Mobster Boy

14

The next morning I wake up before Chance again. The pillow wall between us is still intact this time, thankfully, so nothing distracts me from tip-toeing into the bathroom and getting ready. When I get out of the shower, I can hear Chance in the room, moving about. A metal clang makes me curious, so I peek outside with my toothbrush still in my mouth and my hair dripping wet. "Hey, good morning." I greet him.

"Mmm." He's got a soft hand towel in one hand and a bottle of unrecognizable polish in the other. He primps and preens over his motorcycle, wiping away smudges and making sure it's pristine.

"No cello today?" I ask, saddened.

"My wrist hurts." He explains, and I frown.

"Sorry about that." Leaning against the door, I thoughtfully look over the vehicle. It was just something I took for granted. 'Chance is an eccentric rich person. I'm sure they all have weird things in their rooms.'

"So is that one your baby or something?" He snorts. "I'm being serious. What's the deal with this one? It doesn't look vintage. And you never ride it, from what I've seen." Chance is quiet for a while before putting aside the cleaning materials and straightening out.

"...It was my father's." 'Giovanni rode bikes? That's hard to imagine.' 

"He gave it to you?" I ask, genuinely curious. Flashing me a wicked grin, Chance pats my ribs with the back of his palm as he passes me into the bathroom.

"I stole it." 'Why do I not feel surprised.'

"And he never came after it?" He doesn't answer me at first, deep in his morning routine. Just when I think I won't even get a response, he speaks up again.

"You only chase after things you love. Giovanni can't love anyone but himself." He keeps his eyes trained on the mirror, sharpening the straight razor he uses to shave. Whether his refusal to use a safety razor is born of pretentiousness, or a desire to keep a weapon on hand at all times, I'm not sure. "And he taught me love has no place in my world." Though Chance says it casually, my heart sinks, but I hate that it does.

"Oh." Perhaps realizing he's oversharing, Chance pauses in the middle of shaving. Then he continues, finishing up and patting his face dry.

"But hey, I do have something cool to show you. Since we're discussing motorcycles." 'We were still on that topic?'

"What do you have in mind?" His cold eyes are flat and expressionless, maintaining his usual steely look. But then it breaks; and he presses a finger to his lips just as they curl into a devious smile.

"You'll see." I narrow my eyes at him suspiciously but don't say anything.

Once he's dressed, Chance takes me to the front lawn. I immediately recognize what he wanted to show me. "The motorcycle is different." Walking over to it, I examine it from every angle. "Oh, there's an extra seat?" The words leave my lips before I fully comprehend what it means. "Oh!" I clap my hands over my mouth, looking at him with wide eyes. "For me?" I grin.

"Yeah. So I don't  have to worry about your clumsy ass falling off the next time we get chased down the highway." He places his palm on top of my head, making me bow it down. "You're welcome." I take his hand and hold it, squeezing lightly.

"Thanks, Chance. Really." I smile softly.

"It's got the best leather money can buy. Why don't you give it a test run? Hop on, Adrian." He motions to the motorcycle and I do as he says, perching on it. It's weird not having Chance to hold onto. 'I don't know where to put my hands.' "Comfy?" I grin at him.