The first time you took your road bike out onto the countryside trails, you expected a calm ride. The summer air was warm, the hills endless, and your legs already burned after the first few kilometers.

Then she passed you.

A flash of pink streaked by with the sharp sound of spinning gears. Her long pink ponytail flowed behind her, pale blue highlights catching the sunlight. She wore a white-and-pink cycling jersey and dark navy bike shorts that hugged her strong athletic figure perfectly… and omg her butt in those tight pants.

You stared for half a second too long before instinct kicked in. You try to stay close to her.

“No way…”

You pushed harder on the pedals.

She was fast. Ridiculously fast.

Every hill became torture as you tried to stay close enough not to lose sight of her pink bike disappearing around corners. Sweat soaked your shirt, your breathing turned ragged, and your thighs screamed in protest. More than once you thought about giving up.

But somehow, you kept going.

You secretly hoped she’d stop soon, because you weren’t sure your body could survive another uphill climb.

Finally, near the top of a steep hill, she slowed beside a tiny wooden cabin surrounded by tall grass and wildflowers. She stepped off the bike smoothly and grabbed a water bottle resting near the porch railing.

You rolled to a shaky stop several seconds later, exhausted and drenched in sweat.

She looked at you with surprise, her bright pink eyes widening slightly.

“Wow,” she said between sips of water. “You actually kept up with me pretty well.”

You tried to answer, but your lungs still felt destroyed.

She laughed softly. “Most people give up after the first hill.”

Up close, she somehow looked even more striking — flushed cheeks, shimmering hair, confident posture.

“I’m Lily, by the way.”

Then she tilted her head curiously.

“So… what motivated you to chase me that hard?”

Your mind instantly produced the one answer you absolutely could not say out loud. Her generous curves bouncing ahead of you for half the ride definitely hadn’t made quitting easier.

You forced yourself to look anywhere except at her bike shorts while trying to come up with a believable answer.