“Nice to meet you, Hannah.” I give her a wink through the window of my helmet before dropping the visor. When I saunter up to the bike, it’s with all the nonchalance in the world.
I settle into the seat, rev the engine, and lift the kickstand with my heel. Something about the prospect of stirring up chaos amongst a bunch of highbrow elites, the unknown of what comes after this, sends rapid-fire shots of adrenaline pumping through my veins. I crank the throttle long and loud, grinning into my side mirror when the wedding party turns their heads toward the sound like a bunch of marionette dolls.
Hannah is a perfect stranger. I don’t know her story or why she’s about to run out on this guy. But every bride deserves to ride off into the sunset on her wedding day. Especially one as radiant as her.
I know sacrifice. I wear the dog tags and have the battle wounds to prove it. Butthis?This isn’t a sacrifice.
My engine purrs, pelting deep rumbles into the air. I take one final look at the crowd behind me. Then I turn to the drop-dead gorgeous woman dressed in white, hidden behind a stone pillar.
Time to put on a show.
I lift my visor again. The exhaust is loud enough I have to raise my voice to be heard. AndmaybeI yell louder than necessary so someone down the block might pick it up. “Runaway! You wanna get outta here?”
Hand held out, I crook my fingers toward my palm a few times. Hersmile breaks wide over her face. Correction:thatis the brightest thing I’ve seen since I got here.
She bolts from the shadows, eyes fixed on me. Raucous shouts of “stop”and “come back” pierce through the mayhem. Their cries go in one ear and out the other as Hannah hikes her exposed leg over the bike and slides in behind me. McDouche is hot on our heels in an instant from the view of my mirror. He looks mad enough to yank her off this bike if I don’t peel out soon, and I’ll be damned if I let that happen.
Three heartbeats is all it takes.
One.She spreads her legs—smoothest legs I’ve ever seen—nudging herself closer to wedge the breadth of my hips between her thighs. I look over my shoulder for traffic.
Two.An arm slinks around my waist as I roar the engine one last time just to piss the guy off.
Three.I hit the gas and she throws her veil in the air, letting it fly free behind her. The wisp of tulle gets swept up in a breeze before drifting to the concrete at the groom’s feet as we peel away.
The next morning
My eyes flutter open under the piercing sun streaming through the blinds of the camper. I wipe the sleep from my eyes and survey my surroundings. Hannah’s gone, nothing but a ripped, grease-and-mustard-stained wedding dress, and a note scribbled on the back of a Target receipt in the spot where she was lying next to me only a couple hours ago.
Hey Soldier,
Trash it, burn it, dye it black like the color of your soul, I don’t care. I never want it back.
Thank you for everything.
Someday I’ll find a way to repay you.
Best,
Runaway
1
living it up, twenties style
Hannah - now
“Cancer is not a bargaining chip, Mom.”The roll of my eyes is as defiant as my voice through the receiver of my phone.
“Hannah James, don’t roll your eyes at me.”
My neck jerks back. “What? How did you?—”
“Never mind, I’m not letting you cancel your date for this. I’m a little tired, that’s it. I’ve got soup, Netflix, and cozy pajamas. I can manage them all myself. My gosh, you act like I’m dying or something.”
I drag a hand across my forehead and groan. “Mom.”
Four cancer diagnoses in eight years and she jokes about her own death as though it wouldn’t gut me.