‘I don’t think this—’ Laura shook her head when Eve offered her the second helmet.
‘I don’t do cars.’ Eve smiled in a way that made her feel safe. ‘I’m very careful. I promise.’
Laura remained still on the pavement, her eyes running over the mechanical components of the bike. ‘We can always just get a taxi. It’s safer and—’
‘You don’t like not being in control, do you?’ Eve asked, her eyebrows raised.
Laura kicked the pavement. ‘I always am. So no, when it’s different I …’ She pursed her lips.
Eve took her hand and balanced the helmet in it. ‘All you have to do is trust me for one ride.’ She led her to the bike. ‘Hold on to me. Remember that.’
‘Okay,’ said Laura without thinking.
Eve waited for Laura to mount the bike. She reached behind her and pulled Laura’s arms to circle her waist. Laura tightened her hold when the kickstand flipped back. The motorbike roared under her, like the heartbeat of a creature. She relaxed under the thrum. Laura closed her eyes against the wind that whipped around her unguarded face. She leaned into each straight and bend. Eve’s movements were fluid; Laura’s worry was left under the tread of the tyres. Her face warmed when she leaned against Eve’s back. Laura breathed her in – vanilla, salt and something else, like a day outside. Laura watched as they zipped in between cars and passed countless buildings. Eve drove her into the unknown. They made their way out of the city. Laura loosened her hold only when the motorcycle slowed to a stop. Eve kicked out the stand and helped Laura off the bike.
Laura looked around at where they had stopped. Immediately, she recognised the large, spherical ball in the distance.
Eve grinned. ‘Pretty cool, huh?’ She reached around to the small compartment under the pillion seat and lifted out a canvas bag. Laura took in the dog walkers, families and couples that milled around the park. A soccer game was just about to start, an old man sat on a worn bench and threw down seed for the flocking pigeons. Eve looped her arm around Laura’s waist as they walked. Laura followed Eve’s slender finger and took in the towers. ‘They used to be elevators. They closed them off years ago, though.’ They took their time walking over to the Pavilion. Eve’s warm arm burned through Laura’s blouse.
‘I remember coming here as a kid, once. My father swore the towers went to heaven.’
Eve smiled. ‘I can imagine you daring to climb it to find out.’ She craned her neck at the tower, like she was at the foot of a monster waiting for it to move. Early afternoon cast shadows across her strong features. Laura found herself unable to look away. Eve fidgeted with the canvas bag slung across her waist. She lifted out a polaroid camera and snapped a picture of the tower, the sudden flash cast her black hair in a white glow like the sun had woken up just to see her. Eve shook the picture out towards the wind and without a word handed the camera to Laura, like she was handing her a memory. Saying, Here, I know you’ve been looking for this.
Eve ran a steady hand over the concrete and sighed. ‘I wonder what’s in it.’ Laura lifted the camera. Her fingers ran over the knobs and weight of the camera with a warm nostalgia. She held it steady and clicked. Eve’s back was cast in a glow, her hand still pressed to the concrete. Laura noticed two joggers stop and stare at them. She gave them a tight smile when their eyes ran the length of Eve’s tight dress.
‘Let’s walk around some more.’ Laura looped an arm around Eve’s. As they began to walk, she noticed a tree lit up in the distance. As they got closer, she stared at the lights wrapped around it. Laura snapped a picture on the polaroid. ‘I wonder who did—’ She broke off. ‘It was you, wasn’t it?’
Eve shrugged with a coy expression. ‘Maybe.’ She took a seat on the bench beside the tree. Eve closed her eyes, trying to downplay what the wonder on Laura’s face had done to her. A clear stream of elation washed through her body; the only thing she could see was Laura’s hands touching the bright lights. Eve settled against the bench. Her muscles relaxed, the thought of having her eyes closed for a moment didn’t terrify her. Eve barely registered the camera flash on her skin.
Laura watched her from a few feet away, her head arched back on the curve of the bench. Her hands lay inwards on her lap, limp with relaxation. She looked safe and unprotected in the same breath, like a child holding a sword to the wind. Laura’s feet carried her to the spot next to Eve. She watched the rise and fall of her chest, the arch of her cheekbones and curve of her lips. Laura’s eyes flicked over each feature, from her nose to her chin, to the dented bracelet on her slim wrist.
Eve realised she had had her eyes closed. ‘Sorry,’ she smiled. ‘Not a great date if I fall asleep, is it?’
Laura pressed her lips together, looking at the scar on her temple. ‘You know you weren’t sleeping.’
A look of curiosity passed over Eve, but she said nothing of it. ‘Well, we better get going.’ She checked her watch as if for evidence. Eve motioned for Laura to stand. ‘Come on, I’m starving.’
Eve weaved with practised precision through the mass of cars and bikes. The smell of exhaust and steamed hot dogs rose as Eve sped further into the city. The rhythm of the speed and turns lulled Laura into calmness; she loosened her hold around Eve’s waist. She saw jeans and skirts disappearing into bars and nightclubs. Eve called Laura’s name. She hadn’t realised they had stopped.
‘I’ll only be a minute.’ She disappeared inside a grill restaurant further down the sidewalk where Eve had managed to squeeze her bike. Laura rested her body against the still bike. With her head turned towards the traffic, she didn’t see the two men coming towards her.
‘Hey! Oh man, it’s really you.’ Laura turned to the voice of a scrawny man with a mop of dirty, blond hair.
Laura managed a smile, wishing she had worn Eve’s helmet instead. ‘Hey.’ Her eyes ran the length of the shorter one, his T-shirt tight against his chest. It looked like it was about to burst. He gave her a suggestive smile.
‘Do you think we could get a picture?’ The blonde, asked fishing for his phone.
‘Uh … I—’ Laura’s answer was cut short by Eve, holding their food in a white plastic bag.
‘Oh, hey.’ The shorter of the two gave the same suggestive look to Eve.
‘Sorry boys, we were just heading off.’ Laura took the bag of food from Eve. The blond reached out and caught her wrist. Laura froze.
‘We just want a picture.’
Eve tried to remain calm. ‘Let go of her arm.’
The blond retracted his arm like it was Laura who had grabbed him. ‘What’s the big deal? We just wanted a picture, Jesus.’
Eve stared him down. ‘Maybe you should have thought about that before you put your hands on her.’
Eve mounted the bike and sped off. Laura barely heard the shorter one curse at them over the roar of the engine. Glimpses of Central Park flashed against the buildings before they came to a final stop.
Laura licked her lips with embarrassment. ‘Sorry about that back there.’ She tried to rid the feeling of his clammy fingers on her skin. A fan had never forcibly grabbed her before but, of course, it had to happen just when she was getting to know Eve.
Eve shook her head. ‘It wasn’t your fault.’
The way Laura had frozen, not making a sound, made her realise she didn’t find herself in confrontational situations often. She nearly scoffed, tallying up the many she had during just that week. Seeing that man with his hands on Laura, it had taken so much restraint not to punch him in the face. Even without needing an explanation, her anger had always been a problem. She reached for her phone and dialled Stephen’s number. ‘Hey, we’re here.’
Eve turned off her phone. She pressed her finger to her lips when Laura raised her eyebrows, wanting