Page 36 of A Knotty Road Trip

“So what did you do?” Tate asks the moment he’s next to me, and Beck’s biting his bottom lip, holding in his laughter.

I raise an eyebrow and cross my arms the best I can with my wrists covered in the bag straps. “What are you talking about?”

“Well we just woke up to a pissed omega, going off about a stupid alpha, controlling and domineering asshole,” Beck says, then bursts out laughing.

“She forgot we were in the car and essentially kicked us out after her tirade was over.”

“She kicked you out of our own car?”

“In a sense. I did need the bathroom. Which reminds me.” Beck walks off, and Tate waves his hand at me to explain.

“I wouldn't let her pay.”

“Perfectly acceptable,” he states, and I raise my hands into the air, smacking myself in the face with a bag.

“See. She totally walked off in a huff. We have more money than God. She doesn’t need to be spending hers,” I mutter, rubbing my nose.

The cashier rushes over, and her eyes widen when she sees Tate. Oh, right.

“Tate, I told… Actually I don’t know your name,” I say, facing the woman.

“It’s Becca, and I can’t thank you enough, Sir.”

She hands me the record and a sharpie. “I already paid for it, but your signature will make my little Ava so happy.”

I pop the cap and point to Tate. He rolls his eyes, but he knows the drill. Using his shoulder I sign the cover and makeit out to Ava. I turn and hand the stuff to Tate and he does the same, using my back.

This isn’t our first rodeo. We hand it to Becca, and I put the bags on the ground. “Do you have a phone? We can record a quick video for your daughter.”

Her eyes widen, and she digs into her pockets, then frowns. Brandon walks over with a phone in a pink glitter case and hands it to her.

“Oh, thank you, honey,” she says to him, and his cheeks blush. She gives it to me, and I turn the recorder on, facing it toward me and my bandmate.

“Hey, Ava, we just met your mom here at Target and had to say hello to you,” I start, and Tate takes over.

“We hope you have an amazing Christmas, Ava, and give your mom big hugs. She’s pretty cool,” he says, and I end the video.

Becca takes her phone back with a shaky hand and looks up at us with tears in her eyes.

“Thank you. Money has been tight, but this will be her favorite Christmas of all because of you both. May I hug you? Is that okay?”

“Absolutely,” I say, and she rushes us into a group hug. I catch Beck over her head purchasing some things, and I smile. He may not want people to know that he’s a part of Knotty Trip, but he’s the heart and soul of our band.

“Thank you again so much,” Becca says, releasing us and wiping her eyes with a laugh.

“It was our pleasure. Merry Chirstmas, Becca,” I say, taking the cards from Beck. “Give your daughter and yourself the best holiday yet.”

I hand her the multiple gift cards that Beck just purchased, and she begins to blubber. “Oh, wow, you didn't have to do that,” she cries, and then takes one of the cards and turns towardBrandon. “Here, honey, go buy Ella that bike she wants,” she says, and now Brandon is on the verge of tears.

“I couldn’t Bec. You need it more than me. Ella can wait for her birthday.” She steps closer to him and pulls him into a tight hug.

“Go get the bike, Bran,” she says, and he nods.

After he leaves she turns to us again. “My husband died a year ago, and I haven’t been ready to move on, but that omega… the way he takes care of his niece,” she laughs and blushes. “I am fifteen years older than him.”

“Love is love,” Beck says, taking Tate’s hand and kissing his knuckles. She looks off toward where Brandon went and nods.

“I think you’re right. Thank you again so much. You just changed our lives in more ways than you know.”

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