AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She stuffed her softball glove and water bottles into her backpack, and pulled out a light jacket to wear for her ride home. The sun was still shining but wouldn't be for much longer; she needed to get on the bike path soon.
“I'll walk you to your car,” Will said.
“Oh, I rode my bike in. It’s parked at the playground.”
He glanced up at the sky. “Why don't we take your bike over to your office building and lock it up there? Then I can give you a ride home.”
“No, I can ride. There's plenty of light, and it doesn't take long.” She smiled. “Thanks for the offer, though.”
“I'm really not comfortable with you riding home. It doesn’t seem safe.”
“ButI'mcomfortable with riding home, and itissafe. I've done it a million times at this time of day. And I want my bike at home so I can ride to work tomorrow morning.”
“There can't possibly be enough light on that bike path at this time of day. Please, don't be stubborn. Let me drive you home.”
Her eyebrows rose. “I’m not being stubborn. I don't want to drive in tomorrow, and then have to tote my bike home on the back of my Jeep. I’m riding home.”
He stared at her but said nothing, and she felt a prick of annoyance.
“This is what I do,” she explained. “All summer. As long as it's not raining, I ride my bike to work. Sometimes I work late. Sometimes I have softball. And then I ride home. The longer we discuss it, the darker it's going to get. So you can stand there and pout, or you can walk me to my bike.”
He sighed. “Fine.”
The playground was adjacent to the ball field, and there were still some people there from the softball game, pushing kids on swings and playing on the huge climbing structure. Elizabeth unlocked her bike and backed it away from the rack, then put on her jacket and unclipped her helmet from the handlebars.
“Where does the bike path start?” he asked.
“At the ferry parking lot. It's two minutes from here, on the other side of the harbor.”
“Okay.” He paused. “I still think this is you being stubborn.”
“Ugh. Good night, Will. Thanks for dinner and for coming to the game.” She put on her helmet and buckled it under her chin, and before he could respond, she climbed onto her bike and pedaled away.
As she rode home, she replayed their conversation. She knew he was concerned, but calling her stubborn? She preferred independent.For crying out loud, it's a stupid bike ride.
Fifteen minutes later she arrived home, still with plenty of light to spare. She locked her bike under the deck and climbed the stairs and was surprised to see his cooler next to her door. She carried it into the house, turned on some lights, and opened it to find a note and the other half of her lobster roll. The note only asked that she call him when she arrived home.
She sighed. It was nice of him to leave the sandwich; she couldn't argue with that. And it wasn’t like they’d fought; he was just trying to tell her what to do, and that never worked with her.
She called, and he picked up on the first ring.
“Hi, Elizabeth.”
“I made it home, safe and sound.”
She tried to keep her tone light because the last thing she wanted was for this to become a big deal. The whole thing was a little bit ridiculous.
“I'm sorry I was a jerk,” he said. “I don't know anything about the bike path, so all I can picture is you riding on a skinny little trail in the woods. I was just worried.”
“It's not a skinny little trail in the woods. I guess I'll have to get you to walk it or ride it with me someday so you can see it for yourself. Biking is convenient, it’s great exercise, and it reduces my carbon footprint. And I enjoy it; it wakes me up in the morning, and helps me unwind at the end of the day.”
“I get it, and I'm sorry I pushed. I think I told you, I can be a little overprotective.” He paused, then added playfully, “Youarea little bit stubborn, though. You know that, right?”
“You’re not the first person to say it, nor will you be the last, I’m sure.”
“You won't hear it from me again.”
She grinned. “Thanks for leaving me the sandwich.”
