Read Online Love Locked by Tess Highcroft - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Tess Highcroft
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her clunky, old mountain bike. Jocelyn’s been at a friend’s place, getting lessons on using the clipless pedals installed on the road bike she’s borrowing for the weekend.
When she was asked to join in a long–distance bike relay, she said “Sure.” It was only later that she said, “I’m not that experienced a rider,” and they said “Don’t worry — you’re fit; you’ll do fine. Plus, we’re desperate.”
It’s all part of her strategy to say yes to the world, life, everything. Just keep saying yes, so she’s too busy to dwell on Lucas. So, eventually, she’ll find something so great it will make her forget him.
She stands on her (non–clipless) mountain–bike pedals to tackle the small but sharp rise ahead of her, and when she crests it, her stomach does the quick flip the hill failed to give it.
No way.
There’s a guy standing up ahead, staring at a bike leaning up against the signpost where she first met Lucas. A guy built just like Lucas. A mountain bike like his. Every line in his body shows the same frustration as Lucas’s did that first day.
She coasts closer. It is Lucas.
And, again, like a replay of that day, what to do? To whiz right by behind his back and just avoid the whole situation? Sure, as if the magnet drawing her to him would let her do that …
She slows. Lets the bike glide. It wobbles as it nears him. He glances up — brow furrowed, mouth in as close to a frown as his happy mouth can get — then his eyes focus on her and a jolt runs through him. She sees it. Wants to point at him, yell, “I saw that! I saw it! It’s not just sex. It’s sex plus . It’s a connection. Don’t deny it!”
But, considering five seconds later she’s already second–guessing herself about it — Did she really see it? Did she want to see it so much that she imagined it? — she hardly has enough confidence to confront him with it. Instead she says, “Hi.”
“Hi.” Those fingers going through that hair again. “I’m sorry. You’re going to think I’m perpetually grumpy. I’m late. Again.”
She checks the time. 5:55. What is he late for?
There are flowers — pretty flowers; but then, she’d think any flowers he brought were pretty — sticking out of his bag.
“Oh … why? What happened?”
“A flat. And, like an idiot, I never carry a spare tube for my mountain bike — the tires aren’t supposed to go flat — so I’m stuck, and it’s a surprise party, so I have to be there on time …”
Her mind races. A surprise party. Flowers. He looks nice, too. A step down from the office look he wore the first time she met him, but still nice. Like he’s tried. Like he’s trying to impress someone, but like he can still cut loose later.
She swallows. “Take mine.”
“What?”
They’re nearly the same height — how many times has she thought it? And she has a man’s bike. Always has ridden men’s bikes. “The seat’s quick–release — you can adjust it how you like. I don’t want you to be late.”
“Really?” he asks. “You would do that?”
She nods. “Of course. I’m not in a rush. I’ll walk your bike home.”
“When can I bring it back to you? Should we pick a time this weekend?”
Yes, no — what’s the right answer? Fortunately she doesn’t have to choose between being available or not available. “I’m not around this weekend. But you know where I live …” She shrugs, smiles. “I’ll lock yours in the back yard and you can swap it for mine whenever.”
“Oh. OK. That works.”
“Yup,” she says. “It should.”
She waits for him to grab her bike, get pedaling. After all, he’s in a rush. He hesitates, though. “Are you going to visit that friend of yours? That guy I met? Sam?”
Sam . He remembered his name. Why did he remember his name? What did Ade say? ‘When you think about someone a lot, you remember their name.’ Has Lucas been thinking about Sam — about Sam and her? Wishful thinking …
“I, uh, no.
When she was asked to join in a long–distance bike relay, she said “Sure.” It was only later that she said, “I’m not that experienced a rider,” and they said “Don’t worry — you’re fit; you’ll do fine. Plus, we’re desperate.”
It’s all part of her strategy to say yes to the world, life, everything. Just keep saying yes, so she’s too busy to dwell on Lucas. So, eventually, she’ll find something so great it will make her forget him.
She stands on her (non–clipless) mountain–bike pedals to tackle the small but sharp rise ahead of her, and when she crests it, her stomach does the quick flip the hill failed to give it.
No way.
There’s a guy standing up ahead, staring at a bike leaning up against the signpost where she first met Lucas. A guy built just like Lucas. A mountain bike like his. Every line in his body shows the same frustration as Lucas’s did that first day.
She coasts closer. It is Lucas.
And, again, like a replay of that day, what to do? To whiz right by behind his back and just avoid the whole situation? Sure, as if the magnet drawing her to him would let her do that …
She slows. Lets the bike glide. It wobbles as it nears him. He glances up — brow furrowed, mouth in as close to a frown as his happy mouth can get — then his eyes focus on her and a jolt runs through him. She sees it. Wants to point at him, yell, “I saw that! I saw it! It’s not just sex. It’s sex plus . It’s a connection. Don’t deny it!”
But, considering five seconds later she’s already second–guessing herself about it — Did she really see it? Did she want to see it so much that she imagined it? — she hardly has enough confidence to confront him with it. Instead she says, “Hi.”
“Hi.” Those fingers going through that hair again. “I’m sorry. You’re going to think I’m perpetually grumpy. I’m late. Again.”
She checks the time. 5:55. What is he late for?
There are flowers — pretty flowers; but then, she’d think any flowers he brought were pretty — sticking out of his bag.
“Oh … why? What happened?”
“A flat. And, like an idiot, I never carry a spare tube for my mountain bike — the tires aren’t supposed to go flat — so I’m stuck, and it’s a surprise party, so I have to be there on time …”
Her mind races. A surprise party. Flowers. He looks nice, too. A step down from the office look he wore the first time she met him, but still nice. Like he’s tried. Like he’s trying to impress someone, but like he can still cut loose later.
She swallows. “Take mine.”
“What?”
They’re nearly the same height — how many times has she thought it? And she has a man’s bike. Always has ridden men’s bikes. “The seat’s quick–release — you can adjust it how you like. I don’t want you to be late.”
“Really?” he asks. “You would do that?”
She nods. “Of course. I’m not in a rush. I’ll walk your bike home.”
“When can I bring it back to you? Should we pick a time this weekend?”
Yes, no — what’s the right answer? Fortunately she doesn’t have to choose between being available or not available. “I’m not around this weekend. But you know where I live …” She shrugs, smiles. “I’ll lock yours in the back yard and you can swap it for mine whenever.”
“Oh. OK. That works.”
“Yup,” she says. “It should.”
She waits for him to grab her bike, get pedaling. After all, he’s in a rush. He hesitates, though. “Are you going to visit that friend of yours? That guy I met? Sam?”
Sam . He remembered his name. Why did he remember his name? What did Ade say? ‘When you think about someone a lot, you remember their name.’ Has Lucas been thinking about Sam — about Sam and her? Wishful thinking …
“I, uh, no.
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