Betting on Love

by Alyssa Linn Palmer

  “And just your luck, this weekend is supposed to be nice,” he observed. “You can go now. I’ll have Dana schedule you for another appointment in a couple of weeks.”

  Alex slid off the bed and onto her feet, bending to put her sneaker back on. “No problem.”

  “And watch yourself at work. Don’t overwork the joint.”

  “I’ll take it easy,” she said, doing up her laces. “Derek won’t like it, but he’ll deal.” She straightened and swept her hair from her eyes.

  “I’ll see you, then.” The doctor left, and Alex scooped up her jacket from the visitor’s chair and followed.

  Once she got home, after putting gas in Louise’s car, she pulled up beside her Ninja, its green panels gleaming in the noonday sun. A short ride. Her heart beat faster. She’d make sure it was in proper shape, then she’d take it out tomorrow. She got out of the car and fetched her tools from the storage room.

  The bike sat out behind the small garage, which her landlady had rented to someone else, though Alex wished she hadn’t. It would have been a perfect workshop, but she’d have to make do with the parking pad. She set down her tool kit beside the bike, then went back for her motorcycle stand. Sometimes she wished the Ninja had a center stand, but she’d deal with it. She put the bike up on the stand and started by checking the bolts. The bike hadn’t been driven in weeks. Though a mechanic had fixed it up after the accident and she knew it was unlikely that anything had loosened, still she went through the routine. When she rose from kneeling on the concrete, her ankle ached, and she half hobbled to sit on the low fence that surrounded the backyard.

  Slowly, Alex flexed her ankle, and the pain subsided. She returned to the bike, checked the oil, then pulled out the brush she used to clean the chain. It was all old hat to her now, after so many years of riding. When she’d finished all her tinkering, she put her tools away, but when she came back to the bike, she realized there was no way she could get it off its stand by herself. She had done it before, but her ankle throbbed, she was tired, and the bike was heavy.

  “Dammit.”

  If only Elly were here.

  Alex sank heavily onto the fence. She thought about calling but left her phone in her pocket. She’d make do.

  The minutes stretched out, and still she sat there, thinking about Elly when she really should have been doing anything but. She couldn’t imagine being without her bike, but yet, being without Elly, without the girl she’d come to love—she flinched at that thought, but accepted it—had sucked all the color and happiness out of her life.

  “Need a hand?” The neighbor from next door, Ryan, came out his back gate, hefting a bag of trash into the black bin.

  Alex rose. “Yeah, if you could. I can’t get the bike back down on my own.”

  “How’s the leg?” He came over, glancing down at Alex’s sneaker-clad foot before looking at the bike.

  “Sore, but healed.” She walked over to the bike and gestured to the stand. “If you can just ease that up, so the back tire lowers, I’ll hold the bike steady.” In a few moments, the bike was back where it should be.

  “That was easy,” he said.

  “Easy with two,” she replied. “Thanks.”

  “No worries.” He headed back inside, giving her a wave.

  Alex sat astride the bike, her left hand squeezing the clutch in. She pressed the starter, letting the engine rumble to life. It sounded perfect, music to her ears, but still colorless. She wanted Elly on the back, wanted to be zipping down the highway, feeling Elly’s knees squeezing her hips, knowing that she was there, behind her.

  *

  Saturday morning dawned, bright and sunny, the temperature rising as the morning wore on. Alex ate and downed two cups of coffee, then pulled on her leathers and her boots—being careful not to jar her ankle as she did up the side straps—and a brand-new helmet. The bike waited for her, and she started it, letting it warm up for a few minutes before she pulled into the street.

  She did a loop of the streets around her house, feeling her way back to familiarity with the bike, testing her ankle on the foot brake. She felt a slight twinge, but otherwise her body felt fine. She headed out onto the road. She didn’t have a destination in mind, but when she paused at the intersection that would take her south or north, she went south. She’d just swing by Elly’s apartment, show her that she was doing just fine.

  Or at least, that was what she told herself.

  When she reached Elly’s, she pulled into a spot in front of the apartment building and sat idling.

  She should go up, buzz Elly. She could say hello.

  But then what? Elly probably didn’t even want to see her, not after how she’d been, after what she’d said. Will had called her stubborn, accused her of self-pity. She wasn’t that sort of woman.

  Alex turned off the engine and dismounted.

  Chapter Twenty-three

  Elly heard the rumble of a motorcycle as she sat on her sofa, drinking a cup of tea and watching the news on her laptop. The rumble grew louder, closer, but it didn’t continue on as she’d expected. She finished her tea and rose, walking slowly to the window to peer out.

  A street bike with green panels sat in front of the building, and though the rider’s features were obscured by the helmet, she knew it was Alex. Hard to mistake that bike, that poise, for anyone else.

  She hesitated, debating whether or not to go down to the street to say hello. It would be polite, at least. She snorted. Polite. She was deceiving herself, and she knew it, though she didn’t want to admit it. It had been a long summer without Alex, without their evenings together, without the love and camaraderie she’d begun to get used to. She turned and went into the kitchen, rinsing her cup with a bit of water.

  The rumble ceased, and her heart sank.

  She should have gone out there, should have said something.

  Elly stared into the empty cup, her lips pressed together.

  She heard the outside door open, footsteps on the stairs, and her breath caught before she could stop herself. It couldn’t be Alex. She didn’t have a key.

  There was a knock at the door.

  The cup slipped from her hand and Elly winced as it cracked against the old cast-iron enameled sink. But that didn’t matter. She hurried to the door, turning the deadbolt and pulling it open.

  It was Alex.

  She stood there awkwardly, looking almost sheepish, a frosted-black helmet in one hand, her dark hair mussed, her black-and-white jacket open at the front to reveal a white V-neck tee. She looked just like she had the first time they’d met, on the porch steps out at the farm. Only the rain was missing.

  Elly didn’t know what to say.

  “Hey,” Alex said, her voice husky, quiet. She didn’t seem quite herself, quite as energetic and cheerful as she usually did. “Can I come in?”

  Elly stepped back. “Yeah,” she said, her voice cracking.

  Alex stepped past her, placing her helmet on the Formica table from the farm, cluttered as it was with Elly’s designs.

  “That table looks familiar,” Alex said as she dragged off her coat and hung it over a chair, the scent of leather reaching Elly’s nose. She breathed it in deep before she could stop herself.

  “It’s from the farm,” she replied as Alex bent to take off her motorcycle boots. “I sold it.”

  Alex straightened, pushing her boots to the side with a foot. “You did?” She seemed stunned. “I thought you’d never sell.”

  Elly shrugged. “I had an offer, after Hamilton Farms pulled out,” she said. “I decided to take it. They’re a nice family, the people who bought it. The perfect sort for the place.” It hurt to say it, but it was the truth.

  “And you’re still in this rental?”

  “For now. I’m looking at places. I have the money from the sale, though I’m finding it’s not going as far as I’d hoped.” Elly paused. Why was Alex here? Small talk wasn’t like her.

  “Cool.” Alex ran a hand over her hair, smoothing
out some of the snarls. “My ankle’s better,” she said offhand, walking into the living room. “Sore still, but on the mend.”

  “And you’re back on the bike, I see.” Elly followed her, taking the armchair as Alex settled onto the sofa.

  “Yeah, for now,” Alex said. She clasped her hands in front of her, then glanced up. “But I’ve been thinking.” Elly saw her swallow, saw the deep breath. “I’ve had a lot of time to think, maybe too much of it, but I needed it.” She let out the breath. “I had time to see sense. And Will helped with that. I’ve missed you, El.”

  Elly felt the tears prick behind her eyes, and suddenly she too had to take a deep breath. “I’ve missed you too,” she admitted.

  “I shouldn’t have said what I did, that day,” Alex said. “But it scared me, you being so freaked out, and in love. And here I was, just me. I’ve never really had that with anyone.”

  “We were getting there. Charity told me that you never let any other girl ride with you, and that night when I stayed over…I wondered if you were starting to get more serious.”

  Alex shifted a bit. “I get the impression everyone knew except me.”

  “Well, probably not everyone. But even Eric figured it out.”

  Alex let out a laugh. “He’s not entirely blind. Now if only he and Charity could manage something.”

  “That might happen. Hard to say at this point.” Elly chuckled. “But no changing the subject.” She reached out and squeezed Alex’s clasped hands. “I wanted to say something more that night when you invited me to stay, but I didn’t because I wasn’t sure if you’d change your mind. And I didn’t want to push you then.”

  Alex shook her head ruefully. “You pushed me when you said no sleeping together. Probably the most sensible thing anyone’s ever said to me.”

  “Sensible?” Elly knew she hadn’t been thinking about being sensible when she’d brought it up. Frustrated, tired of being a friend-with-benefits, but sensible…not really.

  “You didn’t want me just for how we are in bed together,” Alex replied. “No one’s done that.”

  “Not even Will?” Elly was hesitant to ask, but she had to.

  “Will and I have a long history,” Alex said, “and he knows me well, and I know him well. That was different altogether. If you’re worried about him making a fuss, don’t be. He’s the one who pushed me to see sense.”

  “I should buy him a drink, then.” Relief swept through her. She’d imagined being in competition with Will and knew she hadn’t been likely to win that one.

  “He’d like that.” Alex took Elly’s hand between her own. “Should we make it official, now that we’ve talked it over? You and I are off the market?”

  Elly gulped and a shiver ran through her. “Are you sure?”

  “I’m sure. I was blind not to be, before.” Alex looked hopeful.

  “I don’t know.” She believed Alex, but what if it didn’t last? She acknowledged the thought, then quashed it. She’d give it her all.

  Alex stood and knelt beside Elly’s chair. She took Elly’s hand in her own once more, giving it a gentle squeeze, leaning close. Elly faced her, reaching out to cup the back of Alex’s neck. “I love you, El. We’ll take it a day at a time,” Alex said agreeably. “Come with me.”

  “Where?”

  Alex rose and tugged on Elly’s hand, and Elly stood. “It’s a beautiful day, and I have a spare helmet in my saddlebag.”

  “All right. But you’ll drive a bit slower for me, right?” Elly asked, remembering when Alex had pushed the bike to the max, shooting by the other vehicles on the highway like they’d been standing still.

  “Not a kilometer over the limit, unless you ask me to,” Alex replied. She headed for the door, pulling Elly along with her. “Grab your jacket, and let’s go. The day’s not getting any longer.”

  “Where are we going?” Elly asked as she pulled on her jacket, the leather soft under her fingers. Her heart pounded in her chest, and she could hardly believe this was happening.

  “I was thinking Lake Minnewanka. I’ll buy you an ice cream.”

  “You’re on.”

  *

  Alex drove along the Bow Valley Parkway, Elly perched behind her on the pillion seat. She could feel Elly’s knees tight around her hips, and she knew if she looked back, Elly would be clutching the handles of the seat tight. Everything was right in the world.

  In Canmore, she pulled into the parking lot of a gas station just off the parkway and came to a stop. She pushed up her visor and turned.

  “All right, still?” she asked.

  Elly fumbled a bit with her visor, then pushed it up. Her cheeks were pink. “All right.” She seemed about to say something else, then stopped.

  “What is it?” Alex asked. “We can go back if you want.”

  “No, let’s keep on,” Elly said. “I’m enjoying this.”

  “Now that’s what I love to hear.” Alex grinned. “It’s going to get a bit faster when we hit the Trans-Canada, but that won’t be for too long.”

  Elly nodded.

  “And you can loosen your grip,” Alex said. “I promise you, we won’t tip over. You’re going to be stiff and sore tomorrow.” She saw Elly shift on the seat and flex her fingers around the handlebars. “Ready?”

  “Ready.” Elly pushed her visor back down, the sun glinting on the hard plastic. Alex turned her attention back to the bike. It purred under them, ready to go. She shifted into gear and eased the clutch out. Elly’s knees loosened around her hips and she smiled to herself. She’d make a biker out of Elly yet.

  At the turnoff to Lake Minnewanka, Alex slowed, and they cruised along the climbing road, shadowed by the pine trees. Alex cracked open her visor and took a deep breath. There was nothing like mountain air. She felt Elly shift again behind her and knew she must be starting to get achy. Too long on a bike when you weren’t used to it would do that. Alex felt a bit of soreness herself and knew it was time for a break.

  They came up and around the top of the hill, starting the downward trip to the snack shack. Ice cream would be perfect today. They passed the lookout area, where two cars were parked, enjoying the view, and continued down the hill and pulled into a parking spot beside a black SUV. She killed the engine.

  “Ice cream’s on me,” Elly said as she slid off the bike, landing on shaky feet.

  “It’s on me,” Alex said. “I brought you.”

  “You might have, but you drove, so I buy. That’s the rule.” Elly pulled off her helmet and stuck her tongue out at Alex.

  Alex spread her hands wide and grinned. “Who am I to argue?” She followed Elly up the few steps to the snack shack. Soon, they had their ice cream, and they strolled down to the small beach, finding a weatherworn log to sit on.

  “This is just about perfect,” Elly said, turning her face toward the sun.

  “Just about?”

  “I can think of something that would make it better,” Elly replied. She glanced at Alex, a smile hovering on her lips.

  “Me too.” Alex leaned forward, and they kissed.

  They broke apart reluctantly when they heard a couple of kids shouting as they ran down the beach toward the water.

  “That’s a start,” Alex said, her voice low, clearing her throat as she choked up. She was here, Elly was here with her, and she could hardly believe it.

  Elly laughed, leaning against her. “The beach is too crowded for more.”

  “And we’d get sand everywhere,” Alex agreed. “Not fun.” She paused, debating her next words. “But there are a few fun things we could do with what’s left of the summer.”

  Elly blushed.

  “Those,” Alex replied, “but more than that. Have you ever considered riding a scooter? It only goes seventy, max, and you could start slow.” She looked hopefully at Elly, watching her reaction.

  To her surprise, Elly didn’t immediately disagree.

  “It’s slow?”

  “Just residential roads. It’s how I started.
” Alex hooked an arm over Elly’s shoulders. “But no pressure, El. Honestly.”

  “I don’t know,” Elly said. She pursed her lips, looking out to the water and the small waves that lapped against the shore. “I never pictured myself riding. Would you teach me?”

  “I would.”

  Elly tilted her head up, meeting Alex’s gaze. Her cheeks were still pink. “I’ll give it a try. But no laughing if I drop the scooter.”

  “I know you can do it,” Alex said. “But if you don’t like it, I don’t mind having a passenger on my bike. I like having your legs around my waist, after all.”

  “And other places!” Elly laughed, and it was the best sound Alex had ever heard.

  About the Author

  Alyssa Linn Palmer is a Canadian writer and freelance editor. She splits her time between a full-time day job and her part-time loves, writing and editing. She is a member of the RWA, the Calgary RWA, and RRW (Rainbow Romance Writers). She has a passion for Paris and all things French, which is reflected in her writing. When she’s not writing lesbian romance, she’s creating the dark, morally flawed characters of the Le Chat Rouge series and indulging in her addiction to classic pulp fiction.

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