Ride With Me (Paige and Jace) novel Chapter 182

CHAPTER 108-2

“Eat.” She said as I looked at the plate.

“What is it?” I asked.

“Food.” She said.

“I gathered that.” I said and she smiled.

“Then eat it.” She said so I took a bite.

“Good.” I said.

“Thank you.” She said as she sat beside me for a few minutes.

“You boys behaving?” She asked and Mason looked offended.

“Absolutely.” Mason said and Paige laughed.

“That’s not convincing.” She said and Derek pointed at him.

“He accused me of cheating.” Derek said.

“You probably were.” She said and Derek stared at her.

“Thank you.” Derek said and she smiled.

“You’re welcome.” She said.

Then she returned to the kitchen and I watched her leave which Mason noticed.

“You really can’t stop staring at her.” Mason said as I looked back at him.

“Shut up.” I said and he grinned.

“You’ve changed.” He said but I shook my head.

“I haven’t.” I said.

“You have.” He said and Derek nodded.

“Definitely.” Derek said and I looked at both of them.

“What are you talking about?” I asked as Mason leaned forward.

“You smile more.” Mason said but I said nothing.

“You laugh more.” He said and I shrugged.

“You actually leave the clubhouse voluntarily.” He added and Derek laughed.

“That’s true.” Derek said as Mason pointed at me.

“And you listen.” Mason said.

25 Paints

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CHAPTER 10

“I’ve always listened.” I said.

“No.” He said laughing.

“You used to hear people while thinking about how to tell them they were wrong.” He added but I shook my head.

“That’s not true.” I said and Derek smiled

“It is.” Derek said so I looked down at my cards.

Maybe they were right. Paige had changed things. Not because she had tried to change me. She hadn’t. She had simply walked into my life and refused to let me remain the man I had been.

She had challenged me. She had trusted me. She had made me want more than survival. She had made the clubhouse feel like a home and I looked toward the kitchen.

“I love her.” I said and the room became quiet as Mason smiled.

“We know.” Mason said and I looked at him.

“What?” I asked.

“You don’t have to say it.” He said and Derek nodded.

“It’s written all over your face.” Derek said and I laughed.

“You’re both annoying.” I said and Mason grinned.

“Still true.” Mason said as I leaned back.

“Paige changed my life.” I said and Mason raised his glass.

“To Paige.” He said and I lifted mine.

“To Paige.” I said and Derek joined in.

“To Paige.” Derek said.

We drank, and the game continued.

For the next hour, the room was filled with laughter and Derek finally won a hand, and he celebrated like he’d just won a championship.

“Finally!” Derek yelled and Mason laughed.

“Don’t get excited.” Mason said.

“I won.” Derek said.

“Once.” Mason said.

“Still counts.” Derek said pointing at him.

“You’ve got nothing to say. He’s going to talk about this for a week.” Mason said looking at me.

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He should. I laughed.

Eventually, the women finished dinner, and Paige returned to the room.

She walked behind me and rested her hands on my shoulders.

“How’s the game?” She asked.

“Derek finally won.” I said and she smiled.

“Congratulations.” I said and Derek looked offended.

“Thank you.” He said and Paige leaned toward me.

“You look happy.” She said.

“I am.” I said and she kissed my cheek.

“Good.” She said and I reached up and took her hand.

“How was dinner?” I asked.

“Good.” She said.

“You eat?” I asked and she smiled.

“Yes.” She said.

“Good.” I said as she squeezed my shoulder.

“I’ll be upstairs later.” She said.

“I’ll come up soon.” I said and she walked away.

I watched her disappear down the hallway and Mason shook his head.

“You’ve definitely changed.” Mason said and I smiled.

“Maybe.” I said.

The evening continued peacefully until Derek’s phone buzzed.

He glanced at it without much interest. Then his expression changed and he picked it up again.

“What is it?” Mason asked but Derek didn’t answer.

He stared at the screen and I immediately sat forward.

“Derek.” I said so he looked at me.

“It’s a security alert.” Derek said and the room became quiet.

“What kind?” I asked.

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