Chapter 65: The Ride Home

As expected, Sabrina came hurrying back.

Her cheeks were still flushed, and there was a nervousness in her steps that she couldn’t quite hide. The evening breeze caught a few loose strands of her hair, sweeping them across her face as she approached.

She stopped beside Jason’s motorcycle and lowered her eyes.

For a moment, she seemed to lose her courage.

Then she took a breath.

"Jason... my car broke down."

Her voice was soft, almost hesitant.

"Are you heading home? If you are... could you give me a ride? I live pretty close."

It was a convincing excuse.

Except for one small problem.

Her car was perfectly fine.

Sabrina simply wasn’t ready for the evening to end.

She wanted a few more minutes with him.

Maybe an hour.

Maybe just enough time to figure out what exactly was happening between them.

Inside, she quietly encouraged herself.

Just this once.

Let me be selfish just this once.

If he’s busy, I’ll let it go.

Jason looked at her for a moment.

Then the corner of his mouth lifted.

He knew exactly what she was doing.

But he had no intention of exposing her.

"Sure."

He patted the seat behind him.

"Hop on."

Sabrina’s heart gave a little jump.

She quickly nodded.

"Okay."

Before getting on, Jason pulled out his phone.

He sent a quick text to Zara.

> Jason: I’m staying at a classmate’s place tonight, so I won’t be coming home. Get some rest.

The response arrived almost immediately.

> Zara: Okay. Be careful. I’ll see you tomorrow. And don’t forget about our little secret lesson.

Jason stared at the message for a second before shaking his head with an amused smile.

I’m really keeping myself busy these days.

He typed back.

> Jason: Don’t worry. I’ll be looking forward to it.

He slipped the phone into his pocket.

Behind him, Sabrina carefully climbed onto the motorcycle.

She sat stiffly at first, unsure where to put her hands.

Finally, she lightly grabbed the back of Jason’s jacket.

"Okay..." she murmured.

Jason glanced back.

"You’ll need to hold on tighter than that."

Sabrina hesitated.

Then she wrapped her arms around his waist.

The simple movement made her heart race.

"Ready?"

"Yeah."

Jason started the engine.

The motorcycle rumbled beneath them, breaking the quiet of the street.

A moment later, they pulled away from the gym.

The cool night air rushed past them.

Streetlights stretched into glowing lines as they traveled down the road, and the sounds of the city slowly faded behind them.

Sabrina initially held herself rigidly.

But as the motorcycle picked up speed, instinct took over.

She leaned closer and tightened her arms around Jason.

She could feel the steady rhythm of his breathing beneath her hands.

For some reason, the simple closeness made her feel strangely peaceful.

She had spent years convincing herself that she didn’t need anyone.

Tonight, sitting behind Jason with the wind rushing around them, that certainty suddenly didn’t seem quite so solid.

I really like this.

A tiny smile appeared on her lips.

Maybe... I don’t want this ride to end.

Jason noticed how tightly she was holding on.

He smiled to himself.

He didn’t need to say anything.

Every little reaction told him more than words could.

When he slowed suddenly for a turn, Sabrina instinctively tightened her grip.

"Jason!"

"Relax," he called over the engine. "I’ve got you."

Sabrina’s heart skipped.

She lightly tapped his shoulder.

"You did that on purpose, didn’t you?"

There was no real anger in her voice.

If anything, there was a playful warmth hidden beneath her embarrassment.

Jason laughed.

"Maybe."

"You’re impossible."

She shook her head, but the smile on her face remained.

They continued through the evening streets.

The city lights flickered past them, reflecting off storefront windows and parked cars. Their shadows stretched across the pavement whenever they passed beneath a streetlamp, then disappeared into the darkness again.

Neither of them spoke much after that.

They didn’t need to.

For Sabrina, simply being there was enough.

Eventually, Jason turned onto a quieter residential street.

"This is it, right?"

"Yeah."

A few minutes later, he stopped outside Sabrina’s apartment building.

The engine went silent.

Suddenly, everything felt much quieter.

Jason removed his helmet.

"We’re here."

He glanced at her.

"I should probably head home too. I haven’t eaten anything since earlier. I’m starving."

Sabrina didn’t move.

She remained seated behind him, her hands resting loosely at her sides.

She stared at the apartment entrance.

Then at Jason.

A strange reluctance settled over her.

Is this really it?

She had spent the entire evening trying to find excuses to stay close to him.

Now that they had arrived, she didn’t want him to leave.

Her fingers tightened slightly.

Then she made a decision.

"Jason."

"Hmm?"

She looked at him.

"Since you’re already here... why don’t you come upstairs for a little while?"

Her voice became softer.

"I’ll make you something to eat."

Jason paused.

Then he smiled.

"Sure. I’d like that."

Relief immediately washed across Sabrina’s face.

"Really?"

"Of course."

She quickly climbed off the motorcycle and straightened her clothes.

"Come on. It’s just upstairs."

They entered the apartment building together.

The place was old but quiet, the kind of building that had clearly been standing for decades.

The exterior showed its age. Paint had faded along the walls, and small cracks ran through sections of the concrete. The stairwell smelled faintly of dust and old plaster, while several handwritten notices and advertisements had been taped unevenly to the walls over the years.

A dim yellow light hung overhead, flickering slightly whenever the old electrical system struggled.

Sabrina noticed Jason looking around.

She gave an embarrassed smile.

"This place is pretty old."

She rubbed the back of her neck.

"I saved for years before I could afford it."

Jason shook his head.

"What’s wrong with that?"

He looked around again.

"Honestly, it reminds me of where I grew up. Places like this can have their own charm."

He smiled.

"When I was a kid, everyone in the neighborhood knew each other. There were always kids outside running around together."

His expression softened.

"After moving away, I realized I barely knew any of my neighbors."

Sabrina smiled.

"That’s true. Things were different back then."

They continued upstairs.

Their footsteps echoed softly through the stairwell.

Sabrina walked ahead while Jason followed.

She suddenly became aware of how strange this felt.

Jason was coming into her home.

Not as a client.

Not as a student.

Not as someone she’d simply met at the gym.

But as a man she’d begun to develop feelings for.

Her heart fluttered.

Finally, they reached her door.

Sabrina took out her keys.

The lock clicked.

She pushed the door open and stepped aside.

"Come in."

Jason entered.

The atmosphere immediately changed.

Compared with the worn exterior of the building, the apartment itself was surprisingly warm and inviting.

Soft lighting filled the living room.

The furniture was modest but carefully arranged, and small personal touches made the space feel lived-in.

Near one wall stood a child’s height chart covered with colorful drawings and little handwritten dates.

Jason stopped to look at it.

Sabrina noticed.

"That’s my daughter’s."

A proud smile appeared on her face.

"She insisted on keeping track of how tall she was getting."

Nearby, several stuffed animals sat on the couch.

A pink pig leaned against a fluffy white bear, both looking as though they had been placed there by a child moments before.

Jason smiled.

"This place feels cozy."

Sabrina’s expression softened.

"Thanks."

She glanced down at herself.

Her workout clothes were damp with sweat, and she suddenly felt self-conscious.

"I need to change."

She pointed toward the living room.

"Make yourself comfortable. I’ll be right back."

"All right."

Sabrina hurried into the bedroom.

Once the door closed, she leaned against it for a moment and exhaled.

Her heart was still beating faster than normal.

Okay.

He’s actually here.

She walked over to her closet.

Rows of clothes hung neatly inside.

She stared at them for several seconds.

Usually, choosing what to wear was effortless.

Tonight, it suddenly felt like an important decision.

Her fingers moved through several outfits before stopping.

She pulled out a simple white top and a soft pleated skirt.

She hadn’t worn the combination in a long time.

Holding it against herself, she looked into the mirror.

For a moment, she saw the woman she’d been before life became so complicated.

Then she smiled faintly.

She changed clothes, fixed her hair, and added a touch of makeup.

Nothing dramatic.

Just enough to brighten her complexion and make her feel a little more confident.

She applied a small amount of lipstick and studied her reflection.

The woman staring back at her looked softer somehow.

Younger.

Not because she had magically turned back the clock, but because there was something alive in her expression that hadn’t been there for a long time.

Sabrina touched her hair and smiled.

"Tonight," she whispered to herself, "I’m going to let him see the best side of me."

She took one last look in the mirror.

Then, with her heart beating a little faster, she opened the bedroom door and walked back toward Jason.