“Yeah, yeah.”
“And the bugs. So many bugs hitting your face.”
“It ain’t that bad.” Leo laughed.
“Bullshit. It’s nasty. I’ve seen the shit caught in your beards.”
“Not mine,” he argued, helping me onto his bike. “I was too young for a beard back then.”
“True.” I got centered and waited for him to crawl on in front of me. “Poet’s is the worst. So much beard. So many insects.”
Leo laughed as he climbed on the bike, then reached back to pull me close and pull my arms around his waist. A few seconds later, the bike was rumbling under us, and for the first time in a long time, I felt an echo of the familiar rush of adrenaline.
I was too short to rest my chin on his shoulder as we pulled out of the driveway, so I tipped forward until my forehead rested against his back. He smelled like leather and cologne. His t-shirt was thin, and his chest and abs were tight under my hands. I could have sat that way forever, with the wind making my hair brush against my cheeks and his hand occasionally patting the tops of mine.
Unfortunately, our town wasn’t very big, and only a few minutes later, he slowed down and turned into my driveway. We rolled to a stop, but neither of us moved as the night grew quiet around us.
“Looks like no one’s home,” he finally said, breaking the silence.
“It’s cool. I’ve got my key.” I pulled my arms from his waist and scooted back, waiting for him to climb off the bike so I could.
“I’m not leavin’ you here alone,” he said stubbornly.
“I’m sixteen,” I reminded him. Wincing as I realized how young that must seem to him. “I’m home by myself all the time.”
“Not—” he paused. “Not here. Can’t leave ya here by yourself.”
“You want to come in?” I asked, leaning forward a little.
“No,” he replied instantly.
I laughed. “Well, I’m not sure what you want, then.”
“Let’s take a ride, yeah?”
The smile fell off my face and I leaned back. “Okay.”
I waited while he fired up the bike and wrapped my arms around him as he backed up and turned around. Then we were off again, and soon we were racing down back roads. He must have forgotten that he’d said he’d go easy, because we glided fast around corners, the bike roaring loudly. I had no idea where we were going, no clue what direction we were headed, but I held on tight and kept my mouth shut anyway. Leo would never let anything happen to me.
Eventually, we slowed to a stop, near what I was pretty sure was a river.
“Where are we?” I asked as he turned the bike off.
“River,” he answered, not really giving me anything as he got off the bike and helped me down.
“Yeah, I hear that. Why?” I took off the helmet and smoothed my hair down as best I could.
“I like this place,” he replied, wrapping his arm around my waist to help me navigate over the bumpy ground. My footsteps were tentative as I shuffled forward toward the rushing water, stubbing my toes on roots just barely flowing out of the ground. “Here,” he said, grabbing my hand and resting it on a rough tabletop. “Picnic table. Standard. Bench is about an inch below your knee.”
I nodded and leaned over to find the bench, sidestepping a bit until I could sit down.
“You good? I gotta take a leak.”
“Charming,” I said drolly. “Yeah, I’m fine. Do your thing.”
I was fine as he walked away, but the minute I couldn’t hear him anymore I started to panic. I knew in my gut that he’d never leave me behind. That was unquestionable. But the idea of being in the middle of nowhere, near a large body of water, all alone, made my skin go instantly cold.
“Leo!” I yelled, embarrassed, but not enough to stay quiet. “Leo!”
“What?” he yelled, followed by crashing noises. “Dandelion?”
He was next to me in less than thirty seconds, his hands on my face and in my hair. “You alright? What happened?”
“I couldn’t hear you,” I said, shaking my head as my teeth began to chatter. “Stupid.”
“Fuck, girl. You just took a year off my life.”
“I’m sorry.” My teeth chattered some more and my eyes started to water.
I hated feeling weak. I wasn’t. I was strong. Independent. I stood up for myself and didn’t take shit from anyone.
“Ah, sweetheart. Don’t.” He sat down next to me and put an arm around my shoulders, pulling me against his chest. “This wasn’t my best idea, huh?”
“It was a good idea,” I mumbled, gripping the t-shirt he wore under his leather cut. “I’m just an idiot.”
“Pretty sure I’m the idiot,” he said against the top of my head. “I just pissed all over myself when you yelled.”
I choked out a laugh as he chuckled.