“I…” I look at my friends. “I texted Gavin this morning and asked if he wanted to go mountain biking.”

There’s a long moment of awkward silence, then, “You need to borrow a bike?” Veronica asks.

“Yes, please,” I say quietly.

Veronica has three mountain bikes, two Specialized, and a Trek. She took up mountain biking after college for when she needs something more exhilarating than rock climbing.

“He’s only here for a few more days,” I say. “I’ve never followed my feelings for him before. I was always too scared or too shy or too whatever. I know the timing sucks and it looks…”—I glance at Chloe—“really bad. But I just want to put myself in his path and let fate do its thing. If it doesn’t, and Gavin keeps looking at me like I’m his kid sister—”

“He did?” asks Ferran.

I shrug. “Pretty much.”

“That’s weird,” says Veronica.

I shrug again. “If nothing clicks for him, then I don’t…I have to try.”

Chloe sighs. “What a pickle.” Then she looks at Veronica. “Vee, I just got the best idea for a pickle card.”

Veronica perks up. “Nice. Pickles, huh? I could sell that.”

“I have to go,” says Chloe.

We wave her off. Once inspiration hits, she doesn’t have room to think of anything else. She jumps up and hurries to her office. It’s in the loft above the bakery, where the senior ladies sprinklered Will and me from last night.

“I’ve got to get to work too,” says Ferran. She gulps the last of her coffee. “If you ask me, you should figure out if you actually love Gavin or if you just really, really want to.”

There’s a tightening in my chest at her words.

After she’s gone, Veronica turns to me. “So…bike?”

“Yeah,” I say. “Thanks. Let’s do this.”

She smiles. “It handles light, and since it’s your first time, be careful. I don’t want you to break any bones.”

“Do you think I’m doing the right thing?” I ask.

Veronica studies me, then shrugs. “I ran from my soul mate, and fate caught up with me. You’re chasing yours. I’m sure it’ll all work out.”

She sounds sort of doubtful.

My teeth clatter as I steer the bike over a makeshift log bridge. My helmet strap digs into my neck and my head knocks about as I ride over a pile of rocks strategically placed on the path.

“Whooo,” shouts Gavin. “This is awesome!”

I wipe at the sweat dripping into my eyes and attempt to keep my bike upright. My favorite kind of exercise is walking. It may have been a tad ambitious to invite Gavin mountain biking. Gavin hits a ramp and his bike soars for a second before landing on the dirt single track.

“Don’t you love it?” he shouts.