Christmas at Mixon (Motocross Me #1.5) (2 page)

Chapter 3

I can see the glow of Mixon Motocross Park from a mile away. Situated off a county road in the middle of nowhere in this small Texas town, my dad’s motocross track is usually dark, blending into the landscape at this time of night. Races are held on weekends, not on a Thursday, and seeing the night air sparkle as I drive up certainly
looks
like Christmas. So why don’t I feel like it’s Christmas?

Probably because I’m working. One of the track’s staff members, Marty, flags me down the moment I drive into the parking lot. I roll down my window and he leans in, handing me a flashlight with a glowing red cone on the end.

“I need you to direct traffic into the field over there,” he says, motioning toward the flat land we use as a parking lot.

“Sure thing,” I say, throwing him a warm Christmas smile. In all my months of working at the track, I’ve signed in riders and put together trophies and counted cash. I’ve never directed people where to park. Guess I’ll figure out the technicalities once I’m doing it.

I park near the score tower and then jog across the park to where a few cars are already arriving. I wave to Dad when I pass him and Frank at Frank’s concession stand. The place does look pretty awesome tonight. There are tons of Christmas lights and blow up decorations everywhere. If I were a kid, I’d probably have a blast.

When I reach the grassy field, I walk toward two other people who are waving around red-coned flashlights and quickly recognize the short one as Teig, my little brother.

“They have you on parking lot duty?” I ask, lifting an eyebrow. He’s barely eleven years old, despite being only an inch shorter than I am.

Teig makes a goofy grin. “Not anymore, now that you’re here.”

He shoves his flashlight in my hand.

“Hey! What are you—” I call out, but it’s too late, he’s already running away from me.

“Sorry, Hana. I love you!” he calls out over his shoulder. The little punk.

Now I have two red flashlights and no idea what to do.

Luckily, the other flashlight in the distance starts walking toward me. Soon I realize it’s Molly, all bundled up in a sweater and a fluffy scarf. Her cheeks are pink from the cold and her bright red flashlight casts a glow over the two of us.

“Teig ditched us, huh?” she says with a smile.

I nod. “I’m going to put coal in his stocking.”

She laughs. “It’s not that busy yet, hun. Do you want to go home and get dressed?”

“Uh, I
am
dressed,” I say, glancing down at my fluffy borrowed jacket and jeans. “I don’t think it’s supposed to get any colder than this.”

“I just meant . . . maybe you’d like to dress a little nicer?” She gives me a tentative smile and I can tell she’s trying not to insult me.

“It’s fine, Molly. I’m just going to be working all night. I don’t care to look nice.”

“Well what if, Shelby, or someone, wants to take a photo with you tonight?”

I throw a hand on my hip. “We aren’t children who want photos with Santa anymore, Molly. Trust me, I am perfectly fine looking like a hobo.”

Her hands fly up. “Okay, okay. I get it. But don’t say I didn’t warn you!”

Molly shows me how to direct the traffic into neatly organized rows of cars and trucks along the field. She stands near the front of the makeshift parking lot and guides people toward me and I guide them into a parking spot. It’s pretty easy and most people pay attention, although some idiots park so far away from the car next to them, you’d think they fear their car might suddenly get fatter or something.

We slip into a steady rhythm and I’m grateful for the need to pay attention to all of these cars full of bustling happy families who are all full of holiday spirit and cheer. The more things I have to focus on make less room in my mind for worrying about Ash. And really, this will be okay, I think as I twirl my flashlight to direct a silver minivan into the next parking spot.

Ash will come back eventually—it’s not like he’s gone forever and I’ll never see him again. He’ll be back and then the racing season will be over and I’ll have a couple of months alone with him.

I sigh and walk backward to make more space for the next car. And then of course, Ash will go back to race the next season and we’ll get to start this agony all over again.

Okay Hana. Time to think about something else.

The next set of headlights approaches me and I swing my flashlight, directing them into a spot. Although the truck is facing me and there’s no way the driver doesn’t see my signal, he turns to the left, away from my signaling. “Really?” I call out as heat rushes into my cheeks. “Hello!” I know he can’t hear me but I yell anyway. What kind of asshole does whatever they want instead of following a simple direction?

My phone beeps with a new message from Shelby. I draw in a deep breath to calm myself from being angry over that idiot driver and read the message.

Can you hang out soon? They’re about to start the fireworks.

Fireworks. How had I forgotten the Christmas Eve fireworks? Dad had only spent the last two months calling suppliers and getting permits from the city. He’d said that fireworks shouldn’t just be for New Year’s and the Fourth of July. Really, I think he’s just going a little bit insane with the need to bring Christmas cheer to the world.

I look toward the entrance where cars are still pulling in every few seconds and send her a reply:
Can’t. I’m still on parking lot duty.

Right after I send her the text, another car pulls up and I wave it into the next parking spot. I don’t mind staying here alone when the fireworks go off. I’ll still be able to see them and it’ll be nicer than standing next to Shelby and her boyfriend during the experience. The last thing I need is another reminder that my boyfriend isn’t here. That other people are happy with their loved ones and I’m just so—blah.

My phone vibrates again.

Can’t you get out of it? It’s really important that you come watch fireworks with us
.


Ah ha. This girl can’t keep a secret for anything. She must have my present from Ash and is probably under orders to give it to me during a special moment. Of course he would have told me it wasn’t her—he’s trying to keep it a secret after all. Well, the joke is on both of them because I’m not going.

I text:
Sorry. I really can’t leave.

Fine. You’re such a scrooge
she replies back.

I wave the next few cars into their parking spots without checking my phone again. Up ahead, I can see Molly still waving cars toward me, a smile on her face as she stops and chats with nearly everyone that drives past her. Another truck pulls forward, ignoring my signaling, but I recognize it this time so I’m not terribly offended. The tan Ford belongs to Jason, my dad’s former employee who joined the Marines a year ago.

I smile at him as he pulls in front of me, rolling down his window. “Hey girl,” he says, smiling back at me with his chiseled jaw. His hair is shaved into a buzz cut and I can tell from out here that he’s gained a ton of muscle since he left.

“Hey Jason,” I say. “You’re not the first person who’s ignored my signaling tonight.”

“People are jerks,” he says with a nod. “But I’m not because I’m here to relieve you.”

“Really? You don’t have to. I’m fine here,” I say but even as I say it, I’m thinking about Ash’s present with Shelby and how I kind of desperately want to know what it is. I hope he’s given me exactly what I asked for.

Jason shifts into reverse and backs into a spot at the end of the row behind us. Then he hops out of his tall truck and heads over to me, arm outstretched for the flashlight. “I don’t mind. I’m quite good at standing in one place for a long time.” He winks. “Plus I get to check out the girls in each car that parks—maybe find a Christmas date.”

“Oh my god, you’re ridiculous,” I say. But I shove the flashlight into his hand and start walking away before he can change his mind. “Have fun!” I call out as I break into a jog.

There’s something about no longer working that seems to lift my spirits almost instantly. Suddenly I do care about Christmas Eve and I even care about this stupid party at the track. Fireworks will be fun to watch, and if I’m lucky, Ash’s present will be exactly what I’ve been asking him for: his favorite zip up jacket, sprayed in his cologne so it smells like him.

I smile at the thought, and even when I walk past that stupid truck that ignored my signaling and parked at the end of another row, I’m still smiling. Screw that guy. I hope he and his stolen parking spot are very happy together.

Chapter 4

I don’t realize how freaking huge this place us until I’m forced to walk it all on foot. Normally I have a four wheeler, or I can catch a ride with Teig on the back of his dirt bike. Too tired to keep jogging, I’m walking across the kid’s practice track and headed toward the night track where Shelby and everyone else enjoys the festivities. Dad will be lighting the fireworks off the top of the score tower so being at the night track is the best place to see them.

My fingers feel a little frozen as I type out another text to Shelby. I’ve made it past the parking lot field and across the vast area of the day track.

Where are you? I’m on my way over there.

My phone lights up but the message is from Ash, not Shelby. My heart hurts as I read those four little words.
I miss you babe.

I miss you more
, I send back.

Shelby replies a second later, telling me they’re at the bleachers on the bottom row. I find her and Jake, exactly as I had expected, cuddled together like the lovebirds that they are. Gag.

“Hey,” I say, kicking at her foot as I approach them.

“There she is,” Shelby says, standing up. Her blue eyes sparkle underneath the lights and if I hadn’t already known she had a present for me, I would have known now. She is terrible at hiding her emotions. “I have something for you,” she says, bouncing on her toes.

“Oh really?” I say sarcastically. “That’s such a surprise because you’re so good at keeping secrets.”

“Oh hush,” she says, swatting at me with her hand. “I do have a surprise for you. It’s right here.” She turns around and reaches for something on the bottom rung of the bleachers. When she stands up, she hands me a small red box with a silver bow. “Merry Christmas!”

A lump forms in my throat. “Is this from you . . . or?”

“It’s from Ash, duh. You’re getting my present tomorrow.”

I take the present and try very hard to smile. Shelby puts a hand on her hip. “You haven’t even opened it yet. Why do you look so sad? Trust me, I know my brother and he’ll get you an awesome present.”

“Yeah I know, it’s just . . . this is a small package.”

“I thought girls loved small packages,” Jake says, chiming in over his tray of nachos.

I shrug and pull at the ribbon that ties the box together. “I was hoping for something bigger.”

“Like what?” Jake says, lifting an eyebrow.

“She wanted his jacket,” Shelby says, rolling her eyes. To me, she says. “You are so weird.”

“I know that
sounds
weird,” I say, forcing a smile. “And whatever is inside this box is probably wonderful, but I really
really
wanted the jacket.”

“You mean this jacket?”

The whole world seems to stop when I hear those words. Shelby’s smile twists into a smirk and the intoxicating smell of Ash’s cologne falls over my shoulders along with the soft black zip up jacket.

I spin around, my heart suddenly caught in my throat. Ash stands there, right there in front of me, wearing the same smirk as his sister. His dreadlocks are a couple inches longer, his tanned skin a little bit tanner. He is as gorgeous and perfect as ever.

“Oh my god.” Tears fill my eyes as I slam into him, throwing my arms around his neck to pull him closer. His hands slide around my waist as he pulls me to him, his chin finding its place on top of my head.

I’m not sure how long we stand like this, but the crack of the first fireworks pulls me out of my daze. I lean back and look into Ash’s eyes just as a sparkle of green bursts into the night sky. “You tricked me,” I say, finally able to find words.

He kisses me and then cups my face in his hands. “A little bit, yeah.”

I chew on my bottom lip to keep from crying. I am suddenly very aware of my messy hair and poor choice of clothing. Had I known, I would have made myself look nice or at least presentable. “I’m sorry I look like shit,” I mumble as Ash pulls me in for another hug.

He shakes his head. “You look beautiful.”

I pull off the jacket I’d borrowed and replace it with Ash’s hoody, reveling in the feel of the soft fabric. Above us, the fireworks pick up intensity and Ash wraps his arms around me while we watch them soar into the air and burst, red and green and white explosions of beauty in the night sky. I lean against Ash’s chest, soaking up every single second of being with him.

All of those angry Grinch feelings from before are gone. Nothing could ruin this holiday or my mood now that Ash is here.

“Are you going to open that?” he whispers into my ear moments later, when the fireworks have ended.

I look down and realize I’m still holding the red box. The decoy present. “Sorry,” I say. “It’s hard to remember a present when you’re here.”

I pull off the bow and open the box. Inside is a silver charm bracelet with three charms. The letter A, the letter H and a small silver dirt bike. “I love this,” I say, holding it up so Shelby can see.

“You’re always saying you want an initial bracelet,” Ash says. “So I just improved on that idea.” He slides his hands around my waist, snuggling close to me. “Of course, I had to add my initial, too.”

“I love it. It’s perfect.” I feel like a dork with how big I’m smiling, but no one seems to notice. I slip the bracelet over my wrist and Ash fastens it.

“You need to add a best friend charm to that thing and
then
it’ll be perfect,” Shelby says, peering over my shoulder.

I turn back to Ash, sliding my hands up his chest. “How long are you staying?”

He frowns and tucks the stray hair behind my ear. “Just until tomorrow morning.”

I figured as much, but it still sucks to hear him say it. I turn around. “Hey, Shelby? Do you mind if we. . .?”

“Duck out of here and steal some time alone?” she says, finishing my question. She flashes us a smile and grabs onto her boyfriend’s hand. “I don’t mind at all.”

I turn back to Ash. “Wanna get out of here?”

He nods. “I thought you’d never ask.”