The crowd was wild and uncontrollable, a monster consisting of hundreds of heartbeats that craved the excitement of a forbidden race.

Leandro had invited her yesterday to accompany him as his date to tonight’s event but Bobby refused, knowing there was something else she had to do. She felt so guilty and unfair about Leandro having said the words and her not saying it back. She wanted to. How she wanted to, but Bobby had to be sure it was the real thing this time.

The race was kicking off at a warehouse along one of Florida’s interstate highways. The thought of Leandro racing on a motorbike – illegally – on a public highway was more than enough to make Bobby want to throw up. The fact that he indeed participated in a few such events when he was in Greece still gave her nightmares from time to time. Bobby could only be thankful that he had now “retired” and was content to sponsor such races.

Bleachers had been set up for the spectators and Bobby managed to find herself a spot at the very top where she could see everything. Strobe lights beamed different shades of light on the bikers and the ground while heavy rock and roll music roared out of the speakers.

Everyone was in a mood to party, but all Bobby could do was eye the twenty-foot tall ramp in front of the crowd nervously.

Seeing how Bobby was looking at the stunt area, Kellion said sympathetically, “I know it looks suicidal, but he’s a pro when it comes to these stunts.”

“But it’s so dangerous,” she mumbled.

“He’s got this, I promise.”

Bobby shook her head. “I just don’t get why you guys have to do this. I mean, the biking stuff and all? And if you really want to race so badly, why do you have to do it illegally?”

“There’s a freedom when riding a bike that you can’t get from racing a car…any kind of car.” He tried to search for the right words to explain his connection and every biker’s connection to his bike. “It’s more intimate, like the bike becoming a part of you, an extension of your limb. That’s why it feels like I’ve lost an arm if my bike gets damaged and it’s my fault.”

“But what about the people who care about you and---”

Kellion smiled. “I know what you mean, and it’s not like that here in Florida. In Greece, the guys are insane there – they absolutely have no rules and that’s why Leandro’s accident happened. But here in Florida, Helios is in control and he runs a pretty tight ship. We’ve got everything the big leagues have except the license. And that we don’t want. When you go pro, the money sharks come in and make things boring. But when it’s underground, we make the rules.”

“So it’s 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 chest.

Bobby saw concern briefly cross Leandro’s face and she knew that he had realized how close she was to losing control.

And then---

Her eyes widened.

Leandro blew her a kiss.

Screams burst out from the women in the crowd, but Bobby ended up bursting into laughter. It was the mushiest thing he could have done – something Leandro Christopoulos as the world knew him would never have done – but he had done it. He had done it even though she was pretty sure he would consider it the least manly thing he had ever done in his life. He had done it – for her.