“Why?”
I meet her gaze. “Because sometimes you don’t realize you’re lonely until someone gives you an excuse not to be.”
Her lips part slightly, like she wasn’t expecting that answer.
“So,” I say, shifting gears before the moment gets too heavy. “Are you ready to ride?”
She laughs weakly. “That depends. On a scale of ‘this is fine’ to ‘I’m going to die,’ where does a first-time motorcycle ride fall?”
“Somewhere in the middle,” I say. “Closer to fine.”
She doesn’t look convinced.
“I’ve never been on one,” she admits. “I don’t know anything about them. I don’t even know where you’re supposed to hold on.”
“That’s okay,” I say. “I’ll show you.”
I step closer to the bike and start slow, talking her through it like it’s no big deal.
“This is the tank. These are the handlebars. Throttle’s on the right. Front brake here, rear brake by your foot.” I tap each part as I go. “You don’t have to worry about any of that. That’s my job.”
She nods, listening carefully.
“These are the foot pegs,” I continue. “Your feet go here. Knees stay tucked in. You can hold onto me or the grab rail behind you.”
Her cheeks pink slightly. “Which do people usually do?”
“Whatever makes them feel safest.”
She swallows. “Okay.”
I hand her the helmet. “Let’s get you situated.”
Helping her climb on feels more intimate than it probably should. My hands hover, ready to steady her, and when she shifts her weight awkwardly, I instinctively reach out.
She stiffens for a second, then relaxes when she realizes I’m not rushing her.
“Take your time,” I murmur.
She settles onto the seat, then laughs nervously. “I feel very high up.”
“You are,” I admit. “But you’re doing great.”
She adjusts her position, scooting a little closer. Her hands hover uncertainly at my sides.
“Is this okay?”
“Yeah,” I say, my voice lower than before. “Perfect.”
She exhales, some of the tension leaving her shoulders.
“You’re brave,” I tell her.
She scoffs. “I’m terrified.”
“Those aren’t opposites,” I say. “Bravery usually comes with fear attached.”
She looks up at me, eyes bright. “You really think so?”
