““For the past hour, I’ve been riding with my cheek pressed tightly against his back. It feels nice and safe and comfortable. “I didn’t want to come back,” he says to me from over his shoulder. He doesn’t look at me. Something tells me he would look everywhere but at me even if we were facing one another. “Then why did you?” I lean to the side so I can see his face. He has a fine dusting of hair on his jaw and I want to touch it to see if it’s bristly or soft. I force my hands into my lap. “I figured you’d be ready to ditch me.” His eyes meet mine and hold them. “I wasn’t,” I say softly. A grin tips the corners of his lips. “Good.” “I’m really excited about Saturday. How should I dress?” “I was hoping you might wear nothing.” I freeze. Mainly because I can’t take a deep breath. Air? What’s that? “I’m just kidding!” he rushes to say, and he raises his hands to cup my face, forcing me to look into his eyes. “I was only joking. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. What you have on now will work. We’re not going anywhere fancy.” “Okay.” I draw in a breath. “I’m in the A building in the complex. Room 23. Or should I just meet you somewhere?” “I’ll pick you up.” I can’t stop smiling. I probably look like the worst sort of ninny. “I’ll see you then.” He unstraps my helmet and I get off his bike. My legs are wobbly as I stand up, and he helps me straighten myself and get steady with a hand beneath my elbow. “I had a lot of fun today.” “I did too.” He looks almost like it hurts him to admit that. “I’ll see you Saturday,” I whisper to him.””
