Chapter 24 - Forget It All With Me.

Lance. 

"The wedding is set for August." 

Her words hit me like a ton of bricks. That is two months from now. I don't want to react because I am still in pain. My heart is still heavy from all that has happened. This is too much to handle and she has no idea. 

"Cool," I mutter the only word I can part with. 

"John said you came over last night, I didn't know you knew Brad." 

I frown "His name is Ford." 

I don't want to know him as Brad. Brad is John's son. Ford could be anyone I want him to be. I hate this, I hate this so much. I hate the fact that I can't be with him. At this point, I have to figure out how I plan to convince him that this will work. He seems to think, this is the end for us but I am optimistic. I am going to fight for him. I will make sure that I get him back. 

''Oh, I didn't know that, is that his middle name. Is that what you call your new brother?'' there is a gleam in her eyes. 

It is irritating the fuck out of me. 

''I don't know,'' I stand up from the table ''I'm done eating,'' I push the plate closer to her and walk out of the house. I don't wait for her reply. I need to get some air. 

I don't go to Jack's apartment, I just need some space to breathe. Think about what I am going to do next. How I am going to figure all this shit out. So I go to the only place I know I can get that—the roof of the building. The last time I went there, I got high and also met someone nice. Patrick, I remember the smile he kept on his face. He was so inviting, it felt good to actually be listened to. 

When I get to the roof, it is empty. I was kinda hoping he'd be there but it's not like he is always there. I look out at the dark sky and my heartaches. I don't understand all that is happening. I am so sure that I love him but I am still young, it is not like I am a hundred percent sure that our relationship will last forever. If I think about this from another perspective, I can say this is not a sure thing. Mom loves John, she wants to spend the rest of her life with the man. That is surer than my relationship with Ford. This is still new, it's still fresh and unsure. 

Yes, we met, we fell in love but what if it doesn't last. 

''We meet again,'' I turn around swiftly and notice him. The person I was hoping to see. He has a smile on his face, which makes his dimples highlight. Patrick walks over to me and stops just an inch away from me ''This has suddenly become our spot,'' he winks. 

I blush. 

''You okay?" he asks almost like he can sense that something is wrong, 

I remain quiet. I don't have the answer to that question. A lot is going on in my head. I am in mental pain and I don't know what to do about it. 

"Do you ever wish you could just disappear?" I ask instead. 

He looks away from me and to the sky "All the time," his voice is low. His answer is quick and there is a seriousness to his tone. He didn't even have to think about it. 

"When I have thoughts like that, I try to do stuff that makes me forget about it. What do you do for fun," he is watching me again? His eyes are a piercing. They suck me in a weird way. 

"Video games," that is the only thing I can think of. 

He chuckles "You know I knew you were a gamer the first time I saw you. What games do you play?" he points at me as he speaks. 

I smile "Fortnite, call of duty, a couple others." 

He nods "I have no idea what those are but right now if you play let's say call of duty, would It make you feel better?" 

I think about it for a second. I don't feel like playing video games. I don't even have the energy to play a game. Playing a game right now will remind me of him and at this moment, I want to forget about him. Just for a moment. 

"No." 

"You want to know what I do?" 

I nod as he moves even closer and slings his arm over my shoulder. I freeze because this is the first contact we've had. This really handsome man is touching me. 

"I could show you?" there is a gleam in his eyes, almost like he is excited to show me something that is special to him. 

"Okay." 

*************** 

We climb the stairs all the way to the last floor, we get to the underground parking lot of the building and he smiles mischievously "You are in for a treat," he exclaims excitedly. 

"What is it?" I ask him curiously. 

"Youll see," 

We keep walking until we get to the end of the garage and that's when I see what he is talking about. 

"A bike, really?" 

He nods and brings out a bung of keys from his pocket "It helps with my anxiety. I am sure you will feel the same when you get on it." 

I shake my head immediately "There is no way I am getting on that. It is a death trap." 

He chuckles "You can't be serious. You fight bad guys in your games all the time. Don't tell me you are scared of a motorcycle," he says like he almost can't believe it. 

I have never been on one before. This is the first time I am even seeing one so up-close "That is just make-believe," I graze my fingers on the body of the bike and he smiles warmly. 

"Come on dude, give it a shot. I will ride carefully." 

I sigh. 

At this point, I want to give this a shot. I want to be brave for once in my life. This should give me the courage I need to fight for Ford. If that even makes any sense. With a loud breath of defeat "Fine, let's do this but just so you know, if you end up killing me, I will hunt you for the rest of your life," 

He laughs so hard that I wonder if I was even funny in the first place "We die together," he crosses his fingers and I watch him as he gets on the bike. He puts on his helmet and reaches for another strapped under. With his helmet on, he passes it to me "Come on chicken bits." 

Chicken bits? 

That doesn't even make any sense but I end up smiling sheepishly, like some fool. I collect the helmet from him but somehow it is difficult to strap it in "How do you do this?" 

He gestures for me to come closer and I obey him. With a swift movement, he succeeds in getting it buckled "Now hop on for the ride of your life." 

His words give me chills, so simple but also exciting. Slowly I get on the bike and he starts the ignition. Once I hear the revving of the engine, my heart races. Patrick reaches for my hands and pulls them closer until they are around his waist "Just hold on tightly," he warns me. 

I squeeze the ends of his jacket tightly and he laughs "It'll be fine," he assures me and I believe him completely. This is someone I just met and it feels like I have known him all my life. There is just something about him that pulls me into his orbit. He invites me without even any uncertainty. 

"Here we go." I feel the motorcycle move and my heart races. 

I am excited to explore this journey with him. This is a first for me and there is an eagerness in me as he moves slowly. I know he is taking it easy on me but his pace quicken as the fresh air hits me and trickles the back of my neck. There is certain adrenalin as he goes even faster and I don't even know when I start to scream excitedly at the top of my lungs. The speed carries my cries and I feel like a weight is being lifted off my chest. 

For the first time today, I don't think about Ford. I don't think about all the feelings deep within. 

I forget all my pain.