Aliyah's POVThe sun was already up when I crawled out of my tent, the air heavy with the smell of salt and damp sand. Asher was leaning against his bike, arms folded, watching the waves like he was weighing something in his head.“Morning,” I mumbled, pulling my jacket tighter.His gaze slid to me, that familiar half-smirk tugging at his mouth. “Thought we’d get you back on the bike today.”I frowned. “No.”“It’s not a race,” he said, pushing off the bike. “Just a little practice. Stretch your legs. Feel the wind.”I shook my head, but he stepped closer, his shadow crossing mine. “C’mon, you used to love this. Don’t let fear make your world smaller.”“It’s not fear,” I said, but even to my ears it sounded weak.His eyes softened, but his voice stayed steady. “Then prove it.”I hesitated, my stomach already uneasy. The thought of the engine’s roar under me brought back more than memories — it brought the pit in my gut, the flash of light, the way the air had been knocked out of me tha
Last Updated : 2025-08-28 Read more