Free Heart Racer by Marian Tee Page A

really safe?”
    “As safe as bungee jumping.”
    “That’s the one where you jump a off a fifty-story building, right?” She scowled at him. “Not helping.”
    Kellion gave her head a little pat like he would to a younger sister. In a way, that was how he thought of her. “He’s going to be fine.” He paused. “But you know he’s going to feel even better if he knows you’re here, right?”
    “Don’t tell him. You promised!”
    “Yeah, but I just think—”
    “There’s something I need to know and I can only do that if I see him…and he doesn’t see me.”
    “You want to catch him flirting with other girls?” It had been Kellion’s primary suspicion, but the way Bobby blinked at him told Kellion the thought hadn’t even occurred to her, leaving him even more puzzled.
    “He’s not going to flirt with other girls.” Because he loves me, Bobby wanted to add but didn’t.  
    “You’re that sure?”
    “Absolutely.” But she still held her breath anyway when the host finally called out Leandro’s name and the girls in the crowd went wild. He was dressed completely in black leather, making him look so sexy-badass it had Bobby gasping along with the others.
    Kellion smirked and took a snapshot of her.
    She heard the click of his phone. “Kellion!”
    “Sorry.”
    Bobby glared at him. “Delete that—”
    “He’s getting on his bike now,” Kellion said, distracting her.
    It worked.
    Her head quickly snapped back towards the front. Leandro was indeed getting on his bike, and he had switched the ignition on, the crowd roaring its approval as his motorcycle growled to life. The brand of his motorcycle was something she didn’t recognize, but even with what little knowledge she had of bikes, Bobby instinctively knew Leandro’s was a dream machine. It was big and black, and there was something about its sleekness and power that made the bike seem like it was custom designed to match Leandro’s build.  
    He bent down, revving the engine again, and the crowd roared with it.
    And then he was flying.
    Bobby screamed, her heart racing as Leandro and his bike raced up in the ramp at full speed before soaring. Time stopped for everyone else as Leandro and his bike was up in the air, and no one made the smallest sound as Leandro attempted a full 360-degree turn—
    —and he made it with effortless grace. His landing was soundlessly perfect, with Leandro facing the crowd as his bike hit the ground.
    Leandro slowly got off his bike, the girls going wild as he came solidly to his feet and slowly took off his helmet.
    She watched in dry-mouthed wonder, her heart still racing, unable to believe someone so dazzlingly good had said he loved her.
    And then his eyes found her.
    Once, she had been talking to a girl who had asked her about love. And Bobby, fresh from the heartbreak of Blaine’s cruelty, had said everything in her heart, knowing that all the girls in their yoga class – most of whom knew what had gone down between her and Valerie – were listening. She had spoken the words defiantly, wanting everyone to know that even though she had been humiliated, she wasn’t going to let Blaine and Valerie win again by allowing herself to be bitter.
    The man I picture in my mind is someone ordinary like me. Maybe he’s wearing glasses, maybe he’s not so handsome, but it’s how he loves me that’s extraordinary. It doesn’t matter how many people there are in a room. He knows when I’m there and he’ll find me right away, because I’m his heart and you always have to know where your heartbeat’s coming from.
    Tears blurred her gaze but Bobby blinked them away, needing to know that she wasn’t imagining things – that Leandro had indeed found her.
    A smile slowly curved on his lips. Hi.
    The tears fell as she mouthed, Hi.  
    She was going to break down any moment. She didn’t want to, but she couldn’t help it. Her heart was thumping so hard it was a wonder it hadn’t broken out of her