ONE Night On His Bike

They Are Taking

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*CHAPTER 11:

Monday. 9:00 AM. Bank.

I hadn’t even logged into my computer.

*Coworker 1:* _leans over_ "Sooo... cafe on 5th. Saturday."

*Coworker 2:* "The video?? With logistics guy??"

*Coworker 1:* "Yeah him. Grabbed the other guy’s wrist. Said 'she’s with me'."

*Coworker 3:* _to me_ "That was you, right? The girl in the red dress?"

My face burned. I pretended to type.

*"I don’t know what you’re talking about,"* I mumbled.

*Coworker 2:* "Girl it’s on someone’s story. 200 views already."

*Coworker 1:* "He looked mad protective. Like... husband material protective."

*Coworker 3:* "Or scary. Depends."

My phone buzzed.

Him: *"Heard it’s going around. You okay?"*

Me: *"Fine. Just tired. Don’t come today."*

Delete.

Me: *"I’m fine."*

Send.

6:15 PM. My apartment.

Knock knock.

I opened the door and there he was. Helmet. Jeans. That look.

*"You said you were fine,"* he said.

*"I am,"* I said.

*"Cool,"* he said. *"Then you won’t mind if I come in for 5 minutes to make sure 'fine' means fine."*

I stepped aside. He didn’t sit. Just stood there, looking at me.

*"The office is talking,"* I said finally.

*"I know,"* he said. *"Let them."*

*"What?"*

*"Let them gossip,"* he said. Sharp. *"Let them say I claimed you. Let them say I grabbed a guy in a cafe. Because it’s true."*

I stared at him.

*"You’re not ashamed?"*

*"Of protecting you?"* He laughed once, no humor. *"Never. I’m only ashamed it took me 2 days to show up here."*

He stepped closer. Not touching.

*"You told me not to come,"* he said. *"And I almost listened. But 'I’m fine' from you sounds like 'please don’t leave me alone' from anyone else."*

My throat closed.

*"So what now?"* I whispered.

*"Now,"* he said, *"we go for a ride. No date. No talking. Just air. And when we get back, the office can talk all they want. Because you’re not going home to an empty apartment tonight."*

He held out his hand.

I took it.

As we walked out, my phone lit up again. Group chat:

*Coworker 1:* "GUYS SHE JUST LEFT WITH HIM"

*Coworker 2:* "CALLED IT"

Let them talk.

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