ONE Night On His Bike

In His Hoodie

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*CHAPTER 12:

The video was everywhere by Tuesday evening.

I was walking to my gate when I heard them.

*Neighbor 1:* "That’s her. That’s the girl from the video."

*Neighbor 2:* "With the logistics guy. He really grabbed someone in public."

I kept my eyes down.

*Neighbor 1, to me:* "Hey... do you want to stay here tonight? Alone?"

My throat went tight.

*"I... I don’t know,"* I whispered. *"I don’t think so."*

A bike engine cut through the gossip.

Him.

Helmet in hand. Jeans. Black tee.

He looked at the neighbors. Then at me.

*"Hop on,"* he said. Simple.

I blinked. *"Where are we going?"*

*"Somewhere safe,"* he said. *"Somewhere you don’t have to think about anything. Somewhere you don’t have to answer questions."*

The neighbors went quiet.

I got on.

The ride was fast. No talking. Just wind.

He pulled up to an apartment building I’d never seen. His place.

Inside it was small. Clean. Smelled like soap and coffee.

He didn’t turn on the big lights. Just a lamp.

*"Sit,"* he said. Then he disappeared into his room and came back with a gray hoodie. Huge. Soft.

*"Here,"* he said, handing it to me. *"You’re cold."*

I put it on. It swallowed me. Smelled like him.

He went to the kitchen.

*"I’m making ten mil,"* he said over his shoulder. *"Noodles. I’ll make it look pretty."*

Ten minutes later there were two bowls on his coffee table. Egg. Green onion. Chili oil in a perfect swirl. He even put napkins down.

*"See?"* he said, sitting on the floor next to me. *"Pretty."*

We ate.

*"The neighbors were scared for you,"* I said quietly.

*"Let them be,"* he said. *"I’m not."*

*"Why?"*

*"Because you’re here,"* he said. *"With me. In my hoodie. Eating. That means you’re safe."*

After, he didn’t ask me to leave. Didn’t ask me to stay.

Just handed me a blanket.

*"Couch is yours,"* he said. *"I’m in the other room. Door’s open. If you need anything, I’m right there."*

I curled up in his hoodie. On his couch.

For the first time since the rain, I didn’t feel alone.

My phone buzzed.

Ryan: 1 missed call.

Ryan: 2 missed calls.

I stared at it.

Then I blocked him.

From the other room: *"You okay?"*

*"Yeah,"* I said. *"I’m safe."*