Page 33 of A Biker for Noelle
Torin squeezes me. “Merry Christmas, baby.”
My first Christmas with Torin is hands down the best Christmas I’ve ever had. And I can say with certainty it’s the best Christmas Zack has ever experienced. When I tell you Torin and his mom went wild on my brother, they went wild. I’m talking about Lego, Nerf guns, a new bike, a basketball hoop, a ball, a soccer ball and a goal, skates, a skateboard, and an RC car. Torin’s gifts definitely outshined the new winter coat, jeans, and sweater I got him, but bless his heart, my brother showed just as much enthusiasm over his new socks as he did the motorized scooter.
At first, Torin was worried he had overstepped, especially when he saw me crying. I explained to him I’m emotional because I’m happy, not mad. How could I be mad at the manwho single-handedly healed my brother’s heart by giving him the kind of Christmas he’d only ever dreamed about?
“Hey, bud. Why don’t you take all your new stuff to your room and then come help me clean up all this paper?” Torin claps Zack on the back.
“Okay!” Zack starts to gather his toys but suddenly stops and sets down the RC car he is playing with. I watch as he runs over to Torin and throws his arms around his waist. “Thank you. This is the best day of my life.”
There is no denying the emotion written all over Torin’s face.
“You’re welcome, Zack,” he rasps.
I can’t help the tears streaming down my face as I watch my little brother embrace Torin.
I love you,I mouth to him.
He mouths back,I love you.
Later that evening, June and I are in the kitchen preparing Christmas dinner. Yesterday, Torin informed me that the guys would be eating with us since none of them have families in the area. I was overwhelmed at first with the amount of food I would be cooking, but thankfully, June is a seasoned pro and offered to help.
“I’ve never seen my son so happy.”
I set the timer on the stove for the sweet potato pie and then glance over at June. She is peering out the kitchen window at Torin, who is sitting on the deck with a beer in his hand while watching Zack play with his RC car in the snow.
“I have you to thank for that.” She looks at me with tears shimmering in her eyes. “Torin was close to his father, and it nearly destroyed him when we lost him. And now I get to see himshare with Zack the same morals and values his own dad taught him.” June gets a faraway look in her eyes. “You know Torin’s dad loved Christmas. He used to go all out each year for Torin. I remember telling him he spoiled that boy too much.” June laughs. “But you want to know a secret?”
“What?”
“I loved it. I loved how he spoiled our boy. That was our thing, though. My husband would go ham on Christmas, and I would fret about how he was doing too much. Then he would sit outside all afternoon to watch Torin play with all his new toys while I made Christmas dinner.” June swipes away a lone tear and then returns to Torin and Zack. “Now I get to watch my boy carry on those same traditions with your brother.” June’s hip bumps me. “And perhaps one day a son or daughter.”
I grin at the thought of having a child with Torin. “If that’s something Torin wants with me.”
“Abso-fuckin’-lutely.” Torin’s baritone voice startles me. I whip around to find him standing just inside the kitchen. I was so caught up in June’s story I didn’t hear him come in.
“Wh… what?”
Torin sets his empty beer bottle on the kitchen table and walks purposefully toward me. I peer up at him as he grips my face between the palms of his hands. “Nothin’ would make me happier than to have a baby with you.”
I can’t breathe.
Did he really just say that?
From the corner of my eye, I see a sly smile spread across June’s face as she walks out of the kitchen.
“I… I didn’t know you were listening.”
“I’m glad I was because if not, I wouldn’t get the chance to hear you tell my mom you wanted me to put my baby in your belly.”
“Torin,” I breathe out his name.
Just then, a barrage of male testosterone comes barreling in through the front door, effectively cutting our moment short.
Torin firmly kisses me. “Tonight, we continue working on makin’ a baby,” he declares before striding away, leaving me with a million butterflies in my stomach.
Once I collect myself, I go into the living room to greet the guys just as Brewer tosses a set of keys to Torin. “Got that thing you asked for, Prez.”
“Thanks, brother.” Torin jerks his chin. “Come here, baby. I got somethin’ for you.”
