Page 11 of A Biker for Noelle
My flight mode kicks into gear, and my eyes dart around the empty parking lot. I need to get back to my car. I glance at Eazy, and he’s still talking to Brewer. So I reach for the key in my coat pocket, which comes up empty. I check the other pocket and my fingers close around nothing. “Crap,” I hiss.
Zack eyes me. “What’s wrong?”
“I think I left my keys in the car.”
He points out the window. “You did, but I saw Eazy give them to that dude with the ponytail.” He points out the window.
“What’s wrong, Noelle?” Zack starts biting his nails, something he does when he gets anxious.
I move his hand away from his mouth. “I don’t think we should be staying with my new boss. It’s weird.”
Zack shrugs. “He seems cool to me. And besides, I’m sure his place is better than the car.” Zack’s face falls when the words are out of his mouth, and I know he instantly feels guilty. “I didn’t mean it like that, Noelle.”
I kiss the top of his head. “I know you didn’t, buddy.”
My brother is right. Eazy’s offer to put us up for the night is the more responsible option, and deep down, something tells me I can trust him.
Zack elbows me in the side. “Here he comes,” he whispers.
I watch Eazy stride to the driver’s side of the truck. A gust of frigid air rushes in when he pulls the door open before quickly hopping in. He sits there for a beat, staring at the steering wheel while Zack and I eye him warily. Maybe he’s having second thoughts about letting us stay with him tonight.
“Um… you know Zack and I will be fine alone. We can—” I don’t get the last word out of my mouth before Eazy cuts me off.
“It’s late. The only place you’re going is home with me.” His words come out in a growl.
I begin to fidget in my seat. “O… okay.” I look over at my brother, whose eyes are ping-ponging back and forth between me and Eazy. Then I ask, “Are you going to call the police?”
Eazy rears back, clearly shocked by my question. “Why the fuck would I call the cops?”
“Because I was trespassing on your property after hours.” I swallow past the lump in my throat. “And because I had a child sleeping in my car instead of someplace safer,” I go on to add. “I know how all of this must look to you. You can tell I’m living in my car. But it was only for one night.” My voice starts to shake as I hold back tears. “I was going to get us a hotel or something tomorrow. I didn’t have enough money.” I feel Zack shift closer to my side, silently offering his support and showing whose side he’s on.
Eazy, however, is white-knuckling the steering wheel, and the set line in his jaw tells me he’s agitated. “I’m not calling the cops,” he grinds out.
The truck cab turns uncomfortably silent as Eazy shifts into gear and drives us away from the parking lot. As we ride through town, I notice how Zack stares out the window with a goofy grin. I have to admit, Ember Falls is a sight to behold. It’s like stepping into a literal Christmas wonderland, with every light pole, street sign, and tree draped in colorful twinkling lights that make the whole town glow.
“Is it like this every Christmas?” he asks.
Eazy nods. “Yeah. And if you like this, wait until the Fourth of July, Halloween, and pretty much any other holiday.”
“Seriously?” Zack perks up even more.
“Oh yeah. Ember Falls doesn’t do anything half-assed. The whole town gathers in the square on Christmas Eve for its annual Ember Falls Christmas festival. There will be ice skating, pictures with Santa, and the ladies down at the community center put together a cookie contest.”
Zack cocks his head. “Cookie contest?”
“It’s where people compete for who has the best Christmas cookies. Whoever wins has braggin’ rights for a year,” Eazy explains.
“Cool.” Zack looks at me. “You should enter the contest, Nelly. Your cookies are the best. Nobody can beat you.”
My little brother’s praise turns my face red. “Thanks, buddy, but I don’t think mine are worthy of the famous Ember Falls cookie contest.” I pat his leg.
“Besides, we might not be here on Christmas Eve.” I hate saying the words out loud, but I’m not sure I still have a job after tonight. Eazy didn’t call the police, but that doesn’t mean he wants someone with my baggage hanging around.
Goddammit! The crestfallen look on Zacks’s face makes me regret my words immediately, though it’s not my brother who interjects.
“What the fuck you mean you won’t be here?” Eazy barks out, making me jump. Then, I’m instantly irritated by the constant use of his foul language around Zack. Not that he’s not used to that sort of talk, but it’s usually coming out of his father’s drunk mouth.
“Do you have to cuss so much?” I snip.
