Love At First Text ✔️

Her

Eden was glad that summer was quickly approaching, for it made the evenings lighter than usual. When her and Sebastian reached the location of their date, though it was darkening, the sun would still hold out for another hour or two.

She climbed from the car, shrugging her shoulders to her chin to preserve warmth beneath her snood scarf. Sebastian had told her that – for whatever it was they were doing – it would have to come off. His insistence and made her curious, rather than reluctant. Though, it was clear why when they pulled up to the location. A tarmacked race course, with twists and bends, and several vibrant go carts lined up.

"We're go carting?" She asked him, as though it was not already obviously. She never thought...

Sebastian regarded her with a hopeful expression. "Are you not a fan?"

"No, it's not – I've never done anything like this before." She confessed, moving towards the railing and grasping it tentatively. Sebastian came to stand behind her, and then as though second guessing himself, he moved to her side. The distance between them felt huge, though it was only a few inches.

"We're after adrenaline today." Sebastian told her with a gentle smile. She stared at it for a while. It wasn't the same as the one he usually gave her. It was withheld, as though he couldn't show her it truthfully. She tried not to frown.

"It's completely safe?" She probed. Sebastian nodded, his smile relaxing somewhat.

"Of course. I'd never put you in danger." He moved his hand, laid it atop Eden's, and then almost flinched. He parted with two pats to it, like he wasn't sure what to do in that moment, and moved away. "Come on Ed!" He hollered, and she rolled her eyes at the name.

The pair of them approached the track, everything already prepaid and prepared for them. She would have to offer Sebastian something in return – he had spent so much on her the past few weeks, she felt as though she was robbing him for his worth. Maybe dinner – her university broke bank account could stretch that far.

The male in charge explained all to them. He offered them leathers that fit tight, but not in a restrictive way. Eden could feel herself getting more and more nervous, especially when she had to force the helmet over her head. She could drive, and this was just like driving. Only without a top, and seriously low to the ground, and somehow far more frightening. Maybe she seized up, because she felt a hand on her lower back, and she turned to Sebastian who had lifted the visor of his helmet.

"You alright?"

"I'm nervous." Eden admitted, shrinking into his side. She felt him tense, and in that moment, she knew something was different about Sebastian. He wasn't his usual self. He was awkward with the way he innocently touched her, as though he shouldn't. There wasn't this same tension last week, nor over messages. Something had changed, and it clenched at Eden's gut painfully.

The instructor came towards Eden with a grin. "You ready?"

She nodded, nestling herself into the go cart, even if she wasn't ready at all. Sebastian grinned at her. She couldn't find it within herself to smile back.

❀

After the forty-five minutes racing around the track, Eden was exhilarated. She took the helmet off to reveal her huge smile, and couldn't for the life of her shake it from her face. It was brilliant – phenomenal. She'd never felt a rush quite like it, it was impossible to explain. Her and Sebastian speeding around the course, always one behind the other, chasing each other like children on a playground. She wanted to do it again, over and over, faster and faster until she was laughing and thrumming with excitement. She'd never been more deflated to see the turn of the green light to red, indicating their time was up.