Page 31 of Fight
I pulled the jacket on, tugging where it didn't want to slide easily over the leather I was already wearing, and then slid the helmet onto my head, careful not to push my hair into my face, snapped the strap and tightened it.I watched Devon climb onto the bike, he flipped down a pair of foot pegs before he kicked over the engine and waived that he was ready.I climbed on behind him, wrapped both arms around him, and held on tight.
We went to a nice steakhouse, one I'd only been to a couple of times.My outfit was out of place, but neither of us cared.We had dressed to suit ourselves, not others.After dinner, we got back on Devon's Harley, and went for a ride.Devon stuck mostly to fringe roads, ones rarely used by anyone who didn't live along them.I loved the beat of the wind against my face as we sped along the dark road and the rough vibrations of the engine beneath us.
Afterward, I carried my helmet into Devon's apartment and saw that he'd pushed the furniture to the edges of the room, leaving a large open space so we could dance.
"What do you normally dance to?"He dropped his helmet onto the sofa, as he passed it to pick up the remote.He turned on the screen so he could find the right music
"Generally anything loud and fast, but I don't know if that's what I want tonight."
"You trust me to pick something?"
"Sure.I trust you to do a lot more than pick out dance music, you know that."
"It’s good to check once in a while."He chuckled, punching buttons to bring up the music he was after.
I shrugged out of the black leather jacket and hung it in the front closet where he kept it.
"Do you mind if I use your restroom?"I knew he wouldn't care, but I was being polite.
"You know where it is."He replied."Do you want me to fix you something to drink?"
"That sounds great,"
"What would you like?"
"Surprise me."
I freshened up; fixing the worst of my flattened and windblown hair and checking to make sure my make-up was still where it was supposed to be before rejoining Devon.As I walked into the living room, he handed me a shot glass.
"Start with that, then I mixed us up something a little sweeter."
I threw the shot back, tipping my head and letting the fiery liquid flow down my throat."Tequila?"I asked, handing him the small glass.
"Yep, you like it?"
"It’s a good one, smooth."
"It’s my favorite, a little hard to find, but it's worth it."He carried the shot glasses into the kitchen and returned with two tall glasses.Their contents were strangely layered, orange near the bottom blending to a deep red at the top.
I frowned, trying to figure out what it was."What is that?"I finally asked.
"It’s called a Tequila Sunrise."He handed me one."They were really popular about fifty years ago.An army buddy introduced me to them, and I thought you might like it."
"It does look a lot like a sunrise."I admitted, taking a small sip."Oh, tart!"
"That’s the grenadine on top, there's orange juice and tequila in there too.Stir it up, the flavors blend really well."
I used the small straw in the glass to stir the drink until it was a solid color, and sipped it again."This really is good."I gave him a sly look."Hey, I thought you big, tough Army guys didn't do mixed drinks.Shooters and beer were okay, but mixing things into them made them girly drinks."
He grinned."I didn't say it was a guy."
I laughed."You got me there."I took another drink before asking."Are we gonna dance or what?"
"Yeah."He set his glass down and aimed the remote at the screen, making the first notes of electric guitar music, swell to fill the room."Not exactly club music, but I thought we could start here."
The beat was fast, and I closed my eyes and stood, I let the music draw me in before starting to move to the rhythm vibrating through my body.I took a long drink, and set my glass down before turning back to Devon.I danced closer to him, intent on getting him to come dance with me.I reached, and pulled him closer but not against me, the music was still too fast for that.
We danced for several songs before I stepped away and reached for my glass."I need a few minutes."I took several drinks, enjoying the feeling of the cool liquid flowing down my throat.
