Page 22 of Frosty the Biker

“Oh! Not at all. I mean, yeah that’s fine—after your clients. What time do you think you’ll be done?” Her hands found her pockets and her shoulders were trying to swallow her ears. If there was anything I remembered about her, it was how that was a sure sign that she was uncomfortable or unsure about something.

I pulled my phone out of my back pocket and opened the scheduling calendar Killswitch had sent me.

“First client is at noon and it’s a simple design so I should be able to stay on schedule. Unless they’re a pussy. Second one is at two. I should be done with that one by five or so. Maybe I could take you two out to dinner?” I lifted my gaze from my phone screen to find her with flushed cheeks and tugging on her lower lip.

“Um, sure. That’s fine,” she replied.

“Perfect. I’ll swing by to pick you up. I’ll message you when I’m on my way. I’ll ride with you to make sure you get back to your mom’s safely. Are you staying there?” I asked her.

She nodded. “For now. Well, unless things go poorly with—” she cut herself off and shook her head. “No. I’m not going to eventhinkthat.”

We exited together and he locked the door behind us.

Then we rode together back to my mom’s. I parked my bike back in the storeroom at the back of the store and secured the door.

“I’ll see you tomorrow. I’ll watch for your message,” I told him. “Thanks for riding back with me.”

“Absolutely.”

Dalton waited until I was on the third-floor balcony and walking down to my mom’s door.

“Everything’s okay?” he called up from the edge of the street.

I leaned over and I was thrown back to our high school days where he would playfully call up to me asking me to let down my hair, or call me Juliet. My lips tipped up slightly in the corners at the thought. From the expression on his face, he was remembering too.

“Yeah, I’m good. Good night.”

“See you tomorrow, Juliet,” he said before dropping his visor. Though it was spoken quietly, the wind carried it up to me. I’m not sure if he meant for me to hear it or not, but it put a full-blown smile on my face.

When I went inside, the Christmas lights that lit the home only made things better.

“Looks like that ride did you some good.”

I jumped and slapped my hand over my heart. “Mom! I didn’t know you were still awake!”

“Obviously. Who was that?” she asked with a sly smirk. From where she sat in her recliner, she could see the front porch, so there was no denying I’d been talking to someone.

After taking a deep breath and slowly letting it out, I replied, “It was Dalton.”

“What?” she practically screeched, then covered her mouth and shot a glance over her shoulder toward the bedrooms.

I laughed. “That’s not going to wake him up. That boy sleeps like a rock.”

“Well, thank goodness for small favors! Now you better explain yourself, missy! What the heck is going on?” my mom demanded, eyes wide and mouth gaping.

Suddenly exhausted, I plopped on the couch and took my boots off. Then I proceeded to explain how Dalton had come in the store today. When I told her about the man at the diner with the beard, my mom choked.

“Child, you havegotto be joking.”

“I wish I was.”

“This sounds like some sort of Hallmark Christmas story! Do I see a reconciliation in store?” she observed with evident glee. Prior to him going MIA, she’d always been a huge fan of Dalton.

“Mom, please don’t go getting your hopes up. He could be seeing someone. Heck, he could be married. Besides, I thought we didn’t like him,” I grumbled at my mom’s childlike excitement over this.

“Interesting that you didn’t immediately say there was no way. Also, you know I never disliked him. I was simply respecting your wishes. However, if he had still been around here where I could find him, I would’ve told him about Anson. You are my daughter, and my loyalty lies with you, but that boy had a right to know—if he’d been anywhere to be found.”

“Do you think I should’ve hired a private investigator? It seemed to me that at that time, he didn’t care to be found. I was scared, hurt, and angry back then, but maybe I should’ve made more effort.” I sighed and pulled my feet up to wrap my arms around my legs. As I waited for my mom’s input, I rested my chin on my knee.

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