“Wait here, pretty girl. I won’t be long.”
SHE LOOKED SO HESITANT as we stood outside, preparing to get on my ride. I’d put on my cut, which I always wore when I was riding to and from work or the clubhouse. I loved wearing it, especially now that the Phoenix colours meant I was part of something great. Thank god I had a spare helmet that fit her, because that could have been the flaw in my plan to see her home safely, couldn’t it?
“All that’s left is to get on, Caroline. Pop the backpack on, and let’s get going. I’ll climb on first, then help you up behind me.”
I figured I’d just get on with it, or we could be standing here all night. It had taken us twenty minutes just to lock up and get to this stage already.
I was surprised when her trembling fingers eased into mine, and I helped her climb up behind me. Her hands tentatively landed on the sides of my cut, and I smiled, touched at her wariness, and sweet nervousness.
I caught her hands and dragged them around my middle, pulling her firmly against me. I encouraged her to lock her fingers around each other, and then I patted them.
“Let’s go!” I yelled, the roar of the engine soothing us both as we took off for the road out of the industrial estate, and towards her part of town.
I already knew her address, so I made my way along the busy roads, moving between traffic queues, until we were heading down her street. She was the perfect passenger, instinctively leaning with me as we travelled, probably partly muscle memory from making the journey herself, but more than that, I was enjoying having her wrapped around me, riding with me.
There was something about having a woman on the back of my bike that made me feel about ten feet taller. I’d never had a woman on here, because that’s the seat you reserve for your old lady, and I figured I’d never have one, just scratch an itch now and then, and live as a bachelor brother.
Now though? I was having all kinds of thoughts that I probably shouldn’t. I was picturing her with me everywhere. At the clubhouse, at parties, sitting around the firepit, just generally in every aspect of my life. It wasn’t even about wanting sex, although she definitely enticed me. No, it was about feeling more comfortable with her around than I’d ever felt with anyone.
Getting your girlfriend pregnant when you’re just finishing school, and all of the fallout that comes from that, can really fuck with your ability to be with women, or trust them. Not because I’m expecting to be screwed by them, but because intimacy isn’t something I’ve ever really practiced. Get off, and get out. No strings. Suddenly that felt empty and cold. She made it seem possible that there could be more.
So when she staggered, and looked ready to pass out when we got her feet back under her, there was no way I was just leaving her at the door.
I kept her keys, and led her to her front door, lifting the keys to find the right one, and because she’s an organised lady, it had a little rubber cover on the top of it with home on it. Probably not wise if they fell into the wrong hands, but it helped me for now.
Once we were inside her house, I sat her down on her sofa, and crouched in front of her.
Caroline
HE WAS IN MY house! Harley was in my house, and it didn’t feel weird, or scary, or like the room was too small with him in it. It felt comfortable and safe, and yet parts of me were feeling anything but comfortable.
“You okay, pretty girl?” He asked me worriedly, stroking my cheek as I fought my way out of the heaviness making my eyes feel tired.
“Y… Yeah, thanks. I just… it was a lot of peopling today. It tires… tires me out.”
He nodded, straightening up, and I was suddenly so afraid he was leaving, that my hand shot out, catching his.
“Don’t… don’t go.”
Harley squeezed my fingers. “Wasn’t planning on it, unless you ask me to. How do you take your tea? I think you need a cuppa after all that coffee today.”
I nodded, trying to get up to follow him.
“Nope. Stay right there. Milk? Sugar?”
“Both. One sugar, thanks. I need… I need to get…”
“You need to stay there. I’m gonna order a pizza for us, you got any hell no rules about pizza?”
I smiled, my stomach gurgling at the very idea of hot pizza crust and stretchy cheese.
“No pineapple!”
Harley laughed, faking a gagging face. “Hell no from me too. Okay, sit your sweet ass there and relax. I’ve got this.”
He disappeared into the kitchen, and I looked around my small, tidy living room, wondering what he saw when he lookedat it. Did it look nice to him? Girly? Too orderly? Did he even really look at all?
“One cuppa,” Harley said, setting my favourite mug in front of me. Wait, how did he know?
