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The muscles in my thighs scream for a break. I glance back from the front seat and catch Nico stretching his legs on either side of the bike, no longer pedaling.
“Nico,” I scold, turning back to keep my eyes on the road. My knuckles crack against the handlebars, and our wispy friendship bracelet hangs off my wrist as carelessly as Nico in his seat. I’m going to rip this thing off and strangle him with it. “No more. I’m pulling over.”
“Wait, no.” The resistance on the gear chains loosens again. “We’re almost there. Just turn left at the next bend.”
“Keep your feet on the pedals.”
“Couldn’t help but take in the view,” he pants. “I didn’t realize I’d be staring at your ass the entire journey.”
“My ass will be suffocating your face when we get back to the hotel.”
“I can’t wait.” Nico chuckles.
We turn down the path, driving along a canal. The waterfront is surrounded by brick houses and shops. At the top of the hilly path, a giant windmill sits surrounded by trees, and the wooden sail whips around lazily.
“Can we stop for a sec? I want to take a picture,” I say.
“Of course.”
We bring our bike to a halt and climb off. Apart from a small boat drifting down the canal, there’s no one else around.
“It’s so cute.” My lips curve upwards as I click my camera. In the corner of the frame, a yellow blanket is spread out on a patch of grass beneath the mill. “Oh, look, someone’s planned a whole picnic.”
“Come on, pretty girl, let’s go see what they’re having.” Nico nods toward the spread.
“That’s for us?”
He nods, then pulls out a small pouch from his pocket and waves it in front of me. The packaging is dark, and I can’t quite make out what the words on the front say. “This is also for us.”
“What’s in there?”
“An edible.” Nico lowers his voice. “We’re on vacation, after all.”
Why not?
* * *
Our spread of bread,cheese, and wine grumbles in my belly. The light buzz from Nico’s surprise treat makes me feel like a dripping Popsicle on a hot summer day. For the past hour, Nico’s been kicking my butt at a game of twenty questions. Now it’s my turn to try and beat him.
“One more, and I win,” I chuckle.
He wipes the splash of sweat against his brow. “Are you a globe?”
“Nope.”
Nico sighs loudly, taking his loss in stride. “What were you then?”
“A unicorn.” I pop another sour grape in my mouth.
“How were you a unicorn if I specifically asked if you were alive?”
“Unicorns are mythical creatures, so they’re technically nonexistent. Definitely thought you would’ve been better at figuring it out.”
“Hey, I can’t crack open an almost decade-long secret every day.” Nico tosses a squishy grape at me, and I dodge it. “I’m still in the lead two-to-one.”
I shift around on the picnic blanket, tugging my black miniskirt over my thighs. Maybe it’s the euphoria circulating through my system or the fact Nico already knows most of the truth, but I’m not irritated by his comment.
There’s no point in beating around the bush anymore.
