Page 13 of Little Sparrow

I’m not really sure what to say to that, I’m glad he’s sleeping better, but sad he wasn’t getting a full night in the first place.

“What do you like to do for fun? You know what I like, it’s your turn.” I ask him, wanting to know him more. I’m curious as to what type of man he is during the day.

“I have a motorbike. I love to ride around my city. The views are beautiful, especially by the sea and it makes me feel free. No family expectations.” A sad expression flashes across his face. It was quick, but I noticed it.

But still, I need to hide what I saw, he obviously didn’t want me to see, so I push away the questions and beam up at him. “Really? That sounds amazing, the wind blowing through my hair.” I close my eyes and try to imagine it.

He chuckles. When I open my eyes, he is shaking his head. I send him a questioning gaze, hoping for an explanation. “If you were on my bike, you wouldn’t be feeling the wind running through your hair. I’d make sure you had a helmet on. But you could feel the breeze along your skin.” His finger grazes over my shoulder and down my arm, just a gentle touch, but enough to spread goosebumps over my body.

“One day I’ll do it. I’ll go on the back of a motorbike. It’s now on my bucket list.” I smile, trying to hide my shaky voice.

“Bucket list?” He raises an eyebrow, lips twitching in the corner of his mouth.

“Yeah, a list of things to do before I die.” I lift my shoulder in a half shrug.

He shakes his head again. “I know what a bucket list is. Why do you have one?”

“Well, it helps me live life on the wild side when I’m not working. I help support my dad. My mum left when I was a kid. London isn’t cheap. But I can’t imagine being anywhere else. My dad and friends are all I have now.” My eyes widen, I didn’t mean to spill my life story, not like I even have a wild side anyway. “Forget I said all that. I don’t usually offload on people I don’t know that well.”

“It’s okay, we know each other now, not in the way most people do, but being able to dream together makes us different. Your dad must appreciate all your help too.” He gives me a sympathetic look. I sigh and turn away. A light touch on my shoulder makes me turn back to him.

“Maybe I’ll take you out on the back of my bike sometime. Show you the views around Italy. If you’re lucky, I’ll take you to my favourite spot.”

Heat rises on my cheeks, but a huge grin spreads across my face. Butterflies flutter in my belly. Does this mean we get to meet? “That would be perfect.” I gaze into the distance, getting lost in the image of us speeding past the beach. My hands raised in the air with the wind passing through my fingers. I can almost taste the seabreeze. Smell the salt in the air from the ocean.

“Do you drive?” He snaps me from my thoughts and I blink a few times to bring me back to the moment.

“Not yet, but I’m about to start lessons. My provisional licence came today so I can book it all and finally learn.” My hands clasp together. I’ve been so excited to start driving, I could have gotten it last year, but I wanted to save my money so I have enough for my rainy day fund.

“You’re looking forward to it.” He smiles. It’s not a question but my head moves up and down anyway, my grin is so wide my cheeks ache. “I definitely am, it’s one more step toward freedom.”

“Do you not have that now?” He asks, curiosity in his tone.

“Well, sometimes I don’t feel it, I’m stuck in this place. I want to go to university, get a career. Make something of myself. Travel and live life to its fullest.” I sigh and play with the tips of my hair, in reality I know I couldn’t do those things. If I leave, my dad can’t pay rent and the bills. I’d consider backpacking across Europe, but even that would take too much time away.

“What would you want to do in University?” He asks, I look up at him into his dark eyes and think to myself, do I even have an answer for that? Knowing my reality, I hadn’t given it much thought, so I stood in front of him with my mouth open and nothing to say. He hums in thought.

“Maybe I can help you get some freedom while you’re here? Would it still count?” He reaches out and runs his fingers gently through the hair I had been playing with. My mouth goes dry and I lick my lips.

“How?” I eventually ask. He moves closer, just a few inches, but I suck in a breath anyway.

“Create my bike, I’ll take you on it.”

“What?” I stutter, am I ready for that, I’ve only just made my work bar and I see it all the time, to create a bike I had never seen. It wouldn’t be possible.

“Do you know what a Ducati is?” He asks with a raised brow.

I purse my lips, I have no idea what that is. I wish I had google right now to know what he means.

“It’s okay if you don’t, just imagine any motorbike you have seen. I believe in you.” Sincerity shines in his eyes. He really does. So I do as he says and my eyes close, his warm hands hold onto mine and brings them to either side of his face. I see a flicker of an image. A motorbike.

“My bikes black, in case you were wondering about the colour.” I whisper ‘okay’ but don’t tell him I can already see the faint image from his mind.

My lips tilt up and the motorbike builds in my mind, the engine, wheels, sleek black paint job, handlebars. All the details he has, coming together piece by piece. I try to imagine how every inch of it would feel under my touch. Smooth cold metal, leather seats and the rubber handle bars.

A warmth runs under my nose and I open my eyes, Dante looks concerned and I notice blood on his thumb. Where is he bleeding from?

“It’s yours.” He says, as though he’s reading my thoughts. My brows furrow and I touch under my nose. “It happened last time too, I think you’re straining yourself. Too much, too fast maybe?”

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