Alex listened patiently until she finished. "Don't worry," he said. "Barto knows you're living with me. You're safer here with me than anywhere else."
Gu Ning nodded softly.
"I'll go check on Cook for you later," Alex said.
Gu Ning nodded repeatedly.
"What do you think of the bike?" Alex asked, changing the subject.
"It's great," Gu Ning replied.
"Do you like it?" Alex asked.
Gu Ning's gaze swept over the bike. She nodded, feeling like she could probably ride it too.
Alex let go of the handlebars, shifted back to make some room, then wrapped an arm around her waist and lifted her onto the seat in front of him. He took her hands and placed them on the handlebars. "This is the throttle, and this is the brake."
As he spoke, he guided her hand to gently twist the throttle, and they moved forward a short distance.
Gu Ning looked up at Alex in surprise.
