Free Christmas at Mixon (Motocross Me #1.5) by Cheyanne Young Page B

shoulder as we walk out toward his truck.
    “Your boyfriend is . . . perfect too,” she says, making a pretend gagging sound. “I mean he’s my brother so I can’t compliment him too much.”
    I kick a rock as we walk. “If he was perfect, he would be here tonight.”
    “Hey there,” Jake says, giving us a little wave. He’s wearing the same kind of black jacket that I’d stolen from my dad earlier today and it’s a little embarrassing. “Merry Christmas Eve.
    “Hey!” Shelby says, rushing up to him. She throws her arms around his neck and I look away as they kiss. Shelby’s entire demeanor changes when she’s around Jake. It’s cute and sweet and annoying as hell.
    “Hey Hana, do you need a ride?” Jake asks and I know he’s just being nice.
    I shake my head. “No, thanks. You two go ahead,” I say, pulling my truck keys out of my pocket. “I need to make a phone call.”
    I climb into my truck and pretend to be looking for something in the backseat until they drive away, leaving me alone like the Christmas Grinch that I am. It’s almost seven in the evening here, so it’s still five in California. Ash usually gets done training around this time, and normally he would have called me by now. Just another thing to make my heart hurt.
    I stare at my phone and scroll to our latest text messages. The last thing he sent me was at eight in the morning. A simple: Good morning. I miss you!
    My thumb hovers over the screen, wanting to type something but I’m not sure what. Anything I could send him right now would just make me sound like a complaining girlfriend. But honestly, he doesn’t even seem that bothered that we won’t be spending our first Christmas together. Ugh.
    I roll my eyes and tell myself to suck it up. He’s a busy guy—a rookie professional dirt bike racer. He’s so busy he probably hasn’t noticed that he’s only texted me once today. I on the other hand, have all the time in the world to dwell on missing him.
    Knowing that I can’t sit in my truck forever because I promised to help with the festivities at the track, I turn up the heater and slide my cell phone back into my pocket. It starts ringing just as I put the truck in reverse. My heart flutters . . . could it be? I park the truck and grab my phone, biting the inside of my lip, knowing that it’s probably Dad or Molly or even Shelby.
    Ash’s gorgeous tanned face stares back at me on the phone screen. I smile at his contact picture. “Hello?” I say as I answer the call, trying like hell to sound casual and not like some obsessive girlfriend.
    “Hey there,” he says. His voice is like honey and I can hear the smile behind his words. My heart hurts, no matter how much I tell it not to. “I heard someone was missing me.”
    “Oh yeah?” I snort. “Wonder who would miss you. I certainly don’t.”
    He chuckles. “Is that so?”
    “Yep. I haven’t even realized that you are gone.”
    “You’re a terrible liar,” he says slowly.
    I think I’m supposed to laugh at this, but I don’t. I just drag my finger along the steering wheel as I gaze at the foggy windshield wishing my boyfriend was here with me and not two thousand miles away.
    “So what’s going on over there?” Ash says.
    “I’m about to join the chaos at Mixon Motocross Park,” I say with a sigh. “I’m not really in the mood for hot chocolate and a million little kids running around.”
    “Well I have some good news for you,” he says.
    I sit up straighter. “You’re on a flight home right now and I’ll actually get to see you for Christmas?”
    “No, it’s not that.” Even though I knew the answer would be no, it still hurts to hear him say it. Luckily he can’t see my face right now, or he’d feel bad. “The surprise is that I arranged someone to bring you your Christmas present tonight.”
    “Someone?” I say, rolling my eyes even though he can’t see it. “You mean Shelby.”
    I can practically see his smirk from over the phone.