“So get them all.”
“I can’t do that.”
“Why not? It’s my treat. I owe you for getting me out. Men don’t usually do fun stuff like this when they go out together. I see the city in a whole new light.”
I grab a bag of lemon and strawberry and offer them up. “There I broke the seal. Now you pick two more, and we’ll share.”
“I don’t need you to pay my way, Jagger.”
“I’m not. I’m treating you. There’s a huge difference. I’m sorry if your last man didn’t get that. You’re not going to owe me because I buy you small things, alright? I’m not that kind of man. If I wanted that type of set up, I’d have it by now.”
“Wow.”
“Just being straight up. You want to know, ask me. I’m not the type to waste energy lying.”
She studies me quietly. The seconds tick by. Without saying a word, she grabs vanilla and licorice taffy and hands them to me. Good girl. We continue to browse, and I toss Now and Laters and Pop Rocks onto our pile.
“You’re going to help me work this off later, right?”
I peer down at her. “I can think if plenty of ways to help you work that off, and I promise you, you’ll love every one of them.”
Her mouth forms on O. “I meant hiking.”
“We can do that too.” I wink as I walk to the register with her trailing behind me.
We walk around the small area, exploring the tiny specialty shops and working on our candy.
“I want to take you somewhere.”
“Why?”
“I want to take you for a ride on my bike.”
“I’ve never been on a motorcycle before.”
“Believe me. I’ll enjoy being your first. Don’t worry. I can be gentle and ease you into it.”
She places a hand on her neck and clears her throat. “I’m not sure.”
“You don’t trust me enough to go on a short ride?”
“Right now I trust very few people, Jagger.”
“Just up the road and back.”
Her chest heaves and she places a hand over her heart.
“B?”
She gasps for air and clutches my arm.
“You have asthma?”
She shakes her head from side to side. “I can’t. I can’t breathe.”
It’s a panic attack. “Yes, you can. Take a deep breath, and exhale.” I guide her away from the foot traffic, beside a building. “In and out, B. You’re okay. You don’t even have to ride my bike if you don’t want to,” I tease.
She gives a weak laugh, and her breathing slows. She bows her head and closes her eyes as she works through her.