“First and last,” she parrots to herself, falling silent until I turn onto a bumpy gravel road with a flickering old sign that has seen much better days.
The look on her face when I glance at her is the same as when she saw the go-kart place that first weekend. I suppress my chuckle but can’t hide my smile when she gazes at me.
“We’re going to be murdered tonight.”
“Don’t be melodramatic.”
Dom and I have been out here more times than I can count, day and night. The place is harmless despite the grumpy old guy hassling customers about his ATVs.
“Well, if I am killed, then I’m haunting your ass the whole time at MIT, maybe after if I’m not busy in Heaven.”
I park the truck, killing the engine since the vehicles are not too far down the gravel road. Slipping from the cab, I round the truck to get her out, not missing a chance to grope her ass.
“Don’t be so sure you’re getting into Heaven. Not after that tough final that had people cussing you out under their breath.”
She rolls her eyes, slipping from the seat and snagging a brief kiss from me on her march to the front door of the old guy’s rental place. Challenging her like this gets that shitty wall of hers to stay down, something I learned the hard way.
Getting the paperwork sorted and handing over the keys doesn't take long. By the time we’re outside, her helmet is already on, and her face has transformed into that of a challenger. I strap on my helmet, watching her out of the corner of my eye as she easily swings a leg over her ATV.
“You sure you can keep up, Mr. Kahale?” she yells while revving the engine.
“Eat my dust, Professor.”
The trail starts wide, winding through the forest, but it doesn’t take long before it narrows, with the trees pressing in on either side. The air is crisp and cold, but the adrenaline coursing through my veins keeps me warm. I glance ahead at Iz, her figure a blur of motion as she navigates the twists and turns with a reckless confidence that makes my chest tighten.
She’s fearless.
Happy.
Beautiful.
Completely in her element. We race like that for what feels like hours, the world around us a blur of green and brown. The trail dips and climbs, twists and straightens, and every second feels like I’m back on my bike, on that track about to win and not about to break my back in half.
It’s a glorious feeling.
When we finally reach a clearing, I’m out of breath but grinning like an idiot. The moon is now chasing the sun away, with darkness all around us. She cuts her engine, as do I, and pulls off her helmet. Her cheeks are flushed, and her hair is a wild mess. She looks over at me, still straddling her ATV, and the way she smiles. It’s everything.
“I can’t believe you kept this place a secret.”
Her words are a breathless cloud above her head in the moonlight and full of wonder.
“Had to save the best for last.”
I swing my leg off my ATV, yank off my helmet, leave it on the seat, and walk to her. She watches me with an expression I can’t quite read, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of her jacket.
“I don’t know how you do it.”
“Do what?”
“Make me feel like this. Like I’m not supposed to be here, but I can’t imagine being anywhere else.”
I reach for her hand, gently pulling her off the ATV until she’s standing before me.
“You’re exactly where you’re supposed to be, Izzy. With me.”
Her breath hitches, and for a moment, we stand there, the forest quiet around us. Then, with a contented sigh, she reaches for me. Her arms loop around my neck and tug my mouth to hers.
Her lips are soft and eager. I can’t help but pull her closer, my hands settling on her waist, where they belong. She melts against me, her tongue waiting for me as I deepen the kiss, the cool night air forgotten in the heat between us.
