“He’s going to be here any minute.”
“Is the leather-clad sculpted mound of muscle on the bike who you’re going out with tonight?”
I paused. “What did you just say?”
She sighed. “Okay, I’m assuming it is. Now, for my next question. Is this the best idea?”
I rolled my eyes. “I have to leave.”
She gripped my wrist. “Hey, cut me some slack. I’m just now figuring out about this and I’m trying to make sure my best friend’s okay.”
“I’m going to be fine. Thanks for your help.”
She spun me around. “He’s not a raging criminal or shit like that, is he?”
I sighed. “He’s not what you think he is, Hannah. And I have to go. We can talk about this later. But right now, I need some shoes and I need to get downstairs.”
“Oh! I have the perfect pair. Here. You can borrow mine.”
She rushed over to her closet and I spun around, reached for the floral-printed scarf my father got me for my birthday last year, and tied it around my neck. A pop of pattern to the muted tones of the white and the black. Hannah turned around with heeled boots in her hands and sighed. She smiled at the scarf before she tossed the boots to me, and my eyes widened at the heels.
“Are you crazy? On the back of a bike?”
She giggled. “Put them on and get out of here. They’re only three inches high. You’ll be fine. And as payment, I expect details when you get back.”
I leaned against my bed and pulled the boots up my legs. I zipped them up, figuring they’d fit me oddly, or be uncomfortable. But the heeled black boots actually made me feel more powerful. I nodded at Hannah as she held the door open for me, leaning against it with a crooked grin on her face.
“Be safe, beautiful,” she said with a wink.
I shook my head as I headed out into the hallway. I took the stairs to try and get used to the heels on my feet. The last thing I wanted to do was trip and fall in these suckers right in front of Max. Hannah was right, though. They weren’t hard to navigate. They weren’t much taller than the one pair of heels I owned, so it didn’t take long for me to feel stable in them. I really hoped Hannah didn’t stay up worrying about me. The last thing I needed was someone blowing up my phone just to figure out what I was doing. Because I knew Max would never hurt me. I knew he’d never put me in danger.
I trusted that more than anything.
I trust him more than anything.
“Rein it in a bit, Dani,” I murmured to myself.
The sound of the bike engine in the distance made me shake. A smile broke out across my face as I pushed out the main glass door and walked across the lawn to stand underneath the broken, flickering lamp light. The engine grew closer, roaring and revving off in the distance. I checked to make sure my phone was in my jacket pocket, along with my wallet and dorm keys. Then I zipped the pockets and fluffed my hair one last time, hoping and praying I looked all right.
My ribcage rumbled as Max grew closer. I smiled when he turned the corner, making his way to me. He puttered to a stop right in front of me, his hands poised to pull his helmet off. When he did, I wasted no time in leaning in to give him a kiss before squeezing him in the biggest hug I could.
I felt him wince.
“You okay?”
Max chuckled. “Never better. Ready to go?”
I pulled back and furrowed my brow at him. “You sure you’re okay?”
His gaze slipped down my body. “I'm great, and you're beautiful.”
I blushed. “Not too much?”
He wrapped his arm around me and pulled me close.
“Never too much.”
His lips captured mine again as my hand landed on his cheek. Our tongues came together as his bike vibrated between his legs, calling for me to get on and forecasting the fun tonight would bring us both. I moaned softly down the back of his throat. Our tongues did battle while his cologne filled my nostrils. I felt his arm tighten around me, making me groan against his lips. As if he couldn't get me close enough. A sensation I adored more than anything else.