Chapter Ten
“So, why thehell did you go after Chet?” Bret shifted his eyes to Autumn, then back to the road.
“I didn’t want the tension between the two of you. I thought if I could talk to—”
“Don’t try and fix what’s been broken for a long time. Chet’s an arrogant asshole. He thinks that he’s something because he rides a motorcycle and belongs to that outlaw gang.”
“He’s in the Night Rebels, right?”
“Yeah—loser all the way.” Bret reached over and grasped her hand. “Don’t waste any more time thinking about him. He rarely shows up at family functions, so you probably won’t see him anymore. I doubt if he’ll show up to the wedding. I told my mom that I don’t want her pushing him—I’d rather he didn’t come.”
Autumn turned her head and stared out the window. She still couldn’t believe that Chains and Bret were brothers. What were the odds that he was really Chet?Astronomical for sure.
“Did your parents have a good time?”
“What?” Autumn glanced at him sideways.
“You seem distracted, sweetie. I was asking if your mom and dad enjoyed today.”
“Oh… yeah, they had a nice time. They loved meeting all your extended family. I still can’t believe my dad talked my mom into flying down here.” Autumn chuckled. “He told me that she was clutching his wrist so hard during the flight, he thought she was going to break it.”
“I don’t understand people who are afraid to fly. Statistics show that more people die in car crashes than airplanes, yet I bet your mom doesn’t think twice about driving.”
Autumn shrugged and looked out the window again. “Phobias have no explanation, but they’re real fears and we have to respect that.”
“I’m just saying, it’s kind of ridiculous, you know?”
A motorcycle’s low rumble made her hold her breath as they approached a stoplight. She looked over, and for a brief second, disappointment pricked her gut when the rider wasn’t Chains. Bret kept going on about phobias, his voice buzzing like a gnat in her ear. Autumn tuned him out and kept staring at the biker next to them. The man turned toward her, smiled, then revved the engine.
“Asshole!” Bret screamed.
The light turned green and the rider sped away.
“Does he think that makes him cool?” Bret said. “I hate jerks like that.”
“Big boys with loud toys.” Autumn chuckled. “I bet it’s fun riding on something so powerful. I’m pretty sure it was a Harley-Davidson.”
Bret looked over at her. “When did you become a motorcycle aficionado?”
“I’ve always admired them. Living in a small town, I notice them more.”
“What’s there to admire? My lowlife brother rides a Harley, and he went out of his way to make sure it’s louder than hell. I should turn him in. There are laws now about noise levels on motorcycles. Those asshole bikers don’t give a shit about anyone but themselves.”
Autumn’s stomach clenched and she exhaled a long breath. “I know your brother. He brought his dog, Thor, into the clinic and I treated him.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t know you two were related. He didn’t give a last name and simply said his first name was Chains.”
“Figures—what a moron.”
“I thought he was a nice man, and the way he loves Thor is amazing.”
His lips flattened into a grim line. “I knew something was off when you two met. Do you want to tell me what’s going on?”
Her composure faltered. “Nothing,” she mumbled.
“Why didn’t you say something when you saw him at the house? And what was therealreason you chased after him?” Bret fixed her with a steely gaze.