Regan
You know Elliot, so you know it’s not really a thing he will do.
Harper
I know. What type of weirdo doesn’t want to hang around half naked with his girlfriend and eat cookies? Honestly, it’s grounds to break up with him.
Regan
Maybe he’ll change his mind tonight.
Harper
For your sake, I hope.
Text me when you’re home, so I know Elliot didn’t snap and lock you in his basement.
Regan
Not funny.
We had been watching endless Dateline episodes, which put both of us on guard now. Harper was convinced Elliot would snap one day, and I was starting to agree with her. Lately, he seemed jumpy with every little thing making him spook, but I couldn’t figure out why.
I slid my phone back in my bag and headed to the door, already seeing Elliot waiting with my coat.
I truly wasn’t desperate enough to be flattered at how eager he seemed tonight.
This date wouldn’t make it past the drive home, and I hoped he would understand enough not to push it.
Elliot could be fun. He could be endless, careless fun, and while it felt perfect sometimes, it wasn’t what I wanted tonight.
His hand slipped into mine as he pulled me out onto the sidewalk and immediately took a right turn.
“What are you doing? The car is the opposite way.”
“I know,” he said, smiling. “I have a place I want to show you.”
“What kind of place?”
“There’s a nice little overlook to the river down here, and I think you would like it.”
“Is this a romantic overlook or a new place for you to attempt your public sex dreams? And down this way? Really?”
The path leading down to whatever overlook he wanted to go to looked less like a cute romantic walk and more like a horror movie. The lights grew farther and farther apart, and the shops only more run down with each block.
“Yeah, right down here.”
It seemed strange, but I still I followed him. While sitting in bed eating cookies sounded great, I really wasn’t looking forward to another night alone in the giant house.
“Elliot, this doesn’t seem like a great idea. Maybe we should turn back. There’s plenty of other places we could go.”
He wrapped an arm around me. “It’s alright, babe. It’s not far. I’ve got you. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
An engine rumbled behind us, its deep growl cutting through the quiet night. I turned my head, a shiver moving down my spine.
A blacked-out motorcycle idled down the road. The headlights were off, but a thin line of pink-hued lights ran underneath it. The glow of them oddly cute for where we were.
The clothes the rider wore were as black as the bike, making them nearly blend into the night. I kept my eye on him as we kept going. The rider slowly sat up, cocking his head in my direction, as if he realized I watched him.
