Page 40 of Ruck Me Harder

As I step closer to her, I catch a whiff of her sweet strawberry perfume. I quickly check the fit on her helmet, making sure she’s secured.

“Have you ridden a motorcycle before?” I ask, swinging my leg over.

Vivienne shakes her head. “First time for everything.”

I like that we can have some firsts together. Helps make up for our negative first time.

“Climb on behind me and wrap your arms around my waist.”

Her eyes brighten teasingly as she does so, and a shiver goes through me at the innocent contact. “Like this?”

Her hands settle innocently on my obliques. I can feel the heat of her through my shirt and jacket.

My mouth goes dry. “Yeah. That’s… that’s good.”

It takes me a few moments to regroup before I turn the bike back on and pull out into traffic.

Navigating the streets of Boston is second nature for me. I grew up here, and aside from my four years at Berkeley, I’ve spent my entire adult life here. Driving through the city with a gorgeous woman on my bike? I’ve never experienced anything like this.

Dinner and drinks are the cliché first date, so that’s exactly what I didn’t want. It’s a little chilly for a picnic. A museum feels stuffy. There are so many historical places in the city to sight-see, but that didn’t feel right, either. Any sort of physical activity like ice skating is definitely not allowed, not when I’m this close to Worlds selection, and she’s in training.

So when we pull up to the Boston Garden, I can see her confusion and disappointment when she takes off her helmet.

“You brought me to a hockey game?”

“Basketball.” I hold my breath. “It’s something neither of us have any ties to, I don’t know anyone on the team, and it’s better than staring awkwardly at each other from across a table.”

To my surprise, she cracks a grin. “I dig it.”

She hands me the helmet to stow it away, and then before I know what’s happened, she’s grabbing my hand and lacing our fingers together.

“If you brought me to see your brother play, I’d have been disappointed,” she admits. “We can do that anytime.”

“Your friends are connected to the team. It wouldn’t be special. I wanted something for us, but still casual.”

Her eyebrows arch up. “Is that what you’re looking for? Casual?”

“I didn’t want to take you to a fancy restaurant that reminds me of my job,” I tell her honestly. “I can bring you Michelin-starred food any night you want. Eating that way is not part of my diet plan, at least right now.”

“Because you’re gearing up for a competition.”

“World championships.” I nod. As we approach the check stand, I scan our tickets to gain entry, then take her hand again. “I have a pretty good shot of making the team. There are five spots, plus two alternates. The team needs my vault score to make the finals.”

“I don’t know much about gymnastics,” Vivienne says. “The basics, yeah. Simone Biles is the greatest of all the time. Maybe it makes me a bad athlete.”

“Not at all. I didn’t know anything about rugby before the last Olympics.”

She smiles, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. “Yeah? Did us bringing home the silver medal change that?”

“Nope.” I tug on her hand until she turns to face me. “You did.”

seventeen

. . .

Viv

Our seats are in the upper level in the middle of a row. I like that Tony didn’t try to use his brother’s connections to get prime seats or spots in a suite. I’ve got connections of my own. Asking for favors doesn’t impress me. People have used me enough; I won’t stand for anyone else to be used, either. Maybe some people would want to be treated that way, but I’m more interested in getting to know him, not what he can do for me.