Page 28 of The Tomorrows After You
“Both,”Brennan said mono-toned.“Did you know that there are enough people in Godot to warrant two live church services each day? And that Sunday yields the highest data usage from Godot residential properties because the services are also streamed? Makes you wonder if we can’t fit a couple hundred people into a four thousand square foot building, how could they fit two animals of every species on that boat?”
He looked at me like he expected an answer before breaking out in what I could only guess was supposed to be an amused smile. But he looked crazier than kidding. He bared his teeth in a grin, but it made him look maniacal. I stifled a laugh, realizing it was his attemptat a joke.
I examined him. His demeanor, his stance, his speech. I didn’t know enough about autism to draw a conclusion but if he wasn’t on the spectrum, he was certainly parallel to it.
“You know, I hadn’t drawn that conclusion, Brennan,”I smiled. He beamed with my acknowledgment at his joke.
Riot stepped in between us, pushing that firm, muscled chest in my line of sight.“Did you need something?”He glared at me, clearly agitated and overcompensating for Brennan’s earlier remarks.
“What time are those services, and can I borrow your truck? I’d like to attend to see what the buzz is all about.”
He smirked.“Sorry, I’ve got errands to run tonight.”He started to walk away before adding,“There’s a bicycle in the shed. Maybe you can dust that off.”
His snicker made me growl, and I resisted the urge to kick him in the head.
My dad had taught me to ride a bike when I was young, but it had beenyearssince I’d ridden one. Riot had peeled out minutes earlier, still smirking at the idea of me on a bike.I wasn’t above riding a bike like he probably thought.
Well, I would show him.
Or maybe I wouldn’t.
I pulled the bike out and couldn’t get the pedals to turn. I cried out in frustration.
“The chain fell off the drive train.”
Brennan’s voice startled me, and I dropped the bike, the handlebars landing on my bad foot.
“Shit!”I shouted, hopping on my good foot.
“My apologies, Ms. Parker...”
I rubbed my toe, glowering at him.“Nicolette is fine, thanks, Brennan.”He stood a little too close and leaned over me like a giraffe, craning his neck down.
“Yes, Miss Nicolette. Can I assist you?”
“Can you teach me how to fix and ride a bike in the next thirty minutes?”
Brennan’s weird, maniacal grin stretched across his pale face.
“Of course I can.”
Brennan Asher, in short, was un-fucking-believable. He had handed me the tools and given me very specific instructions on how to realign the chain on the drivetrain and a weird sense of pride lit up in me after I’d gotten the pedals to start turning.
After that, he spent twenty minutes talking about center of gravity, balance, and aerodynamics.
“After you establish a vertical posture, you must maintain static balance with one foot on the pedal and the other on the ground before you can propel the mechanism forward.”
He spoke like an astrophysics textbook, yet I still somehow understood what he was saying and was able to apply it to what my body was doing. I made it up and down the road in front of their house a few times before coming back and dismounting.
“It’s coming back to me now, thank you, Brennan.”I offered him a grateful smile.
“Well, there is a reason for the proverbial saying ‘it’s like riding a bike’. Your muscle memory should retain the information at least until you are too old to manage your faculties.”He looked at my confused expression.“Hah! Hah!”His laugh actually consisted of the two words,hah, hah.
Before I took off, I gave him one last regard,“Do you have another bike? Do you want to come with me?”
He frowned at me.“Oh, Miss Nicolette, I can’t ride a bike.”
With that, he turned around mechanically and shuffled back to his little treehouse in the backyard.
