“But,” I started to speak, but the words caught in my throat and I almost choked on them. I reached for him and he clasped my hand in his, holding me back while he tried to comfort me.
He shook his head and his hair—hair that I had ran my hands through a hundred times, moved over his left eye.
“I’ve tried. Believe me, I’ve tried,” he said, his words full of regret.
“But I love you!” I pleaded.
He winced at my words. “I love you too.”
“But not like that.” I bit out, and he shook his head no.
His shoulders slumped and he looked away from the hurt in my eyes and let go of my hand. “I gotta go.”
“So go!” I bit out angrily. The truth was though, was that I wasn’t angry at him, I was angry at myself. I had done this—this was entirely my fault. I had pushed him too fast, hoping that we could somehow make it work. But in turn, I had pushed him further away from me. I took a step back and lifted my chin defiantly. “I said go.”
He nodded his head and finally turned away from me. Each step he took was another dagger in my heart. I wanted to run to him and beg him, but what would be the point?
He’d decided.
He’d chosen.
And I had lost.
I watched him walk towards his bike and sit down on it with a heavy sigh, as if the weight of the world was on his shoulders. Then he dragged his helmet on his head and started the engine. We stared at each other, the throaty rumble of his bike the only thing filling the empty space between us. And when I couldn’t bare it any more, I turned and started to walk away.
I listened to his bike start to ride away and I turned back, my heart in my throat. He didn’t look back, not even once, and I knew I would probably never see him again.
I was suffocating on the sadness and grief I felt as I called for him, a part of me dying as the distance grew bigger between us.
“Please don’t leave me,” I sobbed.
But it was too late.
He had made his choice, and I would have to accept that. I wrapped my arms around my body and cried harder and I stared at the Devil’s Highwaymen logo on the back of his cut until he crested the hill at the top of my road, and then he was gone.
Ride or Die #2
Coming winter 2017
copyright Claire C. Riley / Cee Cee Riley 2017
Thank you
There are always so many people to thank in these things, and I always seem to forget someone, but I’ll do my best and try and keep this short and sweet.
For my husband, for always believing in me, especially when I don’t, and for teaching me how to love myself even when the self-doubt is gnawing away at me. I love you so so much. Much more than you could ever know.
Thank you to Abbi and Elizabeth for always pushing me, and encouraging me. I don’t know what I’d do without you. You always know what to say to pick me back up and to keep me moving forwards. I love and respect you bitches millions!
And to Kelli, who, without her help, this book wouldn’t be what it is. You gave me the insight into this world. And you gave me faith that this was going to be awesome. But mostly, you gave this book love when no one else had read it but me. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart. I feel blessed to call you a friend.
And thank you to this amazing book community—the bloggers, the readers, the authors and the organizers. We’re all a cog in this crazy little machine, and each and every one of us is needed to make it work.
Finally, I would be so pleased if you could find the time to write me a review for this book on either Goodreads, Amazon or your blog. They really do help so much.
Big love
Claire / Cee Cee xox
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Claire C. Riley is a USA Today and International bestselling author. She is also a bestselling British horror writer and an Amazon top 100 bestseller.
Claire writes on the darker side of fiction, dipping her pen into genres such as post-apocalyptic, dystopia, thrillers, and even some horror. She writes characters that are realistic, and kills them without mercy.
She also writes under the pen name of Cee Cee Riley, where she writes in the contemporary romance genre.
Claire lives in the United Kingdom with her husband and three daughters. She believes in cupcakes, rum and bathroom rap battles are the solution to most of life’s problems.
Claire is represented by Michelle Johnson from Inklings Literary Agency.
Author of:
Odium The Dead Saga Series
Odium Origins Series
Limerence (The Obsession Series)
Out of the Dark Series,
Twisted Magic,
Co-authored books with Madeline Sheehan:
Thicker than Blood,
Beneath Blood & Bone,
& Shut Up & Kiss me,
And by Cee Cee Riley:
The Ride or Die #1 A Devil’s Highwaymen MC novel
Contact Links:
www.clairecriley.com
www.facebook.com/ClaireCRileyAuthor
http://amzn.to/1GDpF3I
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