finding you

twenty three

I'm in the garage with Rhys. I have an oversized pair of coveralls on that drop so far past my fingers I look like I'm wearing a giant sack.

"Yeah... sorry about that. They're my dads. I have Salis's now." He tries to give me a look of sincerity but completely fails at it. 

It's hard to take him seriously when he keeps bursting into laughter every time he looks at me. I throw my hands up and down in an act of frustration, huffing out a breath to add dramatics. A few hairs fall right in the middle of my face and I glare at them as if it's their fault.

"It's cute. You look cute." He says after he finally stops laughing. I'm about to speak out some kind of protest against this but am cut off with his fingers brushing against my forehead. He places the loose strands of hair behind my ear for me, lingering his fingers at the side of my face. "There." He smiles. He's standing so close to me and I have no idea what to do. He turns away to go pick up the helmets and I instantly let out a breath. Relief? Nerves? I don't know, but my heart is beating a lot faster than it was a moment ago.

"Okay, here you go." He tosses me a giant motorcycle helmet and it lands heavily in my arms. Gosh, this is like a bowling ball. I eye it with uncertainty before attempting to put it on. It basically falls onto my head and something slides shut over my face, making me stumble back in surprise. I hear a grunt of laughter in front of me and I try to pull it off. I can't see a thing and my hands keep slipping off from these damn coverall sleeves. 

"Here." Two strong hands grasp the sides of my helmet, steadying me, before pulling up the visor. 

"How did you do that?"

"It's still pretty big, but it's my old one so it should be smaller. You'll be okay, though." He winks, completely ignoring my question. I watch him as he puts his helmet on with ease. 

I take this moment to look at him. How can one look so attractive in a dirty pair of coveralls? He looks more muscular to me in them. And taller. Maybe it's because coveralls represent someone who works hard. He's just so... cute. I smile at my own thoughts. What is happening to me? 

"You ready?" His voice is muffled from the visor but I can still see his eyes. Still sparkling blue, even with the dirt-stained bit of plastic blocking his face. Still beautiful. They meet my own with anticipation and wonder. Nerves invade my stomach--but the best kind.

I nod, slowly putting my visor down. I'm doing this right, right?

He seems to look at me for a moment before doing anything. By the way his eyes are slightly squinted, I think he's smiling. 

We walk out of the garage into the beautiful early morning. I hear crickets and there's a light fog hovering just above the grass in the distance. It's so beautiful. We walk over to a large garage across from the house where I assume he keeps the quads. 

"I have to open the garage from inside, so I'll be right back." He says and I nod. 

I watch as he runs to the side of the building and slips in through a side door. I wait for him outside, breathing in the crisp morning air. I close my eyes and take a deep breath, trying to relax myself of any nerves that might be trying to take over. I feel okay. More okay than I would have thought. Rhys is being so sweet this morning and it has been really comforting. I smile to myself, feeling absolute giddiness in recollection of last night's events. The feeling of his arms around me. I miss it. I felt safe. 

I wonder what it meant to him, though.

I'm brought out of my thoughts immediately when the sound of giant garage doors opening fills the air. I back away, as if I expect something to come barreling out at me. Something revs up in the garage, and I know it's Rhys on a quad. I watch as he drives it out down the driveway, turning off the engine before hopping off. He walks right over to me, flipping up his visor.