I tried to pull away.

But Wayne held on, his grip firm. “Rea, I don’t want to just be your brother. I want to take care of you, for the rest of my life.”

I stood there, feeling a lump form in my throat.

“If you were still with Jace, I never would’ve said this. But now that you’re not, I want to take my shot,” Wayne’s voice was deep, thick with emotion, like it carried all the weight of the night.

It was so heavy, I felt like I couldn’t even breathe, like my throat was glued shut.

I dug my nails into my palm, forcing myself to speak. “I’ve only ever seen you as a brother, from the beginning to the end.”

Wayne’s eyes dimmed with disappointment, his voice cracking with pain. “But could you try, just once, to

not see me as your brother?”

“Ms. Kay, burning the midnight oil again? Don’t you have work tomorrow?” Hayden’s voice suddenly broke the tension like a slap.

He walked over, looking casual in deep gray loungewear and hotel slippers, but his steps were steady, confident.

As I stood there, frozen in the moment, I felt a sharp tug on my wrist. Hayden had grabbed me, and Wayne’s grip on my other hand tightened.