“That’s the point,” he says, I can hear his smile. “It’s a nice shortcut to avoid freeway traffic during rush hour.”
“I can imagine.” I laugh as the bike surges forward, leaning with his body.
The sun filters through tree branches, we move through the quick, golden flashes. The wind picks up as we accelerate, tearing at my clothes, slipping under the edges of my helmet. It’s freeing. Cars pass in the opposite direction, and the traffic flows easily.And in this moment, I feel light. I don’t feel the walls are closing in. No pressure. Just us, the wind, and the road.
Luca swerves the bike to the side of the road, stopping abruptly.
“What? What’s wrong?”
“Get off.” Luca’s words are rushed.
I swing myleg and climb off. He keeps a hand on me, keeping me steady. As soon as both feet are on the ground, he’s scrambling off his bike.
My pulse kicks up.
What did he see?
He rips his helmet off, leaving it on the seat, and starts running back the way we came.
“Luca?” I pull off my own helmet.
“Come on!” he yells.
“What?” I whisper, putting my helmet down. “What’s wrong?” I yell after him.
“Shhh!” He whips around, pressing a finger to his lips. “We have to be quiet.”
He crouches down along the chained fence. Each step slow, the gravel crunching underneath our feet. Cars continue speeding by.
Tingling starts in my fingertips and I itch for my dagger in my boot.
Luca stops and straightens. He’s frozen for a moment then whirls around to me, a huge smile plastered across his face.
“Iz,look!”
I follow his line of sight.
“It’s a cow!” He all but squeals, pointing into the field and bouncing up and down.
At the end of his finger is a solid black cow. Its coat is sleek, despite the dust. Its head lifts slowly, dark eyes locking onto us as it chews. A single ear flicks, tail swishing behind it.
Then its head dips back down, continuing to graze.
A smile spreads across my face.
“It’s so cute!” Luca looks around. “There’s usually more around here.”
He wraps his arms around me, pulling me into his chest, still half-looking at the field like more will appear out of nowhere.
“Very cute.” I tilt my head up to look at him.
This man pulled over… so we could look at a cow.
I think it might be the sweetest thing he’s done.
Luca kicksthe bike’s stand down. The motorcycle settles beneath us with a soft groan. The world around us feels muted in comparison with the hum of neon signs, the distant buzz of families laughing and chatting, the warm glow from strings of lights draped across the old brick.
But Luca’s the brightest thing here.
