Wild AF

Chapter 1

Kayla

         I thought that coming here today would bring me closure. It turns out that it’s more of a challenge to show my face at Joseph Manning’s wedding than I had anticipated. 

I’ve spent years upon years in an unrequited love with him. Still, I figured that the very least I could do today is keep things professional. It’s his birthday today, in addition to his wedding, and I bought him a one-of-a-kind plane model that I knew he would love. It’s a shame that I’ll never make it inside the venue to give it to him.

         I’m genuinely happy for him that his life couldn’t be any more perfect. Diana is an amazing woman who compliments him in ways that I’m incapable of. They both invited me wholeheartedly but my heart is still too shattered to force smiles in front of them and their guests. 

It’s so hard for me to move on from the only man that I’ve ever loved, but it’s necessary. His life is progressing while I’m still miserably obsessing over him. It’s time for me to forget him once and for all.

I cowardly wait inside my car, hearing the excited cheers and pleasant outbursts from the parking lot. The back of my head knocks against the driver’s seat’s headrest as I attempt to pep talk myself into making a quick appearance. “I drove all the way here. I might as well just drop off their presents.” 

My head lowers to view the wrapped birthday present in my left hand and the wedding gift bag in my right. “Yes. I should at least pay my respects. It would be rude not to.”

         My heels clank against the pavement as I exit my gold Range Rover with the gifts in my arms. I take a brief walk in the opposite direction to clear my mind, knowing that fear is the only thing getting in my way of completing this task. 

The sound of a revving motorbike gets closer. Even though it’s still out of my vision, I already know who the driver is. His presence inspires some confidence because we are in the same boat with our romantic misfortunes. He may pretend that Diana getting married here today doesn’t phase him but we all know it couldn’t be further from the truth.

         Jayden Slade turns off the engine to his motorcycle, removes his helmet then dismounts the bike in his signature military boots. He stands there frozen, looking at the door of the building as if he is giving himself a similar pep talk. 

I start to walk in his direction, sensing that we could empower each other during this trying time. That’s when he abruptly places his helmet back on his head, gets on the bike and makes a drastic U-turn with the back tire creating a spiral of dark smoke.

         I pause where I’m standing, realizing that he hasn’t had enough time to notice me during that dangerous stunt that he’s pulled. He ends up having to swerve to avoid me, cursing loudly as he falls to the ground, rolling a few times past his dropped bike. “Shit! Do you have a fucking death wish or something?”

         The presents have dropped to the ground. My hands tremble as I watch Jayden push himself off the pavement and then raise his red and black motorcycle back up onto its wheels. I continue to stare at him in shock, unable to comprehend how my life just flashed before my eyes.

         When he removes his helmet to glare at me, his eyes share a similar emotion to mine. It’s evident that he is suffering, too, but he is choosing to mask it with his anger. “Kayla!” he exclaims as he takes a step closer to me. “Are you fucking crazy?”

         Yes. I was crazy for falling in love with a man who didn’t give me any indication that he felt the same. Maybe Jayden should have just put me out of my misery with his motorcycle. Then I wouldn’t have to experience these feelings of regret and abandonment. Is it possible that Jayden is feeling just as shitty as I am? Does he love Diana as deeply as I love Joseph?

         Jayden picks up the presents that I dropped and presses them against my chest. “You better start waking the fuck up before you get yourself killed.” He walks back to his bike, checking it thoroughly for dents from the fall.

         “You’re not going inside either, are you?” I observe him as he walks around his bike several times with his tough-guy demeanor.

         “What’s it to you?” He avoids my gaze, aggressively dusting off his black leather jacket and black jeans with his hands.

         “You thought about going inside but changed your mind. I did the same thing.” I shrug my shoulders as my left arm holds the presents against my chest.

         Jayden chuckles ironically, the large scar that covers his upper lip widening as he reveals a smirk. “We’re nothing alike. You’ve been nursing your feelings for Joseph for a long, long time. You wear your heart on your sleeve. It’s pathetic, actually.” 

He takes a step closer to me, sizing me up before he asks, “What exactly are you trying to accomplish here today?”

         I contemplate his question seriously, feeling angered that he is able to read me so easily. He’s right though. My fantasies and sentiments about Joseph were foolish and they end now. 

I lower my body to a squat, setting down the gifts in the middle of the parking lot. “And you think of yourself as victorious since you pretend not to be weak for Diana?”

         Jayden towers over me once I rise back onto my feet. Even though I’m wearing four inch heels, he still manages to make me feel like I’m a foot shorter than him. 

While most people fear him based on his rough exterior, I know a bit more about him than most people. At least enough to draw a more informed conclusion, since we’re in the same circles. He’s not dangerous, just…angry. “Watch your mouth,” he warns as his intense brown eyes glare down at me.

         I exhale sharply, looking away with disappointment. “Insulting each other isn’t helping either of us.” My eyes shift behind him to his motorcycle and a random idea comes into my mind. “Do you want some company?”

         He is taken aback by my request then hands me his helmet from the seat of his motorcycle. “You’re not terrified of these things?”

“Not one bit.” I place the helmet over my head, grinning with anticipation as I close the transparent screen over my eyes.