The garage door creaked open with a sigh, revealing the familiar shadows and the scent of old oil and gasoline. Dust motes danced in the faint light that filtered through the single window, illuminating the shapes of bikes, tools, and boxes stacked against the walls. It had been years since Austin had set foot in this haven of his younger days, years since he’d felt the rumble of a powerful engine beneath him.
He had forgotten how much he missed it.
He ran his hand over the cool chrome of his vintage Harley-Davidson, the weathered leather of the seat yielding slightly beneath his touch. It was a relic of a time before fame, before the relentless pressures of Hollywood, a time when his only responsibilities were to his studies and his dreams.
He had bought the bike with his first real paycheck, his heart thrumming with the promise of open roads and endless journeys. It had been his escape, his rebellion, his badge of freedom. It had been his lifeblood.
And then Lucy had walked into his life, bringing with her a love that had dwarfed every other desire. She had been a hurricane of warmth and light, sweeping him away from his solitary pursuits. He had traded in his leather jacket for tailored suits, his helmet for the luxury of a chauffeur, his midnight rides for cozy evenings by the fireplace.
He had never regretted it. But, now, something stirred within him. A need to reclaim a part of himself he had left behind.
"Why don't you take it for a spin?" Lucy said, her voice a warm melody in the quiet of the garage.
Austin turned, surprised. He had been lost in his thoughts, tracing the lines of the bike with a finger, the silence of the garage wrapped around him like a comforting blanket.
"What?" he asked, his eyes meeting hers.
"I said, why don't you take it for a spin?" Lucy repeated, a gentle smile playing on her lips.
"What? No way, Luce. It's too risky. Too dangerous,” Austin exclaimed, his heart thudding against his ribs. “You know, with Timmy and Lori… ”
“And with what? With you being a little less responsible and a bit more adventurous? I think I can handle that,” Lucy chuckled. “Besides, you’re not a teenager anymore, Austin,” she added softly, “What you need is to remember that you still have some magic in you, some fire, some of that old Austin I fell in love with.”
Austin’s gaze faltered. His wife had a way of bringing him back to reality, to his heart.
“It’s not like that, Lucy,” he said, his voice dropping to a whisper. “It’s just… it’s been so long.”
“Years. Not a lifetime. It’s just a motorcycle,” she said, her voice light, but her hand finding his, tightening reassuringly. “And it’s a reminder of who you are, and who you can still be. ”
Austin stared at his bike. He could see, reflected in the chrome, the reflection of his younger self, reckless and free. He could feel the ghost of that energy, calling to him.
"Okay,” he finally said, his voice a mixture of fear and excitement. “But I’m only going around the block. One slow lap. Just to make sure everything’s working.”
Lucy, ever the pragmatist, smiled. "Okay, but put on your helmet. And do be careful."
He turned, his hand trembling as he reached for the key. The garage echoed a soft hum as he gave it a twist, the engine rumbling to life, a symphony of metal and vibration.
Austin stood for a moment, listening, the vibrations of the engine coursing through his feet. His fingers traced the curve of the handlebars, his palms sweating gently. He pulled on his leather jacket, an old friend slipping back into place after years of neglect.
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Bikeriders Serenade
Fanfictiona tale of two people meeting at a movie premier continue reading to see what happens
