Page 49 of Untouchable

“The only thing I can imagine comes close to being qualified asfunfor Ace, is riding.” The guys walk ahead of me, but I stop to look over to where Ace’s bike is parked, wondering if that’s true. Does he have no other hobbies he enjoys? I can’t imagine how dull life would feel if I didn’t have hobbies; photography, mad libs…Tabitha. She’s not exactly a hobby, but she’s the person I do all the things that make me laugh with, so I feel like that counts. Whether it’s sitting on the couch watching a comedy special, laughing at the ridiculous Mad Libs answers, or telling old stories that make us laugh until our stomachs hurt, she’s my smile source.

Maybe Ace needs one too.

CHAPTER 27

Ace

“SWEET AND SOUR”

Ihaven’t ridden through the night since my trip back to Nashville, but after seeing Kat at the pool, I knew I needed to avoid her having another sleepless night because I am not in the right headspace to make sound decisions. So I did the only rational thing and took away the possibility of sleep at all. Within an hour we’re packed, checked out, and headed west. We stop around sunset to eat dinner and fill up the tanks, then it’s back on the road. I worried at first that Kat might get bored being on the road with no way to talk during the drives. Because while I enjoy the uninterrupted time to think, or just bask in the silence, I know not everyone feels the same. I assume someone like Katarina would enjoy things like talking, listening to podcasts, or playing road trip games. Though I could be way off and she might enjoy the hum of the bike and otherwise silent trip just as much. The moon is high in the sky, lighting up the highway with its brilliance. The moon has always fascinated me. Depending on what phase it’s in, it can either be the most undeniably beautiful thing in the universe, unable to be ignored or it hides away, nearly impossible to see unless you’re looking really closely for it. Katarina reminds me of the moon in that way. Mysterious, beautiful, and all-consuming.

I’m losing my sanity a little more with every second I’m in her presence, which is concerning seeing as how we’re not even halfway to the destination I have in mind for us. Her hands keep mindlessly traveling up and down my body, making it hard to focus on anything else. I’d drive all the way to Alaska if it meant she’d keep touching me like this. I see an exit sign and motion to the guys that we’re going to stop for a fill-up. It’s just after midnight, so I think we can still manage a few hundred more miles before we need to stop for good.

“Do you have any hobbies?” I turn around to see Katarina staring at me with her arms crossed over her chest. I look around, trying to figure out where this random ass question came from, but all I can see is Mikey and Bodine inside the store looking for a snack.

“Um, no.” I turn back around and watch the numbers climb rapidly on the screen in front of me.

“I’m serious, Ace.” Her childlike argument makes me smile.

“So am I.”

“So you just work at the garage, go to the clubhouse to glare at people, and call it a day?”

“For the most part.”

“Ah ha!” The pump stops and I finish up, turning to see her with a wicked grin on her face.

“It’s far too late in the night for you to be this worked up over me having a hobby,” I tell her, sitting on my bike as she watches me.

“It’s this or I fall asleep and fall off the back of this bike. Tell me what it is.” She walks closer, placing her hands on the handlebars.

“No.”

“So there is one!” I lean in closer, watching the wild look in her eyes intensify.

“You’re exhausting.”

She rolls her eyes and lets go, walking to the side of the bike. “Whatever. I’ll figure it out eventually.” She slides on the back of the bike and I pull my bandana off, holding both of her wrists in my hand.

“What are you doing?” she asks, doing her best to tug them away from me.

“I’m not risking you falling.” I tie them tight, hearing her suck a breath in through her teeth when I do.

“Ace, come on, this hurts. I was kidding.”

“Well, I’m afraid I take your safety very seriously.” Mikey and Bodine come back out and when Mikey stops at his bike, Bodine walks over to me, handing me a bag of sour gummy worms.

“Everyone needs road snacks.” He shrugs. I smile at him and bump his fist. “Don’t tell Mikey, I made him pay in nickels for his because he’s out of cash and their machine is busted.”

I smile at him playfully. “I always knew I was your favorite.”

“You know I got a soft spot for you, Papi.”

“Rude.” Katarina grabs his attention. “I like snacks too.” He looks at me, a fake nervousness on his face.

“She’ll be fine.” Bodine shrugs, walking back over to his bike and I can practically hear her mouth fall open.

“Traitor!” I open the bag of snacks, pulling out a pink and blue crawler, turning to shove it in her mouth.

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