Rebound Biker by Bijou Hunter Read Free Book Online Page B

return to Winston. "After Sandy left, I thought about selling the house and moving somewhere trendier. I wanted to
embrace being single. I also considered remodeling the house and staying there.
Now with Winston, I find myself imagining us buying a home together. How he'd
want something closer to his family. We've only been dating for a few weeks and
I'm already planning our retirement. It's ridiculous."
    "No,
you're doing the opposite than with Sandy. You're feeling things and adjusting
your life to fit those feelings. With Sandy, he fit the picture of your life so
you adjusted your feelings for him to fit the plan. This thing with Winston is
organic and you've always relied on the predictable."
    "You
sound like a shrink."
    "I've
known you since we were eleven and heard you break down people's fears and
hopes a million times. You just aren't great at figuring out your own
stuff."
    "What
if I give Winston everything I have and it's not real or permanent for
him?"
    "Then
you get hurt and deal with those feelings. Staying safe isn't possible. Not
unless you want another Sandy."
    "No.
I don't think I could tolerate someone like him after being with Winston. He's
ruined me."
    Zulma
gives me a knowing grin. "He's basically shacked up with you at this
point. I like that take charge attitude. Why waste time? You're not getting any
younger."
    "No,
she's really not," Bethany says, pushing up behind me. "Sorry, I'm
late. I had to wait until the Dentist finished with a patient so I could get
his grocery list."
    "Shopping
for your man," Zulma mutters, clicking her tongue. "Six months and no
ring though."
    Bethany opens her mouth, remembers the children are present, and only smiles. "You
always get mouthy when you have your adorable little shields nearby."
    "I'm
no fool."
    Nudging
my sister out of the way, I ignore her. "Last night, Winston took me to a
bar where his club hangs out."
    "Did
I ever tell you that Julio and I roleplay using the characters from Sons of
Anarchy ?"
    Bethany opens her mouth again to say something rude then remembers the children.
    "Won't
you think about the children?" I tease her.
    "So
what happened at the bar?" Zulma asks while Bethany sulks.
    "Nothing
much. They were nice. Not at all what I expected. After about an hour, we
walked a block to a playground and shot hoops with a few of his friends. I
haven't done that since high school."
    "Hold
onto him," Bethany says, grabbing me. "You're smiling a lot and doing
fun stuff and waking from your Sandy induced coma. Hold onto Winston and be
happy."
    "Okay.
I hadn't been sure, but since you ordered me to do something, I guess I have no
choice."
    "Catty,
I like that."
    Zulma
sighs. "I hope you two stop messing around and get settled down for real.
I have big plans for once you have families. I've already decided on the
vacations we'll take. Girls night out will be more fun too when it's not just
another night out."
    "Yes,
ma'am."
    Zulma
grins. "I hate to get tough with you two, but I've been waiting too long.
You wasted all those years with Sandy," she says to me then looks at Bethany. "And you wasted all those years with every random guy you could find."
    "Fair
enough," Bethany mutters.
    "Either
you settle on the men you're with or ditch them. You're too old to play
anymore."
    "And
if we don't follow your sage advice?" Bethany challenges.
    "I'll
have to find new friends with families. I have needs, you know?"
    I
share Zulma's smile while Bethany grabs a jar of pickles for the Dentist. As we
finish shopping, I decide to shake off my pathological need to plan every damn
aspect of my life. No more micromanaging. With Winston, I'll just feel.

Chapter Ten
    Winston
    Afternoon
Delight
    Wearing
a flowered black and pink skirt with a pink blouse and black flats, Meredith is
overdressed for a work site. Stepping over the siding, Meredith smiles at me. I
ignore the guys checking her out, figuring I'll scare them later. For now, I
kiss her cheek.
    "Oh,
can't you kiss me in front