Chapter Forty-One: Happy Birthday

The hardness of his broad back is comfortable and warm compared to the cool of the evening.

I should have skipped the helmet; the feeling of the wind in my hair is what I want, but either way, this is close.

My eyes fly to the lights in the shops, at their dazzling brightness. I thought this would be scary, but it's not; even the sound of the motorbike's engine as we weave through traffic seems to want to put me to sleep with its repetitive yet smooth hum.

Everything feels more vivid than it does when travelling by car, like I am not watching life pass me by, but rather, I am at its helm.

The urge to scream, or is it to howl(?), finds my lungs, so I try and loosen my hold against his abs, ready to lift my arms and scream, only he grabs them with one hand and presses them against his stomach.

"Don't let go."

He yells against the rushing wind.

I want to grumble but he is the expert here.

“Okay!”

I yell in response then rest my head on his comfy warm back, letting my eyes seal to