The engine roared with speed. The world raced on either side of me as I rested against Max’s strength. The wind whipped around me with a velocity I couldn't process and I smiled as I drank it all in. The air was fresh and cool. The summer mugginess dissipated the farther we got away from campus. Worries of school and studies fell away from my mind, and all I thought about was how wonderful this felt. Or how lovely the bike felt vibrating beneath me. Or how perfect it felt clinging to Max on our ride to… wherever.
Or how close his butt is to my--
The wind suddenly died down and I realized I had my eyes closed. I opened them, peering through the visor of the helmet as the bike continued to roll at a slow pace. The wind no longer whipped around my body. The vibrations of the bike settled into nothing but a giant roar as we pulled into a small parking lot. The lamp posts around us had dead bulbs. No light, other than the stars and the moon, lit up our path. I furrowed my brow as Max rolled into a parking spot. Then he cut the engine and put down his kickstand.
I wasn’t ready for the ride to be over.
“Where are we?”
Max slipped off his bike and pulled the helmet off my head. I gazed up at him, watching as his knuckles brushed away my tousled hair. That permanent grin was on his face, making me wonder what in the world he was thinking. And when my hair had been tamed by the brushing of his knuckles, he tucked the helmet underneath his arm.
“Hungry?”
I blinked. “What?”
“You asked what we were doing here. I’m asking you if you’re hungry.”
I paused. “Uh, I mean, I could eat. But I don’t have my wallet or my purse or anything with me.”
He shrugged. “Come on. I’m hungry. And this place has the best burgers.”
“I will, once I can move my legs.”
I watched him bury that beautiful smile and it made my heart ache. Why didn’t he smile more? It looked so amazing on him. He hung his helmet on the handlebar of his bike, then wrapped his arms around me. I gasped softly as I wrapped my arms around his neck, trying to be careful of his shoulder as he locked himself around me. He inched me off the bike, giving me plenty of time to get my feet planted on the pavement. He held me close, much like when he’d kissed me.
And when he let me go to stand on my own, all I wanted was to pull him back into me.
“Rea
dy, Bambi?”
I paused. “Seriously? I get on this bike with you and actually enjoy myself, and I don’t get a new nickname?”
He chuckled. “All right, Daddy’s Girl.”
“Not that one, either.”
He shrugged. “Sorry. The name picks the person. I don’t have a say in it.”
“Jerk.”
“Tightwad.”
I glared up at him. “I am not.”
He winked. “Says you.”
I shook my head as he walked in front of me, reaching for his helmet. And as he tucked it under his arm again, I felt a soft smile sliding onto my face. I forced my legs to do their job and I trotted up behind him, following him into the pub. The second the doors opened, the smell of sweaty men and fried cheese hit me. It certainly wasn’t as enticing of a scent as Max. But I figured I could push through it if it meant more time with him.
“Hey there.”
“Long time no see, Max.”
“What’s it been? A week?”
“Hey, man. Good to see you again.”
“Max! Yo! Who’s the girl!?”