The Road to Us

✨ Chapter Nine | Date

— 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 far too long fixing my hair, fully aware it would be crushed under a helmet. Then I caught myself standing in front of my dresser, debating over which underwear to wear, which was equally pointless. I didn't usually stress about things like that, but with Colton, everything seemed to matter just a little more.

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

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

His words made my heart skip, and I grinned like an idiot. I glanced at myself in the mirror one last time, ran a hand through my hair—so much for that effort—and practically bolted down the stairs to meet him.

The summer morning greeted me with a warm breeze, but it was the sight of Colton leaning casually against his motorcycle that took my breath away. His effortless confidence was on full display, but the way his face lit up when he saw me melted every lingering nerve...

"Morning," he said, his smile wide and genuine. "You look great."

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

He handed me a helmet, and our fingers brushed, a fleeting touch that sent sparks up my arm. I tightened my grip on the helmet, steadying myself. This was just the beginning of the day, and I didn't want to be a jittery mess the entire time...

"Ready for an adventure?" Colton asked as he strapped on his own helmet. The gleam in his eye was contagious, making me feel just a bit braver.

I nodded, taking a deep breath. "As ready as I'll ever be..."

He chuckled, his voice warm and reassuring. "You'll be fine. I promise, I'll take it easy."

With shaky determination, I climbed onto the bike behind him. My arms slid around his waist, and the warmth of his body immediately steadied me, even as my heart hammered in my chest.

The engine roared to life, the sound vibrating through me, and Colton glanced over his shoulder. "Just hold on tight," he said softly.

The bike pulled out onto the road, and I leaned into him, gripping a little tighter than necessary at first... The city blurred behind us, replaced by open roads, and with each passing mile, my nerves began to dissolve. 

The wind whipped past, the horizon opened up, and for the first time... I let myself relax into the experience.

As we wound our way through the mountain roads, fear gave way to exhilaration. The rhythm of the bike, the shifting weight as Colton handled each curve, the hum of the engine... all of it became a kind of symphony that drowned out my worries. The scent of pine and earth mingled with the warm sun on my back, and a giddy kind of joy bubbled up inside me.

Colton's movements were smooth and precise, his confidence radiating through every turn, and I couldn't help but admire him. He was in his element out here, and being so close to him, trusting him completely, made me feel a kind of freedom I hadn't known before.

I tightened my hold on his waist, pressing my fingers into the warmth of his jacket. 

The connection felt intimate, grounding. When he let go of one handle briefly to give my hand a gentle squeeze, I couldn't stop the smile spreading across my face. He was sharing this part of his world with me, and it felt like something special... something just for us.