Falling for Danger

Ride out to the Lake

Cole

“Ok, Cole, you can do this,” I muttered as I took a deep breath and approached the front door. When I had asked Tori if she would join me on a motorbike ride, I hadn't exactly expected her to say yes – even though I had been hopeful. It wasn’t a date, at least, I hadn't asked her out like that, but I loved spending time with her. Just the two of us and it made my heart race in a way I hadn't felt before. I took another deep breath and knocked on the door. A moment later, a radiant Tori pulled open the door. She looked relaxed, excited, and a tiny bit nervous.

“Hey, Cole,” she greeted me with a bright smile, and I couldn’t help but smile back.

“Hey,”

“I just…I want you to know that this is a first for me. I have never been on a motorbike before,” she informed me as she stepped outside and closed the door behind her.

“Don’t worry, I will make sure you enjoy your first ride…but before we leave, there are a few things you need to keep in mind,” I said as I handed her a helmet. “The first thing is to keep your hands on me. You can hold onto my shoulders or around my waist…try it out and see which one feels more natural and comfortable to you. The second thing is to lean with me when we turn, it will help keep the balance…since we won’t be able to communicate, if you feel scared just tap me twice on my shoulder and I will pull off the road…ok?”

“Ok,” she said as she gave me a thumbs up. I helped her slip on the helmet, and I slipped on mine. As soon as I was on the bike, Tori climbed on behind me. Almost immediately, she settled her hands on my shoulders, and I felt a twinge of disappointment as I started the bike. However, a moment later, she slipped her arms around my waist, and I felt like I was on top of the world. I revved the engine and carefully took off. The vineyard was beautiful and while it was a nice enough drive, I couldn't wait to get onto the road. And when we did hit the road, I felt her tighten her arms around my waist. I loved every second of it as we rode along the winding roads, surrounded by rolling hills, fields, and trees that seemed to stretch on forever. The morning light bathed everything in a golden glow and the scent of wildflowers filled the air. I glanced back every now and then, and all I saw was her smile. It felt like we were the only two people in the world and I loved it. When we arrived at the lake, I felt the loss of her touch instantly.

“Here we are,” I announced unnecessarily.

“This place is beautiful, Cole,” Tori said as she climbed off the bike and slipped off the helmet. “And that ride…I have no words,” she added, and I smiled as I removed a bag from the compartment.

“It’s freeing, isn’t it?”

“It felt like I was flying…it was incredible,” she said, and I smiled as I took out a small blanket from the bag and laid it down on the grass. I then took out the sandwiches and drinks I had packed. It certainly wasn’t much, but judging by the way Tori was looking at me, I had a feeling she was happy. “Is this a date, Cole?” Tori asked, and if it wasn’t for the teasing in her voice, I would have panicked.

“I think…I think you would know if I had asked you on a date,” I said as I did my best to play it cool. Tori laughed as she settled down on the blanket. I handed over a sandwich and drink before I got comfortable next to her. Tori and I immediately relaxed as we ate and talked about the ride. I loved talking to her, and it felt like I could share anything with her.

“It is such a beautiful day,” Tori remarked, and I smirked as I watched the mischievous look in her eyes. “How about we go for a swim?”

“That sounds like a great idea,” I agreed. Of course, I hadn't really thought it through until she stood up and started to undress. I immediately looked away even though all I wanted to do was look at her. I hurriedly stood up and removed my own clothes – I left my boxers on. When I finally looked over at her, Tori was already headed toward the lake. Her underwear was mismatched, and I found that endearing and cute. The coolness of the lake was refreshing as we stepped into the lake. The water was refreshing, and I admired how clear it looked under the shimmering sunlight. I couldn’t resist diving in. I emerged beside Tori, and she laughed as she brushed the wet her from her face. We swam together for a while, splashing and laughing. It was fun and carefree and when we got out, I never wanted to leave. I wanted to stay in that moment with her for as long as possible. We lay down on the blanket and let the sun dry our bodies. Eventually, we got dressed, packed up, and got back onto the bike. The ride home felt a lot faster, but it had been such a great day.

“Thank you, Cole. I had an amazing time,” Tori said, and I smiled as I looked away. “I mean it, Cole. I had a lot of fun,” I nodded, and I was surprised when she gave me a quick side hug. It was brief, but it was such a nice gesture that I wasn’t about to second guess it as I gave her a quick hug back. I watched as she headed inside, and I smiled. It had been an amazing day, and as I got back onto my bike, I couldn’t help but imagine us doing it again.