Ch 24. First Ride

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Leave me some comments throughout the chapter! They always inspire me to write more of this book.
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Scott takes off and out of the driveway as fast as he can manage without hurting Mitch or himself. Avi cheers as they quickly go further and further down the street. Scott has never felt so free. Nothing with Kirstie ever felt this right. There's no other word to describe how he feels. He just feels right.

"Questo è incredibile!" Mitch yells the phrase in the textbook perfect Italian he's so known for.

Scott is a little less elegant with his yelled out phrase. "Oh, fuck yeah!"

This causes Mitch to laugh loudly. Apparently, the wind soon becomes too much because Scott feels a face bury itself into his shoulder. It's not an unpleasant feeling to be so close to a person Scott trusts. Even with everything that's been going on lately Scott can't help but give Mitch his full trust. Mitch hasn't left his side, even at the blonde's worst, and that's enough for him.

Scott drives over a pothole, causing the bike to dangerously dip and swerve. He easily gains control of the motorcycle but Mitch tightens his grip significantly. Scott had promised that Mitch could never hurt him, so the blonde makes no sign of discomfort. He's too busy wondering why his heartbeat is so fast to feel any pain.

After the pothole incident, Scott slows down. He doesn't want either of them to get hurt because he can't control himself on the bike. "Sorry about that, Mitchie." It's the first time the name has slipped out since their sleepover the other night. Somehow it's easier to say now.

"It's okay, Scott." Mitch rests his chin on Scott's shoulder now. To anyone looking from a window or the sidewalk, they must look like a couple. The thought causes Scott to blush slightly. It doesn't change the fact that Kirstie broke his heart, but it does do something for him. And that has to be important. Right?

"How do you feel about getting a bite to eat? I could really use a burger."

Mitch smiles. "Y'know, I still haven't had my first truly American burger experience."

Scott almost pulls over with how appalled he is. "What? How in the world have you not had a burger yet? That's one of the only things we haven't fucked up yet."

The giggle that sentence brings from Mitch is pure music to Scott's ears. "Sorry, sorry. My host family seems pretty busy with work and then Kirstie was never really around." Scott tenses up at her name. "Fanculo. I'm sorry, Scott. I didn't mean to."

"No, don't apologize. The world keeps going, Mitch. It doesn't stop just because Kirstie cheated on me." Scott shrugs slightly while still keeping his eyes on the road. He makes a u-turn, his sights back on the house. "I don't really want to talk about it if that's okay."

A hand touches his shoulder. "It's more than okay, Scott. If you want to drop it then we will. Can I just say one more thing on it?"

Scott sighs, nodding his head anyway. "Yeah, okay."

"What she did to you was horrible and you deserve so much better than her. I know you'll get it too. Just don't lose the joy and heart that makes you stand out from all of the other losers in school."

Scott doesn't respond to that. It isn't because he's upset but simply because Scott doesn't know what to say. He's felt both kindness and betrayal in the last week. While his breakup with Kirstie hasn't been news for long he can already feel himself moving on. After all, the person Scott was in love with never would have done anything like that to him. In that moment his heart is able to heal just a little bit more.

They go the rest of the ride in silence but Scott is still hyper-aware of where all of Mitch is. The chest pressed against Scott's back, the hand on his leg, the arm around his waist. It's too much and not enough at the same time. Scott can't explain it and he isn't sure if he would want to if he could.

Avi, who was sitting in the bed of Scott's truck, jumps off once the bike pulls back into the driveway. "How was it?"

Scott lets Mitch climbs off first before standing up and taking his helmet off. "Badass. You have to try it." Scott tosses his best friend the keys. Avi catches them after they fumble from his hand twice. "Mitch has never had a burger before. You take the bike to that really good diner downtown and we'll meet you there in the truck."

"Burgers and I get to take the bike?" Avi grins. "This is badass."

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