Before I can move toward him, a familiar warmth slides up next to me. “They have a tandem bike. I think we should rent it.”
“Alex, you’re gonna get us fired, dickwad!” the kid with the braces scolds his friend.
“Whatever, Todd. Your dad owns the place!”
“Uhm,” Todd stutters, looking at us. “I could give you a discount if you don’t say anything to the owner about Alex being a douche. I kind of need this job. So does he.”
I’m staring Alex down, and he’s starting to sweat. He shoves his hands deep into his pockets and mumbled, “Uh, so, like, I’m sorry I was acting like a primate in heat.” It sounds like he’s reading off a script. “Please don’t complain to my uncle. He’s already pretty pissed at me because I never show up on time.”
Lexi has to fight back a giggle. “Apology accepted. How about we call it even and you give us the bike for an extra hour?”
“No shit? Yeah, totally! That doesn’t even show up on the log, bro!” Todd takes us outside to the bike and gives us both a quick rundown on safety as Alex gets distracted by a group of teenage girls with accents.
Lexi waits till they’re both back inside, then turns to me, laughing. “How badly did you threaten him?”
“Barely. Kid’s just a dumbass. He did say you looked lovely in that dress, though.”
“Lovely isn’t in his vocabulary,” she hums as her hand slides over mine on the handlebar.
“Yeah, you’re right.” I lean into her. “I agree with his assessment, though; your tits are banging. I’m sure he was about to be just as eloquent in describing your ass.”
“Oh my god, you’re both idiots.” She grabs my shirt and pulls me in for a soft, slow kiss. I could kiss her all day. Someday I will. Someday, I’ll do nothing but make her come until she begs me to stop. I’ll listen to those intoxicating moans while she digs those nails into my hair. “So, would it be okay to walk it around the corner before hopping on? If I make a fool of myself, I’d rather it not be in front of those guys.”
I can’t stop looking at her and realizing that I’m finally seeing the real her. She’s sassy and brilliant with enough confidence for me to forget how fragile she can be. The combination of strength and beautywhile she stands beside me takes my breath away. She’s letting me in to see her authentic self, the woman she’s meant to be, the one I fell for with a glance, and I don’t think she even knows it.
This is my Lexi. Brilliant and unbroken. She doesn’t hide behind sarcasm and wit; she wields them like blades. Her parents tried to force this version of her into the darkness because they know this is the one they should fear. This is the phoenix that will burn their empire to the ground and dance in their ashes.
“What are you thinking about?”
“How badly I hope to be by your side when the world begs your forgiveness, and you unleash that raging fire inside you.”
“Wow, okay,” she snorts, pulling the bike around the corner. “I was expecting something about me falling off this bike and onto my ass, and a little less deep there, pal.”
I could tell her I love her right now. I’d mean it, too. I love her.
We take a couple of tries to work out our timing and for Lexi to get comfortable steering for two, but eventually, we’re on our way. We cruise nice and slow down a beach that’s emptier than I’ve seen since the lockdown a few years ago. Even the gulls aren’t out in force, probably because there’s no one to swipe food from. We stop at a handful of street vendors and check out Muscle Park, and I get some fantastic shots that even the clouds can’t ruin.
We’ve been going for a while when Lexi brings us to a stop and puts her feet down. She spins around, eyes wide with surprise and child-like excitement.
“Wait! That’s the fucking Ferris wheel!”
“You know, if you’d come down here more than once every fifteen years, you would know that Venice Beach and Santa Monica Pier aren’t too far away from each other.”
“But I thought it was, like, miles!” Her expression changes as she pouts and bats her eyes at me.
If she asked me to jump into the water and fight a great white shark with my bare hands right now, I’d absolutely do it. Good luck, Jaws. I’m here to win the heart of my beautiful bike mate and muse. I’m unstoppable!
“Do you think we could go on the Ferris wheel? We couldn’t go on when we got here because it was already closed.”
That sounds much better than fighting a shark. “Absolutely, Angel. In fact, it’s a Los Angeles requirement that you’re 15 years behind on.”
My phone rings and as I’m pulling it from my pocket, a giant beach ball knocks into the side of us. Neither of us is ready for it, so we go down with a crash, bags, equipment, and both of us hitting the ground hard.
“God fucking damnit! Lex, are you okay, Angel?” I hop up and pull the bike off her as she winces. Blood is pouring out of a long, hopefully shallow gash. Without hesitation, I pull off my shirt and grab the bottle of water from her bag so I can wash the sand and blood from her leg. Two kids run over, grab the ball, and then take off in the opposite direction, not an adult anywhere to be seen. “Idiots. This is why I like about five kids in the whole world.”
“The cameras!” she shouts and winces at the same time.
“What?”
