I stop. Look back.
"Thank you." Victoria's voice catches. "For not pretending I deserve this."
I don't have an answer for that. Because I'm not sure either of us does.
Cole is waiting in the hallway. He doesn't ask how it went, just falls into step beside me, his hand finding the small of my back.
We walk in silence. Then:
"She said she stopped counting."
His hand tightens against my spine.
"I told her I understood."
"Do you?"
Uncle Sal. The favors that keep accumulating like interest on a debt I'll never pay off.
"More than I want to."
Cole doesn't respond. But when we reach the elevator, he pulls me close and the doors slide shut.
I close my eyes and let it be enough.
thirty-seven
Cole
Clever, mischievous, a little bit magic.
She sent me seven links in one afternoon. Purple, sparkles, stars, and one with cat ears that she marked "PLEASE" in the subject line.
I said yes to purple. I found the fox ears myself, white with orange-red tips, clip-on attachments that fit any helmet. I showed her a picture and explained what kitsune meant.
She stopped asking about cats.
Angelina required a safety demonstration before she agreed. I gave her three.
Now the purple kitsune helmet is pressed between my shoulder blades as I pull into Full Throttle's parking lot. Her grip has loosened over the past few weeks. First ride, she held on like I might evaporate, arms locked, face buried against my jacket, small body rigid against the wind.
Now she just holds on.
I ease into a spot near the entrance and kill the engine. The sudden quiet always takes a second to settle.
"That was the best one yet." Her voice is muffled through the helmet. "You went really fast on the bridge."
"You asked me to."
"I know. It was awesome."
I swing off first, then help her down. She's getting better at the dismount. Doesn't need me to lift her anymore, just a steadying hand while she finds her footing. The helmet comes off and her hair explodes in every direction, static-charged and wild.
She shoves her hair back with one hand. Doesn't help.
"Can you hold Kiku?"
She named the helmet. Of course she did.