Page 50 of Why Not Us?

“Even a bag of chips or something?”

“No, Adalie. You don’t need to bring anything. Looks like you did, though.” I gesture to the bag she has with her.

“Oh, this is a change of clothes for after. I don’t really like wearing pants.”

I almost trip over my own damn feet at an image of Adalie, pants less, those legs wrapped around me. Fuck my life.

We’ve talked on the phone every night since Monday. The more I talk to her, the more I want to talk to her. I’d originally believed we could never work for a few reasons, a big one being because we’re too different. But as I get to know her, I find myself admiring her kindness and strength. Which makes me want her even more.

I clear my throat. “I brought the helmet and jacket here that you borrowed last time instead of putting them back in storage at Hops Scotch. They’re in my bedroom.”

Adalie follows me, stopping in the doorway to my room. When I turn back to her with the riding gear, she’s looking at my bed. Maybe we don’t have to go on a ride today. Maybe I’ll tell Taylor I’m not feeling great and let him go without me.

Then I firmly remind myself, as much as I like her, as much as I want her, she’s still my daughter’s friend. A relationship between us would be dangerous and could hurt Dani if it doesn’t work out and my track record with relationships proves it probably won’t. It isn’t just how different we are that made me think it wouldn’t work. It’s that I suck at relationships of all kinds. I’ve always found it difficult to connect with people, leading me to a life as a bit of a loner.

She takes the jacket and helmet, and we go outside where Taylor has already uncovered the bikes.

“Hey, Adalie,” he says. “You ready for this? It’s going to be quite a long ride.”

“I’m actually kind of excited,” she says, proving it with the sparkle in her eyes and the only slightly nervous smile on her face. “It was so fun riding with Nate last time. I’ve wanted to do it again ever since.”

I go to my bike, maneuvering it around so I can walk it out of the yard, trying not to think too hard about that first ride with Adalie and how she’d kissed me, how I’d kissed her back.

We’ve just about reached the road when the rumble of three motorcycles comes toward us. Zach, Mace, and Doug stop in front of my house, each one pulling up and removing their helmets, but not turning off the engines or getting off the bikes.

“You guys ready?” Mace calls.

“Almost,” Taylor says, parking his bike and returning to help me. Or, more specifically, to help Adalie.

“The wives aren’t coming?” she asks, shrugging into the jacket and zipping it up. It’s a bit too big for her and covers up all that purple, but at least this time, her jeans still look like her.

“They’re probably together,” I say. “They’ll be over later.”

She tugs on a pair of gloves I’d also loaned her and puts on the helmet. Taylor stands next to her as she climbs on behind me, reminding her where to keep her feet.

Then he taps her helmet. “You’re already a pro. You’re not going to need me anymore,” he says before going to his own bike and climbing on.

We start our engines, and the five motorcycles roll out of the neighbourhood. It takes a little while, riding through the back roads, until we get onto the highway and really open up. As soon as I accelerate, Adalie’s grip on me tightens, but she doesn’t pull and settles quickly.

We make our way through North Vancouver, the city on either side of the highway until it falls away, showing off mountains on our right and the sparkling water of Howe Sound on our left. I don’t care so much about the scenery, but I can see the beauty of it. I like this ride mostly because there’s not a lot of traffic and we cruise without needing to slow or stop. Doug rides in front with Mace behind him. I’m in the middle, Taylor and Zach bringing up the rear.

As we make our way up the Sea-to-Sky, I find myself wondering what Adalie thinks about what she sees. Is she more interested in the water or the mountains? Has she ever been to the Mine Museum in Britannia Beach? Did she notice the people rock-climbing on the face of The Chief?

When we pull into the McDonald’s parking lot in Squamish, I have a million things I want to ask her, but when she hops off and removes the helmet, I forget every one of them at the sight of her grin and the excitement in her eyes. I find myself grinning back, hoping she gets carried away again.

She doesn’t, hugging me tight when I’ve also gotten off the bike, but not kissing me.

“That was so much fun,” she says, backing away.

Everyone else has parked, Zach and Taylor heading inside to buy milkshakes.

“I completely understand why you love it,” Adalie says, unzipping her jacket and pulling off the gloves. It’s a pretty warm day for April, but not too hot. Perfect weather for riding. “It feels like flying. And you can’t talk to anyone, so you get to sit with the scenery and the sound of the motorcycles. It’s like meditation. But you still have the camaraderie of the people around you.” She wraps her arms around her middle, bouncing on the balls of her feet, her eyes sparkling with mirth as she looks at me. “I especially understand why you like it.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I ask, but I’m smiling as well.

“You don’t like to talk,” she says.

Doug and Mace laugh at that. Doug claps me on the shoulder. “How does it feel to be called out?”

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