Page 266 of Tell Me I'm Enough

He just smirks at her and slides in, closing the door behind him.

I shake my head as Lani opens the door and waits for me to get in first.

“Lovers, to enemies, to…lovers again?” I whisper, sliding past her to get in the car.

She hits me on my arm lightly and says something under her breath that I’m pretty sure was her cussing me out before she gets in beside me.

The drive is loud and chaotic in the best way. Lydia’s playing DJ because she has queen bee rights in Bash’s car, Erik keeps trying to harmonize badly, and Lani is threatening to open his door up and shove him out at the next stoplight.

I lean my head against the cool glass and let their voices wash over me, grateful for all of them.

For a little while, I don’t think about Mason at all.

That’s a lie. I’m always thinking about him. But I’m not spiraling right now, at least.

When we pull into a massive park with open fields and tall trees, I frown. “Are we…hiking?”

“If we’re hiking, I’m walking back to campus on foot,” Lydia mutters.

Bash turns to look at her from the driver’s seat. “Wouldn’t that just be using the same amount of energy?”

Her eyes narrow on him playfully. “It’s the principle.”

We park near a row of picnic tables and a small rental stand.

Erik looks over at Bash. “Did you bring us here cause you wanted me to push you on the swings or something?”

Lani snorts and then tries to cover it by clearing her throat.

Bash turns around slowly, glaring at us. “All of you, get out of my car.”

We all spill out of the car laughing.

As we get closer, following Bash, I realize we’re at a bike rental shop.

Lydia suddenly stops dead in her tracks, and Bash just keeps walking forward casually.

“Today,” he starts as he stops and turns to all of us like he’s talking in front of a class, and it makes me laugh. “We’re gonna teach Lydia how to ride a bike.”

“Wait,” I gasp, starting to get a little choked up. “You’re actually going to teach her how to ride a bike?”

He nods.

“Damn…that is so freaking sweet.”

Lani turns, looking at Lydia. “You’ve never ridden a bike before?”

“No…” Lydia says defensively with a playful cross of her arms and a hint of embarrassment.

I give Lani a little nudge. “Crappy childhood, remember?”

Lydia tilts her head at me, trying to look mad, but she can’t hide her smile. “Rude.”

I raise my hands slightly at my sides and laugh. “Sorry.”

Bash walks up and puts his arm around Lydia, pulling her in and looking down at her. “Ready to try something new?”

She looks up at him, and this warmth spreads through me as I watch Bash slowly start to heal her inner child.