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She twisted her mouth to the side when I offered her the helmet.
"I can take you straight home," I promised. "No speeding, no risky lane merges, no running reds."
Noah touched her hand to her chest. "No breaking the law for little ol' me?"
"Yup." I smiled. "Or…"
She perked up. "Or?"
"I can take you to my favorite spot first."
"No law-breaking and your favorite spot?"
"I said or not and." I tried not to smile too wide, because I knew what she was going to say by how she crossed her arms over her chest. All those years of studying her reactions at the Art Center had become useful for something more than ruining her career. Who would have thought?
"Make it and, and then you'll have a deal," Noah accepted the outstretched helmet. She fumbled while unhooking the clasp. I offered to help, but instead of taking me up on it, she waved my hand away.
"I'm not useless," she grumbled, more to herself as she snapped the helmet into place.
"Not even slightly," I said. My comment made her pause for a second, and I raised a brow as she stared at me.
"What?" I asked as time stretched and neither of us blinked. "What did I do?"
"Nothing. It's what you didn't do that's more impressive," she noted.
"And what's that?"
Noah shook her head, leaving me guessing. "Do you get on first or should I?"
It would be better for me to get on and hold the bike steady for her, so I swung my leg over and got in position. Noah hesitated only for a second when I nudged my chin for her to follow suit.
"You can't back out now," I teased. "It'd hurt my feelings."
"Something tells me you'd survive." She took a deep breath and tried to mimic how I swung my leg. The mount was smooth enough—Noah sighed with relief as she settled into the seat.
“I don’t plan on going over thirty-five,” I said. “Plenty of people hold onto the seat itself at that speed and feel comfortable, but…on your first time, I'd recommend holding onto me."
Noah cleared her throat. "Right."
I was still as a statue as she reached forward to place her hands on my waist. Her grip was so light, it might as well not have been there, and I swallowed a joke. Noah sensed something in the air, sighing as she said, "Go ahead, say it."
"Say what?"
"Whatever it is you're thinking. I promise I won't run off this time."
"I'm not thinking anything."
"You're almost as good at lying as I am," Noah whispered. "Which means not at all."
She was closer now, lips mere centimeters from my ear. I turned my head, glancing at her over my shoulder. Noah stared back, her smile fading into nonexistence.
"Can I try this time?" I asked.
Her fingers curled around the edge of my jacket. She didn't even answer, tugging me back to meet her for the kiss. The angle wasn't the best—my neck strained, and the tops of our helmets clashed—but that made me want more. I liked wanting, the push and pull of maybes and laters. So, when Noah was the one to end it, I warmed with welcome longing.
"All set?" I asked.
"Are you?" she teased, trying and failing to sound stable.
