20. 20
20
I t wasn’t what she’d planned when Bonnie had called that morning and spoken with her boss, taking the day off, but now that she was on the back of Corey’s motorcycle, speeding down the highway with the wind rushing past she wasn’t sure she’d ever felt more alive.
At first the unfamiliar movement and what seemed like breakneck speed had her terrified. She’d held on to Corey with everything she had. But that hadn’t lasted long. Not that she was about to give up the excuse to wrap her arms around him.
No, he felt too good for her to stop that.
They had been on the road a while before she thought to wonder where they were going again. He’d said it was just a ride, but surely, he had a destination. It couldn’t be anywhere in Gillette though, because when they’d reached the highway, he’d turned away from town instead of toward it.
She wondered about it for a bit then decided it didn’t matter. He was driving and she trusted him; that was enough.
Now that she’d admitted, at least to herself, that she trusted him, she started to question it. Why did she trust him? Hadn’t she trusted Phillip too? With how that turned out, how could she rely on herself to know who was safe with her trust?
She pushed the heavy thoughts from her mind and turned her attention to the countryside speeding past them, determined to enjoy this time away, this time to just be, and with Corey too.
They rode for quite a while, content with their thoughts and being close to each other. After what felt like a long time, they reached a town, one bigger than where she’d grown up, and Corey eased the bike off the road and pulled it to a stop at a gas station, but not at the pumps.
“What’s up?” Bonnie asked after he’d killed the engine.
“I thought you might need a restroom. I know I could.” He tapped her leg, indicating she should climb off. She did, then stood watching as he swung his own leg over the back of the bike as if he’d done it a million times. She fumbled with the clasp on the helmet she wore but managed to release it after a moment and lift it off. She looked up to find Corey holding one hand out, waiting for her helmet, so she handed it to him and watched as he stowed it, and his own, in one of the bags hanging on either side of the rear tire. “Come on.” He set one hand on her lower back and walked with her inside.
After she’d visited the facilities, she wandered up and down the aisles of the convenience store, waiting for Corey.
“You hungry?” Corey asked, coming up behind her. He wrapped his arms around her middle and rested his chin on her shoulder, so their faces sat cheek to cheek.
She thought about it a second and wondered if she was looking at the candy bars, wondering if they should get one because she was actually hungry or for something to do while she waited.
“A little,” she said after a moment. “I mean, I could eat but it’s not a driving need.”
“There are a couple diners here in town that are decent, do you want to go get something to eat or ride a little longer?” He seemed content to stand there, his arms around her and body pressed along hers, while she decided. Bonnie couldn’t help but wonder what was going through his mind as they did. Did he hope she’d want to eat? Want to get on the bike? She wished she could see his face, maybe she could get an idea of what he wanted to do.
The ache in her legs made her decision for her. “Let’s go eat,” she said after a moment, then turned her head and placed a gentle peck of a kiss on his cheek. His cheek moved beneath her lips, letting her know he’d smiled, right before he turned and placed his mouth on hers, kissing her back.
“You ready to get back on the bike or you want to walk around a few minutes more?” he asked after pulling away from their all too brief kiss.
She pulled back to get a better look at his face. “You can tell I’m feeling it?”
“Not by watching you, but I remember what it was like after my first few long rides, and even still when it’s been a long day.”
“I wouldn’t mind walking a bit, if you don’t mind.”
“Not at all. You want to walk around in here or outside?”
“Outside sounds good. I don’t think I’ve ever been here. I’d like to look around a bit.”
“No problem.” He backed away, releasing his hold around her middle but catching her hand with his as he started to step away.
Bonnie found herself smiling down at their clasped hands as she followed him. It didn’t feel like he pulled her along or like he would, but more like he just wanted the connection between them.
This was how things were supposed to feel.