“Well now I'm intrigued. So what was it?”
“You have to come outside. Are you finished all your work?”
“Done and dusted.” I tap the top of my laptop.
“Brilliant. And are you free the rest of the day?”
“Free as a bird.”
“Okay then let's go.”
I jump down from my bar stool, stow my laptop in its bag, and Buckie and I head out the front door of the club. I stop dead as I catch a glimpse of the beautiful shiny motorbike sitting by the kerbside. I turn and look at him with a huge smile on my face.
“Oh my God, are you freaking kidding me? I haven't seen this thing in five years.”
“Neither had I. I didn't even know he was working on it. As far as I knew it had been sold. I told my parents when I left to sell it and keep the money they made on it. My dad has done an absolute blinder on it. It's had a whole new paint job and he had the wheels refurbed. It's like a new machine.”
“Is this why you came here, to take me out for a spin?”
“Of course I did. I remember how much you loved going out on the bike and I knew you were the only person I wanted on the back of it with me.”
“How do you fancy a run up the west coast, then back down and we can stay at my parents tonight? They'd love to see you again.”
“That would be wonderful. I’m glad I wore warm clothes today. I almost put a dress on. Can we swing by my place to pick up some clean clothes?”
“Sure. I brought this for you.” He opens his backpack and pulls out a helmet. Not just any helmet, mine.
“Wow, you kept this? I can't believe you kept this.” I take it from him and smile as I study it.
“Everything I had at home at my parents’ old house moved to their new house with them. Like I said I didn't know my dad was doing this. I was so happy when I realised the helmets were still there.”
“It really is a beautiful refurbishment.”
I set the helmet on the seat and twist my hair up into a bun. I secure my backpack, put on my helmet and give him a thumbs up. He flashes me that beautiful white smile and puts his own helmet on. He throws his leg over the seat, and I hop on behind him. Then put my arms around his waist and feel his rock-hard abs under his T-shirt. I'm a little uneasy because this is doing things to me that I don't want to feel. Buckie starts the bike up and it rumbles under us. It still has that same roar that takes me right back to when we were young and carefree. As we set off towards the motorway, I force myself to stay focused on enjoying myself with my friend. And trying not to get my heart broken again.