𝕋𝕙𝕖 ℝ𝕠𝕒𝕕 𝕥𝕠 𝕌𝕤

ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 ℕ𝕚𝕟𝕖 | ᴅᴀᴛᴇ

Hudson

I woke up with a mix of nerves and excitement buzzing in my chest. Today was the day-our first official date.

The thought of spending the day with Colton had me feeling all kinds of ways, most of them bordering on ridiculous. I spent way too long on my hair, knowing full well it was about to get crushed under a helmet. Then I found myself standing in front of my dresser, debating which underwear to wear, which was equally pointless. I didn't usually stress about things like that, especially not on a first date, but with Colton, everything felt like it mattered more.

I forced myself to eat a big breakfast, even though my stomach was doing flips, and grabbed a water bottle to toss into my tote bag. I was just checking the time when my phone buzzed with a text from Colton.

Colton: Hey, no rush! Just got here a bit early 'cause, well... I'm excited 😊

His words made my heart skip a beat. I couldn't help but grin like an idiot, feeling that rush of excitement mirrored in me. I quickly glanced in the mirror one last time, ran a hand through my hair-so much for that effort-and then I was practically booking it down the stairs to see him.

As I stepped outside, the summer morning hit me with a warm breeze, but it was the sight of Colton leaning casually against his bike that really took my breath away. He was all confidence and ease, but the way his eyes lit up when he saw me made my nerves settle just a bit.

"Morning," he said, his smile wide and genuine, the kind that made my heart do a little flip. "You look great."

"Thanks," I replied, feeling a bit shy under his gaze. "You too." He always did...

He handed me a helmet, and as I took it, our fingers brushed. Even that small contact sent a spark through me, and I had to remind myself to stay calm. This was just the beginning of the day, and I didn't want to be a bundle of nerves the whole time.

"Ready for an adventure?" Colton asked, strapping on his own helmet. There was a gleam in his eye that was contagious, making me feel a bit braver about the whole motorcycle thing.

I took a deep breath, nodding. "As ready as I'll ever be."

He chuckled, then gave me a reassuring look. "You'll be fine. I promise, I'll take it easy."

With a final, shaky breath, I climbed onto the bike behind him, trying to ignore the fact that my heart was practically in my throat. I wrapped my arms around his waist, and the warmth of his body against mine was instantly comforting, even if my nerves were still on high alert.

He revved the engine, and I felt the vibration beneath me, the sound filling the air around us. Colton glanced over his shoulder, his eyes meeting mine before he flipped his visor down. "Just hold on tight," he said, his voice softer now, almost intimate.

I tightened my grip, and as we pulled out onto the road, I couldn't help but lean into him a little more. The wind whipped past us, the city slowly giving way to the open road, and with every mile, my nerves began to fade, replaced by a thrill I hadn't expected.

As we rode through the winding roads leading to the mountains, the fear that had gripped me earlier began to melt away, replaced by a sense of calm that was almost meditative.

The world blurred around us, the trees and the sky merging into a tapestry of green and blue, while the rush of wind in my ears drowned out everything but the steady hum of the motorcycle beneath us. I kept my arms wrapped around Colton, feeling the reassuring solidity of him, the steady rhythm of his breath in sync with mine... The tension in my body gradually released with every mile, and before I knew it, I was leaning into the curves of the road, my nerves giving way to something unexpected: exhilaration.