“Thank you, man, I really appreciate it.” I hold my hand out to him to shake and he takes it.
“A few pieces of advice?”
“Please,” I say with a nod.
“Find center, take turns slowly,graduallyshifting your weight. Don’t just do it all at once. Start slowing down further back than you think you need to, otherwise you’ll fling yourself over the handles. Usebothbrakes to slow down. Again, gradually. The lower you get to the tank, the more you’ll feelthat balance that can get the bike under control. And go get your damn license before you get pulled over.”
I nod, taking in his words and etching them into my memory. “Take the turns slowly, gradually, slow down further back…” I mutter to try and remember what he said. “Got it.” I take the helmet he gave me and slip it on my head before taking the second, wrapping it in the bungee cord stretched over the spare seat.
“Whatever you do, Ty, don’t panic. You’re in control.”
I nod once, pulling that detached mask I have perfected over my face and shrug.
“I am.” I flip the visor down, my voice muffled through the helmet. “I’ll get the next hundred-fifty to you in two weeks.”
“You better,” Devin yells after I turn the key and the engine roars to life under me. I can already tell I’m going to like this so much more than I thought I would.
I lean forward, each hand grabbing a handle and I twist the right slowly and listen as the accelerator engages.
“You got it!” Devin yells again, stepping back and waving as I slowly go forward, pulling out of the driveway andhere goes nothing.
My weight leans slightly as I turn out of his driveway. The engine stutters for a second before it shifts into gear. That’s when I really take off.
Fuck, this is…the best feeling ever.
I push the accelerator just a little more, go a little faster, but Devin’s words stick in my head. “Get that license before you get pulled over.”
I have to be smart about this. But all I want to do is go on the highway andfly.
I take the turns slower than I should, but hey, I’m learning. I’d rather not be hurt on the bike the first day I actually got it. I at least need to fuck Roxie on it first.
The first red light makes my chest tighten with anxiety and I do what Devin said, using the foot and hand brakes at the same time,gradually. Or as gradually as I can. The bike lurches a little and my ass comes up off the seat before I get control.Fuck.
A car comes up along beside me in the other lane. I feel that prickling sensation that someone’s watching me, and when I turn to find the gaze, I see a blonde girl making eyes at me.
“Hey baby! Can I go for a ride?” she calls out. What the fuck? I look down at myself, my dark jeans and white t-shirt with the sleeves cut off so my tattoos are showing. She’s leaning out the passenger window, and I can’t see who’s driving. But it really doesn’t fucking matter. I turn my attention forward, but the light won’t turn.
“Oh come on, sexy. Show me those eyes,” she yells over the engine and I shake my head, keeping my visor down before tapping the extra helmet. Trying to explain without words that I’m taken.
“Oooooh, is that for me?” she squeals, and to my complete horror, gets out of the car.
What the fuck?
“No, no, no, no,” I say and voice muffled from the helmet, and I shake my hand, leaning back. That gets her attention though. I lift the visor and glare. “Get back in your car. My girlfriend will kill us both.”
Happily. I’ll happily let her kill me if I ever look at another girl in a way she doesn’t like. I’ll definitely help her hide the body if a girl steps too close.
“Well be fucking clearer next time!” The girl’s cheeks turn bright red from embarrassment or annoyance, I don’t care, and the light finally turns. Chuckling, I turn forward and rev the engine before taking off, trying to get to Roxie as fast as I can.
Pulling up toAshes, I park the bike right in front. Stopping is getting easier, at least I didn’t throw myself over the bars like I was worried about.
The door opens and out bounds Roxie; her half-blond, half-black hair is pulled back into those space buns on the top of her head, but the strands framing her face flutter in the breeze. The bruises on her face have turned to a pale yellow, but the cuts are still there. Healing, but present. She’s wrapped in my shirt again, but Harriet came in clutch with some shorts and sweatpants for her. I’m relieved I get to see her long pale legs as she runs over to me in those tiny sleep shorts.
She looks happy. Excited.Mine.
“Oh my god!” She says excitedly, running up to me and looking the bike over. I flip open the visor to be able to see her better. “What a fucking panty-ruining sight this is for me. One I hope to see every day from now on, okay?” She’s talking fast as her eyes dart all over.
“Yes, ma’am.” I smirk through the helmet, winking at her. When the look on her face goes from excited, to turned on I know that I’m going to need to figure out how to get this bike stable enough so I can fuck her on itfast.
