It had been ages since I last rode a bicycle.,

"Bike,

" I pointed towards one nearby., Nowadays, unlocking a bike was as simple as scanning a QR code with your smartphone. Dustin was already on it, scanning one for himself. I reached for my phone, eager to do the same, but he stopped me,

"You've had a drink. You can't ride.

",

"Since when do they check for DUI on bikes?

" I asked, tilting my head in confusion.,

"Yes, they do, and...

" Dustin gently pulled me by the arm; his grip was nothing like Conrad's, which always left a mark. His touch was soft,

"You've been drinking. It's dangerous to ride.

", Dustin was the epitome of gentleness, a phrase that seemed tailor-made for him., I laughed,

"But you're here, aren't you?

",

"If you want to ride, let's do it another day. But not tonight. I'll take you,

" Dustin led me to the bike he had unlocked., He got on and pulled me up behind him.

"Hold on to me, Felicia. Don't fall off.

", I clutched at the fabric of his shirt,

"Okay.

", As the night air brushed against us, these moments with Dustin on a bicycle became a cherished memory. Conrad never rode bikes; he was all about motorcycles., They were brothers but as different as night and day. One, a gentleman through and through, the other, wild and unrestrained.,

"Feeling down today?

" Dustin broke the silence.,

"No, I'm fine,

" I stubbornly denied.,

"Still hung up on Rad, huh?

" Dustin pushed further., I huffed and lightly punched him,

"Who says I haven't moved on? After today, Rad and I are done. He's him, and I'm me.

", Dustin fell silent, continuing to pedal forward. Suddenly, I said,

"Take me to the hotel, I have work tomorrow.

",

"Felicia,

" Dustin called out suddenly., Just as I was about to respond, he asked,

"Why can you only see Rad? Why, when it's between him and me, do you only see him?

", I clenched his shirt tighter, my heart missing a beat., I wasn't oblivious to his feelings for me; I just hadn't wanted to acknowledge them., It turned out he didn't really see me as just a sister.,

"Because he was my fiancé, that's what everyone told me,

" I answered.,

"Now that you're not with him anymore, do I... do I stand a chance?

" Dustin hesitated before asking., My heartbeat accelerated, and it took me a moment to reply,

"You're like a brother to me.

", Dustin said nothing more, just rode silently to the hotel where I was staying. As I got off the bike, the alcohol hit me hard, and I nearly stumbled. Dustin caught me in a flash, his foot pushing the bike to a stop,

"Let me take you up.

",

"No, it's fine,

" I tried to pull away., But Dustin held on tighter.

"Felicia, I don't want to be just your brother. I want to take care of you, always.

", I stood there, a lump forming in my throat.,

"Felicia, if you were still with Rad, I would never have said this. But now that you're not, I want to try,

" Dustin's voice was a deep, resonant whisper, heavy with emotion in the quiet of the night., I felt so overwhelmed I could barely breathe, let alone speak., After a moment, I managed to look up,

"I've always seen you as a brother, nothing more.

", A shadow of disappointment flitted across Dustin's face, quickly followed by a look of pain.

"Then, can we start now, trying not to see me as just a brother?

",

"Ms. Hudson, out so late? Don't you have work tomorrow?

" came a voice, breaking the tension., Ernest approached, dressed casually in dark grey pajamas and hotel slippers, yet his stride was confident., Lost in my thoughts, I felt a sudden grip on my wrist. Ernest had reached us, his presence changing the atmosphere as Dustin's grip tightened in response., Search the website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.