LAILAH #2
We all walked out of the coffee shop, and I waved at Cami as she split off to grab her car from the dorms. I followed Parker until we stopped in front of a bright-yellow motorcycle.
I felt my panic level rise as I realized why Cami had been worried about my safety.
I looked up at Parker to tell him I changed my mind, but he settled his hands on my shoulders and looked me in the eye.
“I know I come off as an impulsive child, but I promise I will make sure you’re safe,” Parker searched my face before he grabbed the spare helmet from the saddlebag on his bike. “I’m not sure all your hair will fit in here, but let’s give it a shot.”
I laughed, my fear about the situation calming down.
I pulled my hair out of its bun and jammed the helmet on over my head.
It took a little wiggling, but I managed to get it to fit snugly on my head.
Parker helped me with the chin strap, and having him so close gave me butterflies in my stomach.
I could feel his body heat and the subtle scent of his cologne that smells like warm spices.
“Perfect,” Parker said, patting the top of my helmet to let me know he was done.
I struggled not to blush, and I dipped my head so he couldn’t see my face as I looked at the bike. “What kind of motorcycle is this?” I asked, knowing I would have no idea, but it gave me something else to think about.
“It’s a Harley Davidson Fat Boy, smooth ride, but still stylish, just like me,” Parker said with a wink.
At that comment, I lost the battle with my flushing cheeks, and I knew from the heat coming off my face that I was as bright as a stop sign.
I coughed, choking on my own spit at the suddenness of the teasing.
I knew Parker and I were becoming friends, and I knew I kind of liked him, but I didn’t know we were at the flirty stage yet.
“Shit, I’m sorry, Lailah. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.
I don’t know how to have a friend that’s a girl.
I always have girls around, but they only want one thing from me.
I know you’re not like that. I shouldn’t have said that, it just popped out,” Parker said, groaning and rubbing his face with his hands.
I didn’t know how I felt about him seeing me as just a friend, but I knew for sure I was happy that he saw me differently than those vipers that had tossed my clothes in the dumpster.
Recovered from my coughing fit, I reached out and patted him on the arm. “It’s all good, I tend to be super awkward around people, so I get it, it happens. Come on, at this point, Cami is halfway there with how she drives.”
“Yeah, and she was worried about me getting you hurt. She’s a psycho when she drives. Her and Micah, one of my other dorm mates, used to have drag races all the time; they’re just nuts,” Parker said as he straddled his bike and pulled on his helmet.
“Oh, so you’ve known Micah for a long time, too?” I asked, surprised, thinking they had only met at school.
“Yeah, all of us who live at Aiden House have known each other for a long time. Our parents all mingle in the same social circle,” Parker said offhandedly. “Okay, climb on.”
I gulped and threw my leg over the machine and settled in behind Parker. I tried to keep some space between us, but the way the seat was designed made me slide right up against him. Since I couldn’t keep my lower body away from him, I tried to lean back, so my chest wasn’t resting on his back.
“I’m going to assume this is your first time on a motorcycle.
” He grabbed my hands from where they were resting on my legs and wrapped them around his middle.
“Hold on to me tight and follow my lead. Lean into the curves, flow with the road, and stay relaxed, that’s all there is to it,” Parker instructed.
I gave in and let myself lean against him, reminding me of us dancing at the party.
It didn’t feel strange then, and it didn’t now either.
In many ways, it felt like I was right where I belonged, safe, comfortable, and almost like I was home.
It gave me a zing of excitement, but it also made me worry that I was reading into things that weren’t really there.
Obviously, Parker didn’t see me as more than a friend, and I needed to keep it that way.
Parker was growing on me, and I didn’t want to mess up and lose out on the friendship we could have.
Parker pulled out slowly, letting me get a feel for the bike, but once we were on the main road, he kicked it into high gear, and we raced down the open road.
The ride was exhilarating, and I could see why people liked to ride motorcycles.
It made you feel like you were free. The wind across your face, the scents of the world around you, and the speed were all intoxicating.
It was close to the feeling I had while running, only way faster.
It also helped to have Parker’s warm body to cut the chill of the ride.
All too soon, we made it to town and found a place to park.
Parker held the bike steady while I hopped off, and he followed shortly after.
“What took you so long?” Cami called as she walked over to us.
“You told me to keep her safe, I was doing just that, don’t be an ass,” Parker retorted, locking the helmets up. “Just because you can get around the world in twenty minutes doesn’t mean it’s right.”
“Whatever,” Cami said, brushing off Parker’s answer. “Oh, we need to stop by the book store for my sister. She texted me on my way over here. You guys need anything else while we’re here?”
“Nope. I’m just along for the ride,” Parker said, grinning at us.
I shook my head and headed off in the direction of delicious smelling cookies.
This was exactly what I needed after the shitty day I’d had.
I wondered what the girls will do next when they see me and Parker hanging out today and then me with Brayden later in the week.
I smiled to myself, glad that I wasn’t going to let them rule who I made friends with.
“Where are we off to?” Parker asked.
“The bakery to get God’s gift to the human world,” I said, humming to myself.
“Um, what?” Parker said, walking backward in front of me so he could see my face.
I rolled my eyes at him, no one ever understood my strange love for all things sugar cookie. “Remember when we first met, and you smashed my cookie?”
“Yeah, I still feel bad about that,” he answered.
“That was a small piece of heaven you shattered. Some girls have an obsession with clothes, shoes, or coffee, but for me, it’s all about the sugar cookies,” I said, smiling when I saw him understand.
“Wow! So, I’m lucky you’re even still talking to me after I murdered your cookie?” Parker said, letting out a low whistle.
“No, you’re lucky Lala is more forgiving than I am. I would’ve written you off for good,” Cami piped up.
“Hey, I bought her a new one, I took responsibility for my actions,” Parker defended himself.
“Guys, come on, it’s over and done with. That happened weeks ago,” I said, trying to end the squabbling as we arrived at the bakery.
I pulled open the door and listened to the little chime signaling our arrival.
I wandered over to the cookie display and started to search for the treasured item.
Cami and I had never come this late in the day, and I got to the area where they were normally displayed, but it was empty.
I quickly looked back through the cases on either side, but there was not a single sugar cookie in sight.
“Well, hello, Lailah, good to see you,” Anne said, coming out of the back, wiping her flour-covered hands on her apron. “You’re here much later than usual.”
Parker turned to look at me with raised eyebrows. “Come here often?”
“Anne, am I too late? I don’t see any in the display case,” I asked, even I could hear the desperation in my voice.
“Oh, don’t worry, love. I always have a batch set aside in the back just for you.” Anne gave me a warm smile before she grabbed a box to place the cookies in.
“You’re a real MVP, Anne,” Cami said. “I think after the day Lailah’s had, she might have gone catatonic right here in your bakery.”
“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. I’ll go get them right away,” Anne tutted before she returned to the back room for the cookies.
“Damn, you must really love those cookies if you’re on a first-name basis with the baker,” Parker said, enjoying watching this whole thing going down.
“I guess so, things have been so stressful with school, that Cami or I popped in to get cookies a few times. Anne is just super sweet and reminds me a lot of my mom, so we bonded,” I said as Anne walked back to us.
“I have never met someone who has such a mature palate when it comes to cookies. She can even tell me when I’ve added too much butter and not enough vanilla,” Anne said, chuckling.
“My mom’s also a baker, and I would taste test all her dough, so I learned from her. Other than Anne, I’ve never met someone who can make a better sugar cookie than my mom,” I said proudly.