Chapter 8 Hazel
Hazel
“That was, hands down, the best freaking night of my life!” Skylar shouted.
The windows to her baby-blue Ford Bronco were down, filling the inside with the welcomed cool night air.
“Agreed!” I signed.
I spun around to see Genesis in the back seat, dancing along to whatever music was playing on the radio. My guess was, it was A Quiet Peril. Skylar had it loud enough to make out the faint beat, and it seemed recognizable from us being in the crowd earlier.
As soon as I spun back around in my seat, Genesis engulfed me in her arms from behind.
I giggled and then scolded her, “Put your seat belt on!”
She leaned over the center console and rolled her eyes at me playfully. “Yes, Mom.”
I noticed when Skylar sat a bit more upright in her seat, glancing in her rearview a few times.
“What? Is it a police car?” I asked, confused as to why she’d be so interested in someone coming up behind her.
There weren’t red and blue flashing lights shining from behind. Besides, she’d sobered up plenty before the festival ended, and the woman painfully drove five miles under the speed limit at all times. She had nothing to worry about.
Skylar shook her head and smirked. “It’s a biker.”
The biker’s headlights reflected in my side mirror as they shifted into the lane next to us. I waited for them to zoom past at a high speed, probably irritated at Grandma over here in the driver’s seat, but instead, they crept up next to the side of our car.
The all-black sport bike met pace with us at the passenger window, and I couldn’t help but look over at the rider, wondering why they hadn’t left us in their dust.
Just like his bike, the man wore black head to toe—a leather jacket, sweatpants, and tennis shoes. Streetlights lit him up, reflecting off his shiny helmet in a steady sequence. His visor was down, so I couldn’t see who he was looking at in the car, but his gaze was unmistakably fixed on us.
I turned to Skylar, curious. “What is he doing? Did you cut him off or something?”
She shook her head and then shrugged.
I quickly returned my attention around, eyes landing back on the biker. He glanced up at the road in front of him off and on, but kept his visor set on us more than the traffic.
Well, that’s dangerous.
Staring at the reflection of the blue Bronco in his visor, I felt like I was distracting him. Daring him to a staring contest I hadn’t intended to start. But, damn it, I couldn’t look away. As soon as I came to my senses and blinked away, I noticed his hand lift.
He waved. Not just a normal wave, but a flirty one, making a dainty motion with each finger. He was being … playful.
A small flutter came to life in the pit of my stomach as I waved back.
Genesis smacked me in the arm and leaned forward between Skylar and me.
I ignored her, knowing she was just going to make a big deal out of a cute biker guy saying hi. Hell, I wasn’t even sure it was me he’d meant to wave at.
We suddenly slowed alongside him, and a rush of panic filled my chest.
My eyes popped open as I asked Skylar, “Why are you stopping?”
“Red light, silly. Did you expect me to race through and run it?” she asked mockingly, clearly entertained.
My arm stung from another sudden smack from Genesis. “Ow!” I scowled, rubbing the back of my arm. “What is your problem?”
Genesis nearly jumped into the front seat, but Skylar held her back, trying to keep her chaos out of her field of vision.
“He just revved his engine at you!” Genesis said.
I followed both of their gazes to the man beside me. He nodded and twisted his grip on his right handle.
And then I felt it. The subtle vibrations against the car sent a jolt of adrenaline through me. I’d never been on a bike before, and I wondered what it would be like to feel the engine beneath me.
As if he could read my thoughts, the man reached his hand back, patting the small space behind his seat.
Um, what?
I instinctively covered my arm just in time to protect myself from another one of Genesis’s hard smacks.
“Oh my God, you have to go!” she signed to me with enthusiasm.
I shook my head at her, pulling my brows up. “Are you crazy?”
Skylar teetered her head, not at my question of Genesis’s sanity, but at the idea of me actually going for it. I was shocked that the girl who overthought everything was even considering that I should get on the back of a random guy’s bike for a joyride.
“You’re both insane,” I said while inwardly growing open to the idea.
No, no. This man could be a serial killer. Right? Or just a creep. It shouldn’t matter what he looked like with his helmet on and a sexy motorcycle between two very long and thick legs.
Fuck.
“You only live once!” Skylar said.
I narrowed my eyes. “Really? That’s what you’re going to spout right now? You, of all people?”
“He’s hot,” Genesis added.
I arched a brow. “How can you tell?”
“I can’t describe it. I just know these things.”
I blinked, in awe that I was the only one with reason at a time like this. “This isn’t up for discussion. He could chop up my body into tiny little pieces!” I exclaimed.
One by one, we all slowly swiveled our heads and looked to the biker in question.
I suddenly clapped a hand over my mouth and giggled, watching the little dance he was doing to whatever music must be playing in his helmet.
His arms and shoulders were doing most of the work, his bike rocking and swaying with his bouncing, happy-go-lucky movements.
The light turned green, and he put his bike into gear and took off ahead of us as Skylar searched for the gas pedal.
Genesis must’ve urged Skylar to go faster from the back seat because she colorfully flipped her off before securing her hand tightly back on the wheel.
The light up ahead turned yellow and then red before we could make it through. Motorcycle Man could’ve easily shot ahead while it was still green and be long gone by now, but he hadn’t. He was stopped right next to me once again.
His confidence and persistence made me both wary and excited.
“Well, now you have to go for it. He’s stopped next to us twice. And he looks harmless,” Skylar said.
“How do you know it’s even me he’s gesturing to?” I asked, forgetting that the windows were rolled down.
Skylar shouted something at the man, and I fought to cover her mouth, but she’d already gotten the words out. Her eyes lit up with a prideful gleam, and I knew she had gotten the answer she was searching for.
I peeked around enough to see the man pointing at me and then quickly snapped my head back to my friends.
Genesis could’ve smooched me right on the nose; she was so close. “See!”
“No way!” I told her, too scared to turn and face him again.
“Why not?”
“This is your bachelorette party! Tonight is about you! We’re supposed to rally!” I insisted.
She cocked her head and raised a brow at me.
“I rallied enough in my twenties! I’m going home to my man, and I’m going to tell him all the dirty things I want to do to him in the morning because I’m far too drunk and tired to do them tonight.
And then he’s going to make me a giant bowl of mac and cheese, stroke my hair, and tell me how pretty I am. ”
“My word, I envy you,” Skylar said.
“I know. It’s awesome.” Genesis nodded proudly. “Now, if you don’t get on the back of that man’s bike when we reach this next stoplight, I will uninvite you to my wedding.”
Skylar rolled forward as the light changed. We had one more light before the freeway entrance, my last chance of stopping.
I pursed my lips at her threat. “You wouldn’t dare.”
“I’m stubborn as hell, and I don’t like to be proven wrong. Try me.” Genesis narrowed her eyes.
“Wow. Rude. But … okay,” I replied, feeling an immediate surge of adrenaline.
I looked between the two of them, heart racing, and then shifted myself forward in the seat.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
Am I really going to do this?
His lights flickered in the side mirror, getting closer. I couldn’t stop the giant grin from forming on my face. My cheeks warmed, and I giggled.
Skylar poked at me teasingly, and I flinched, giggling harder. I hadn’t felt this giddy in forever. It felt silly, like I’d look back on this tomorrow and be embarrassed. But it also felt … fucking incredible.
The light up ahead came into view, but it was still green.
Shit. I hadn’t thought about it not being red. Now what? We were about to get on the freeway. What if I’d already blown my chance?
Disappointment settled into my shoulders as he rode up to my window, giving me a flirtatious wave of his fingers.
I glanced between him and the light, then back at him, giving him a nod and a smile he wouldn’t mistake.
Propping his hand up on the thigh of his jeans, he righted himself in excitement, instantly understanding my message.
Oh my God. I’ve committed. Okay. I can do this.
My heartbeat accelerated as we neared the last light, both of us glancing ahead and back at one another, begging the universe to change it to yellow.
I felt Skylar lift her foot off the gas, slowing the car down as if it’d already turned, even though I was still willing it to with every fiber of my being.
Biker Man followed suit, never leaving my window.
Come on. Come on.
Time slowed. My heart thrashed against my rib cage. Each breath I took seemed to lead me closer to losing him. Losing this opportunity.
And then it turned.
It freaking turned.
The neon-yellow light flashed just before turning red, causing my friends to riot in celebration.
I looked over at him, shakily unbuckling my seat belt so I was ready to go when the car completely stopped. His chest shook with laughter at what I assumed was an embarrassing display Genesis and Skylar were giving behind me. But I was too scared to look. Too focused on my next move.
And his eyes.
He’d lifted his visor, giving me a glimpse of his face, and that alone validated my suspicions of him being … well … hot.