Chasing the final ride

The following week was a whirlwind of small adventures. Luke and I spent more time together, often without saying much—just two people enjoying the present without worrying about anything else. It was easy, too easy, to fall into a routine of late-night rides and spontaneous hangouts. And, despite myself, I found that I looked forward to them.

I had gotten used to his company, his presence. In fact, I was starting to realize that when he wasn't around, the nights felt a little emptier. The days too. His messages were brief, usually something funny or random, but they always brought a smile to my face. And, on a few occasions, we found ourselves on the phone for hours—talking about nothing in particular and everything at once.

One day, I was lounging in my apartment, curled up on the couch with a book I'd been trying to finish for weeks, when my phone buzzed. I glanced at the screen, half-expecting it to be Luke, as it usually was. I was right.

"You busy?"

I smiled, texting back immediately. "Not at all. What's up?"

"Good. I'm picking you up in 30. Don't make any plans. We're going somewhere fun."

That was all the explanation I got, but that was Luke for you—always keeping me on my toes, always up for something spontaneous. And as much as I wanted to protest, I found myself excited. I hadn't realized how much I needed something unexpected, something to shake up the monotony of my life.

Thirty minutes later, I was waiting outside my building, staring at the screen of my phone, debating if I should start a new chapter or just enjoy the moment.

I didn't have long to think about it. The familiar sound of a motorcycle engine rumbled in the distance, and I turned, smiling as Luke pulled up.

"Hey, sunshine," he greeted, taking off his helmet. He looked as effortlessly cool as always, his black jacket fitting him just right. There was something almost magnetic about the way he carried himself. I couldn't explain it, but it drew me in.

"Hey," I said, walking over to him. "Where are we going?"

Luke grinned, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "You'll see. Get on."

I rolled my eyes but didn't protest. "I hope you don't have something crazy planned for today."

"You wound me," he replied, holding a hand over his chest in mock offense. "I'm hurt. You think I'd do something crazy?"

I couldn't help but laugh as I climbed onto the back of his motorcycle. He revved the engine, and within moments, we were speeding down the road, the cool wind whipping through my hair.

We didn't talk much as we rode. There was something about the silence that felt comforting. The city blurring by as we navigated through the streets was enough to make me feel free, like I could forget about everything else for a while. The ride was fast, but not reckless. Just the two of us, moving together through the night.

We eventually arrived at an open-air amusement park on the outskirts of the city. It was nearly empty, the lights twinkling in the darkness as we walked through the gates. Luke handed me a small ticket with a grin.

"You ever been to one of these?" he asked, eyes sparkling.

I shook my head. "Not since I was a kid."

He nudged me playfully. "Well, let's see if we can still have fun without acting like we're too old for this."

We spent the next few hours like two kids, running from ride to ride, laughing at each other's antics. I couldn't remember the last time I'd let myself have this much fun. Luke wasn't the type of person to hold back, and that made it easier for me to forget about everything else.

On one ride, we found ourselves sitting next to each other in a spinning teacup, the force of the ride making us both laugh uncontrollably. The way he looked at me in that moment—eyes bright, mouth curved into a grin—it almost made me forget that time was running out for me. It almost made me forget about everything else.

"You're crazy," I told him, still breathless from laughing.

Luke grinned, his hand brushing against mine. "Crazy in love with life," he teased.

I snorted, shaking my head. "Yeah, right. You're just trying to make me dizzy."

He gave me a playful shove, his hand landing on my shoulder. "Admit it, you're having fun."

"Alright, alright," I said, finally giving in. "I'm having fun. But don't expect me to admit it too easily."

"You're cute when you're stubborn," Luke said, his voice softening for a moment. He held my gaze, and for a second, everything around us seemed to blur out of focus.

I blinked, looking away, suddenly self-conscious. "You're insufferable," I muttered, trying to hide the warmth creeping up my neck.

Luke chuckled, clearly enjoying the effect he had on me. But he didn't say anything more, and we continued our night, the playful teasing between us becoming second nature.

As we walked toward the Ferris wheel, Luke reached over, casually taking my hand in his. I didn't pull away, didn't question it. His fingers were warm against mine, and the simple contact sent a strange jolt through my body.

"You ready for this?" Luke asked, looking down at me. The Ferris wheel loomed ahead, its lights glowing brightly in the night.

"Only if you promise not to scream like a little girl," I teased, looking up at him with a raised eyebrow.

Luke laughed, squeezing my hand. "I don't scream," he said, but there was a playful glint in his eye. "You'll be the one screaming, sunshine."

I rolled my eyes but smiled. "I doubt that."

The ride to the top was slow, and I wasn't sure if it was the height or the quiet intimacy of the moment, but something shifted between us. Luke was sitting close enough that I could feel the warmth of his body next to mine, and I was acutely aware of how easy it felt to be in his presence.

"So, what's your deal?" I asked, breaking the silence. I wasn't sure what I meant by the question, but it had been bugging me for a while.

Luke glanced at me, his brow furrowing in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"I mean... You're always so carefree, like nothing really gets to you," I explained, looking out at the view below. "But I know there's more to you than that. You don't just show up and do all these things for fun. You don't need to do any of this."

Luke was quiet for a moment, the only sound the soft hum of the Ferris wheel's gears. Then he said, almost too casually, "Maybe I just like having someone to share it with."

I glanced at him, his expression unreadable for a moment. And then, the vulnerability in his voice settled into my chest, making everything feel a little heavier.

Before I could respond, the Ferris wheel reached its highest point, and the world below us seemed to pause. I swallowed hard, not trusting my voice, not sure how to respond to his words.

But maybe... maybe that was the point. Maybe I didn't need to respond. Maybe this was enough.