Free Learning to Live by R.D. Cole

glance up and realize
it’s Benji. Feeling my face turn pink from embarrassment, I rush out an
apology. “I’m so sorry. I feel so stupid. UGH! I really need to pay
more attention.” I continue to ramble on as he continues holding my
shoulders. Then I feel a set of eyes burning into my back and know
whose they are. It’s confirmed when I hear his deep voice behind me.
“Tru? Are you okay?” Jax asks, and I can tell he’s angry. He must
think Benji’s trying to hurt me or something.
I turn around, forcing a smile, thankful Benji let go of my arms.
“Yeah, Jax, I’m good. Just leaving work and Benji here...” I nod
toward Benji “...is about to give me a lift back to the dorm.” I can’t
hold his stare for long because my emotions will show. I grab Benji’s
hand to head out, but we don’t get far before Jax is grabbing my
shoulder. His touch is so different from others I’ve felt, but I won’t
dwell on that right now.
“I can give you a lift if you want. I don’t mind,” he says, and it
almost sounds like he’s pleading.
I’m about give in because I don’t want to inconvenience Benji, but
then Ashton comes up and once again wraps her arms around Jax.
“There you are, baby. I was looking for you.” She eyes me up and
down while Jaxon just stands there not saying anything. When I glance
back to him, his eyes are staring me down. Then I look back toward
Benji. I feel really uncomfortable in this situation, so it’s obviously
time to go.
Benji must feel the tension too because he wraps his arm around
my waist and leads me out the back door. I can feel Jax’s stare the
whole time until the door finally shuts behind us.
We’re silent for a minute until Benji finally speaks.“Man, that was
kind of awkward, huh?” I glance toward Benji, who’s getting on a
black and chrome motorcycle. He passes me a helmet.
It takes me a minute to answer because I was holding my breath.
When I can finally nod my head, I say, “Yeah. I don’t know what that
was about, but I’m too tired to think about it. I really don’t care.” I
laugh, trying to act normal, and take the helmet. “You know I have
absolutely no experience with motorcycles. Besides, I didn’t mean you
had to take me back. I just didn’t want Jax to take me. His girlfriend
gets angry easily. I don’t think she’d appreciate him leaving to take me
somewhere.” I try to give him the helmet back, but he won’t take it.
“Seriously, I can call Jazz again for her to come.”
“No, I don’t mind. I actually owe you for helping us today. So
don’t argue because I’m taking you.” He takes off his glasses and puts
them in a compartment on the front of the bike.
I start freaking out. “Can you even see without your glasses? I’m
scared to ride this machine as it is, so I definitely don’t need a blind
man driving it to boot.” Is he crazy?
He smiles a cocky smile and says, “Actually, the glasses are fake.
I just wear them because the chicks love it.” I look at him like he’s
insane. “ Seriously. You saw how your friend was eye fucking me
earlier. It’s like it has a special tit radar and they instantly get perky
when I put them on.” He wags his eyebrows and licks his lips.
I burst out laughing because he’s serious about this belief of his.
“Well, I still don’t want to ride this….this thing.” I wave my hand to
encompass the bike he’s straddling.
“Hold up,” he says while laughing, and I notice his tongue is
pierced.“This is not a THING , as you so rudely put it. This is my 88’
Harley FXRS, and her name’s Foxy.”
“Foxy? Really?” I have to take a minute to catch my breath. I
haven’t laughed this much in forever it seems.
“Really. I’ve had her for a year and fixed her up myself. She’s my
pride and joy and deserves your respect since she’ll be escorting you
back home.” He starts her right up, and I have no choice but to hop on
back.
I yell over the rumble of the bike. “Any words of