The Biker Alpha Who Became My Second Chance Mate Chapter 58

I opened my mouth to say no, to tell him that I'd enjoyed every single moment of last night, that it was never a mistake to me and that we should never pretend it didn't happen.

But the words wouldn't come. Something else came out instead, something that felt like swallowing my own wee.

"Yes, that's how I feel," I said, lowering my face so he couldn't see the lie written all over it.

When I forced myself to lift my gaze and lock eyes with him, I made sure my expression was perfectly controlled. "I see you only as a brother and as a friend."

The words came out steady and clear, accompanied by what I hoped looked like a genuine smile. Inside, I was screaming. Inside, I was dying a little with each syllable that came out of my mouth.

Tristan searched my face for any sign that I was lying, but I'd gotten good at hiding my true feelings over the years.

Survival with Daxon had required me to become an expert at showing people what they wanted to see instead of what I actually felt.

"Alright. If that's how you feel," he said finally, reaching for the plate in my outstretched hands.

His fingers brushed mine as he took it, and I had to fight not to shiver at the contact. Everything about him affected me, even the smallest touch.

I picked up my own plate and we moved to the dining room in silence. The quiet stretched between us, filled with all the things we weren't saying to each other.

This was exactly what I'd been trying to prevent, but somehow I'd made it worse. The awkwardness was so thick you couldn't cut it with a knife.

"When are you racing again?" I asked, desperate to fill the silence with something, anything.

"Was supposed to be tonight, but I'm not sure that's possible anymore," he replied, not looking up from his barely touched food.

"Why not?"

He didn't answer with words, but the way he looked at me said everything. He was planning to stay home because of me, because he thought I needed watching after last night.

"You don't have to stop doing what you love for me," I said quickly. "I can take care of myself."

"I love... spending time with you too," he said, and something in his tone made my chest tight.

"I know you do. Let's do this then - we can go visit Orion and Sarah, and then I'll watch you race." I tried to sound enthusiastic, like this was just a fun sibling activity.

"You want to watch me race?" He looked genuinely surprised.

"Yes, of course. I love watching my brother race."

"Have you ever seen Orion race?" he asked, and something about the question confused me.

"No, I haven't. But I've seen you."

"Right. Me." His voice was flat, emotionless.

I nodded, raising an eyebrow at his strange tone. What did he mean by that? Wasn't he my brother anymore? Hadn't he spent years reminding me that we were family whenever I got too close?

He stood up abruptly, his food barely half-eaten.

"Where are you going?"

"I'm done eating."

I looked at his plate in shock. "But you haven't eaten anything yet and that's your best food."

"I lost my appetite."

I sat there staring as he walked to the kitchen, dumped his food in the trash, washed his plate with sharp, angry movements, and headed for the stairs.

He'd never rejected his food especially not this meal, even when he was angry. That was the only to get Tristan to forgive you without words, prepare one of his favorite meal.

"I'll be in my room if you need me," he called over his shoulder, not bothering to look back.

I sat alone at the dining table, completely stunned. Was Tristan actually sulking? A grown man, sulking like a teenager who'd been told he couldn't go to a party?

My own food sat untouched in front of me, I'd lost my appetite too.

After sitting there for what felt like forever, I finally gave up and went to the kitchen. Tristan's plate was already clean and put away. Even angry, he couldn't help but clean up after himself.

I went to my room and decided to reach out to someone I hadn't spoken to in a long time. I had no idea if his number still worked, but I dialed it from memory anyway.

Yes, I had it memorized. We used to be really close before everything went wrong, before I had to cut everyone out of my life to keep Daxon happy.

He picked up after the second ring but didn't say anything. I knew he was there - he always had this way of figuring out who was calling before he answered.

"Hello?" Silence stretched between us like a wound that had never properly healed.

"Drake?" Still nothing. I checked my phone to make sure the call was still connected. It was.

"I know you're angry and probably hate me right now, but I want you to know I'm really sorry. I'll hang up now, but I'm going to call you tomorrow and hope maybe you'll want to talk to me then."

I waited, praying he'd say something, anything. Even if it was just to tell me to never call again.

"Bye. I love you," I whispered before ending the call.

The silence in my room felt deafening after that. I was feeling so down, so completely alone, that I wanted to crawl under my covers and never come out.

But I'd promised to visit Orion and Sarah, and I needed to keep that promise. I needed to see family who didn't make everything so complicated just by existing.

I went back to my bathroom and freshened up again, choosing simple clothes - jeans, a plain top, comfortable shoes. I grabbed my small purse and headed for Tristan's room to see if he was ready.

I didn't knock before opening his door. Old habits die hard, and we'd been living together long enough that knocking had started to feel unnecessary. And I also had to keep the siblingship going.

The moment I stepped inside, my steps slowed. Tristan was standing in the middle of his room with just a towel around his waist, using another towel to dry his hair.

Water droplets still clung to his chest and shoulders, catching the afternoon light streaming through his windows.

When he turned and our eyes met, I couldn't pull my gaze away from his body. Every muscle was perfectly defined, his skin golden and smooth except for a few small scars that only made him more beautiful.

Tristan was effortlessly gorgeous. Why did fate have to give me someone so perfect and then make him completely off-limits?

I took a deep breath and felt heat pooling low in my belly, making me shift uncomfortably.

"I was just checking to see if you're ready to go," I managed, my voice coming out breathy and strange. "Are you... what are you doing?"

I took a step backward because Tristan was moving toward me with slow, deliberate steps. His eyes never left mine, and when they finally did, they dropped to my lips in a way that made me suck in a sharp breath.

Was he going to kiss me? God, I hoped so.