Caught in a Bad Fauxmance by Elle Gonzalez Rose

Author:Elle Gonzalez Rose [Gonzalez Rose, Elle]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: 2023-12-05T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

It’s hard as hell.

Julian had reassured me that riding a bike would feel like second nature once I got the hang of it. We made our way over to a nearby park to start our lesson, and I’d naively thought I’d be Tour de France worthy by lunch. But “getting the hang of it” is the hardest part.

I roll over to clutch my searing forearm after I tumble to the pavement for the fourth time. Thankfully the pasta sauce wound is healed enough to be sore but scabbed over. If I wasn’t wearing a helmet, my skull would’ve cracked open like an egg.

Julian hoists the bike off me, propping it up on its kickstand before helping me back up. “Maybe try that again, but I’ll hold on to you this time.”

“Do not let me fall. Helmet or no helmet, my brain can’t handle that kind of jostling.”

He bites back a grin, brushing dirt off my shoulder. “The ten-year-old in me really wants to call you a pea brain right now.” He holds his hands up when I stick my tongue out at him. “But I won’t, because I’m a mature adult.”

“A mature adult who still uses a night-light,” I say under my breath as I mount the bike again.

Julian pouts. “I told you that in confidence.”

“And I kept it between us.” And Maya.

Julian scoffs, but thankfully takes hold of the back of the bicycle seat. “Ready, champ?”

I swallow down the lump in my throat and tighten my grip on the handlebars. “My ears are ringing, but sure.”

One hand grips the seat, the other rests on top of mine on the left handlebar. He leans in, cheek nearly pressed to mine, his chest flush against my arm. “I won’t let you fall this time,” he whispers, so close I can feel his breath.

It’s too much and too close, and Julian smells like a pinewood-scented candle today, and my heart is going to beat out of my chest if he doesn’t back off in the next ten seconds. I want space, but I don’t want to fall, and maybe there’s a tiny, tiny, tiny part of me that doesn’t really mind him being so close. And that scares the absolute shit out of me.

Fortunately, or unfortunately, I have bigger things to worry about. Like keeping my balance. I clutch the handlebars for dear life after Julian pushes me, realizing too late that I should’ve asked him how to brake. The breeze stings my sweat-slick skin as my feet scramble to find the pedals. My left foot accidentally knocks into one of them, sending the pedal into a spinning frenzy.

“Shit shit shit,” I mutter under my breath as I try to get it under control.

Julian kept his promise—he didn’t let me fall.

I crash into a tree instead.

“Pedaling would help.” Julian jogs over to me, holding his hand out to help me regain my balance.

“Gee thanks, I hadn’t thought of that,” I reply.

“You need to relax. It’s all about centering yourself until you can get situated on the pedals, and then following through.

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