I heard something in the background, an ugly blarrrt. But I didn’t pay it any attention because at that moment, Erin turned a little, reached back and rubbed her rump where she’d fallen on it and…she had this perfect peach of an ass, the soft denim stretched tight over it. As she twisted, all those layers she was wearing pulled tight across her chest and I saw the twin hillocks of what looked like perfect little perky, upthrust breasts. I could feel myself getting hard in my pants. But when she turned back to me, her expression was completely innocent. She was oblivious to what she was doing to me…which only made her hotter.

I felt myself shuffle an inch closer to her. I wanted to know her better. I wanted to know everything. I couldn’t understand what she was doing to me: I don’t go for adorable. But there was something about her… She looked up at me warily and I thought of an animal again, ears pricked up for any sign of danger. But there was a determination in her eyes, too: she’d chased after that guy even though he was bigger than her.

That blart sound again, closer, this time. But I’d become aware that I still had hold of her hand and even though I knew it was high time I let it go, I really didn’t want to. In fact, I—

Wait, no, don’t, you’ll scare her away.

But it was too late, I was already doing it. Couldn’t stop myself. Just a little squeeze of her hand.

She looked down at our joined hands in shock. Looked up at me, worried. But she must have seen something in my face because she softened. Could she see how confused I was?

We looked into each other’s eyes and—

That ugly noise became a roar and I suddenly realized what it was. A dirt bike engine. The guy on the bike had ridden all the way around the block and now, seeing us distracted, he skidded up to the curb. The guy I’d taken down climbed to his feet, wincing, grabbed the backpack from the sidewalk and jumped on the back of the bike. And the two of them roared off down the street.

“Oh, you little bastards,” I muttered. Now I was really mad. I dropped Erin’s hand, ran to the Jag and jumped in. I threw open the passenger door. “Get in!” I yelled to Erin.

But she just stood there, uncertain. I realized I was still a complete stranger. We stared at each other for one, two, three seconds as she nervously bit her lip….

And then she ran to the car and jumped in beside me.

3. Erin

3

ERIN