Well, she's trying.
She can't reach around me all the way, her hands gripping fistfuls of my leather jacket at my sides instead.
"YOU GOOD?" I shout over the wind.
Her helmet—my helmet, because there was no fucking way she was getting on this bike without it—bonks against my spine as she nods.
She loves this.
I can tell because every time I gun it coming out of a turn, her grip tightens and she makes this tiny, cute thrilled sound that I hear even over the wind.
The mountains up here are dense as fuck with pine. It's beautiful out here in a creepy, isolated way. Like the whole town got left behind by civilization, or maybe everyone was eaten by cryptids, or something.
It's actually kind of a vibe.
We stop at a gas station near the care facility to fill up and stretch. Ivy peels herself off the bike with wobbly legs and immediately starts doing stretches by the pump, looking like an adorable bobblehead in the oversized helmet.
"Don't fall over," I warn her.
She kicks dust up at me, giggling, and goes back to stretching.
I swear she's stretching with her back arching and her butt out to torture me on purpose. Especially since I'm not gonna be getting any all weekend. This camping trip is for her and Wraith, and no one else.
My girl's finally getting her last mark.
I lean against Hogzilla and pull out my phone while the tank fills. We've still got signal here, barely, so I throw my arm around Ivy's shoulders and hold the phone out.
"Proof of life," I announce. "Smile, wildcat."
She throws up a peace sign and grins. I make my dumbest face, tongue out, the foggy dark mountains looming behind us all dramatic and shit.
WHISKEY
Made it to Cedarbrook in one piece bros
Your girl is alive and having a sick fuckin time on my bike
THANE
Thank the gods.
Drive safe on the way back.
I mean it, Whiskey.
WHISKEY
Sir yes SIR
IVY
The ride was AMAZING
I need my own bike
THANE
Ivyyyyy