Kyle

Dating a biker had been… different than you expected.

You'd expected danger.

Leather jackets.

Loud motorcycles.

Maybe a few speeding tickets.

What you hadn't expected was Kyle.

Because Kyle, despite looking like he could win a bar fight with one hand tied behind his back, was ridiculously sweet.

He remembered your favorite snacks.

Sent you pictures of pretty sunsets because they "looked like your room."

Kept an extra sweater at your apartment because he knew you got cold easily.

And on your second date, he'd shown up holding a pink motorcycle helmet.

"I got this for you."

You blinked.

"...Pink?"

He looked suddenly nervous.

"You said it was your favorite color."

You had.

Weeks ago.

Once.

In passing.

Your heart had nearly melted.

After that, riding with him became one of your favorite things.

Your arms around his waist.

Your cheek against his back.

The sound of his laughter when you squeezed him tighter during sharp turns.

He spent so many nights at your apartment that half his things somehow ended up there.

A toothbrush.

A hoodie.

A mug.

A charger.

At this point, you suspected he practically lived with you.

Still…

There was one thing that worried you.

His friends.

His biker gang was full of huge, intimidating men.

Tattooed.

Scarred.

The kind of men who looked terrifying until they smiled.

You liked them, but…

You couldn't help wondering.

How did Kyle talk about you around them?

Did he complain?

Did he act all cool and detached?

Did he roll his eyes whenever they teased him?

You couldn't imagine this giant biker telling his friends about how he liked braiding your hair or carrying your shopping bags.

So you worried.

Probably more than you should have.

—

One night, Kyle was out with them.

You were at home, wrapped in a blanket and watching a movie.

Your phone rang.

You smiled immediately.

"Kyle?"

"Hey, sweetheart."

The sound of his voice always made you happy.

"You okay?"

"Yeah."

"You lock your door?"

"Yes."

"Eat dinner?"

You laughed.

"Yes."

"Real dinner?"

"Yes, Kyle."

Silence.

"I don't believe you."

You laughed harder.

"I had pasta."

"Good."

A pause.

"You tired?"

"A little."

"You should sleep soon."

"You sound like an old man."

"I am an old man."

"You're twenty-six."

"Ancient."

You smiled.

Then his voice softened.

"I just wanted to make sure you're okay."

Your heart did that little thing it always did around him.

"I'm okay."

"Good."

Another pause.

"Sleep well, baby."

"You too."

"I'll come by tomorrow morning."

"I'll make pancakes."

"Marry me."

You laughed.

"I'll consider it."

Someone shouted in the background.

Kyle sighed.

"The idiots are here."

You could hear laughter.

"Go spend time with your friends."

"I will."

Then:

"Wait a second, I'm gonna mute myself."

"Okay."

A beep.

Silence.

Then—

"You still doing that thing where you call your girl every night?" one of his friends asked.

Kyle laughed.

"Of course I am."

You smiled.

Then realized…

The call wasn't muted.

You could still hear everything.

Another voice spoke.

"You're whipped."

"So?"

The men laughed.

Someone whistled.

Then Kyle's voice came again.

And it sounded different.

Softer.

Warmer.

"You guys don't get it."

You froze.

"She's…"

A pause.

Then:

"She's the love of my life."

Silence.

Your breath caught.

Another man laughed.

"Already?"

Kyle scoffed.

"Yeah, already."

"You've only been dating a few months."

"So?"

You could hear the smile in his voice.

"When it's your person, you know."

Silence.

One of his friends made a gagging noise.

Kyle ignored him.

"She's my soulmate."

Your hand flew to your mouth.

"You should see her when she's sleepy."

The men groaned.

"Here we go."

"No, seriously," Kyle continued. "She gets this little crease between her eyebrows."

Someone laughed.

"And she's so excited about tiny things. I bought her a pink helmet and she looked at me like I'd hung the moon."

The men made exaggerated sounds of disgust.

Kyle didn't stop.

"She's adorable."

"You say adorable one more time and I'm leaving."

"No, but really." He laughed softly. "She's just… cute."

A pause.

Then, quieter:

"I've never met anyone like her."

Silence.

Another voice finally asked:

"You really love this girl, huh?"

Kyle didn't even hesitate.

"More than anything."

Your eyes filled with tears.

"Honestly?" he said softly. "I still can't believe she's mine."

One of his friends snorted.

"You've got it bad."

"I really do."

A pause.

Then:

"I hope she never realizes she could do better than me."

The room erupted with laughter.

You almost started crying.

Because somehow…

Somehow…

This huge, tattooed biker who looked terrifying to everyone else…

talked about you like you were something precious.

Like you were his entire world.

Someone in the background shouted:

"Just marry her already!"

Kyle laughed.

"Working on it."

Your face went hot.

Then:

"Alright, enough about my girl."

A pause.

"She's probably asleep anyway."

You made a strangled noise.

At that exact moment, he finally looked at his phone.

Silence.

Then:

"...Guys."

"What?"

"I didn't mute."

The entire room exploded.

You burst into laughter.

"Kyle?" you managed.

On the other end of the line, you could practically hear him dying of embarrassment.

"Oh my God."

You laughed harder.

"Sweetheart—"

"You called me your soulmate."

"Oh no."

"And adorable."

"Oh no."

"And the love of your life."

One of his friends was cackling.

Another shouted:

"Told you to check the mute button!"

Kyle groaned.

Then, after a long pause, his voice became soft again.

"...I meant all of it."

You smiled so hard your cheeks hurt.

"I know."

Silence.

Then:

"You still gonna make pancakes tomorrow?"

You laughed.

"Yes."

"Okay."

A pause.

"I love you."

Your heart melted.

"I love you too."

In the background, a chorus of grown bikers immediately started cheering.

Kyle sighed.

"Ignore them."

You could hear one of them yelling:

"HE'S BLUSHING!"

You laughed all over again.

And somewhere in a noisy garage full of big, tough men, Kyle smiled too—completely unashamed that everyone now knew exactly how hopelessly in love he was with you.