"Damn, that waist. You pour yourself into something this tight, tits and ass out like that—what, that's not for guys to grab?"
Every hair on my body stood on end.
I jerked right and shoved his hand off with everything I had:
"Get your fucking hands off me! Get away!"
Ervin Hansen planted himself directly in front of my bike, blocking the only way out.
Rodney Chavez on one side, Roger Perry on the other, pressed tight against the bike until I was trapped between them, pinned with the machine.
"She's got a mouth on her too?"
Ervin spat on the ground and reached for the chin strap of my helmet:
"Take that helmet off. Let us get a look at you. If you're cute enough, you're coming out singing with us tonight—we'll take care of you."
I threw my head back as far as I could until my helmet cracked against the top case behind me.
Rodney used the opening to reach down and slap my thigh, then squeezed hard, deliberately.
"Damn, those legs. Girls who ride are different—built like that, fuck."
Roger's hand went straight for the zipper of my riding jacket:
"Don't be like that, babe. We're just playing around. It's not like you're losing anything."
Cold sweat broke across my skin. I clamped my legs around the bike, and the tears came all at once.
Cars surrounded me on every side, bumper to bumper at the light.
Through the windows I could see people holding up phones to record. Others craning their necks to watch.
Not one window opened. Not one person said a word.
Forty-seven seconds left on the red.
Ervin's fist was already twisted into my helmet strap, pulling it so tight I couldn't breathe.
My riding jacket had been yanked open. Cold wind poured in against bare skin and I went numb from the chest down.
I couldn't take it anymore. I screamed with everything I had:
"They're harassing me! Somebody call the police! Please!"
I thought if I screamed loud enough, someone would step in.
I didn't expect the first voices to come from the three men standing right in front of me.
Ervin cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted:
"Hey! Everybody! You be the judge—we made one joke with her and she's out here blocking the whole intersection screaming like a maniac! Holding up traffic, disturbing the peace—does this woman have no shame?"
Rodney jumped in right behind him: