Chapter 22 Hope
HOPE
“I’ll see you in a couple of days,” Frost hollers over the rumble of his bike.
Standing outside the clubhouse with Paige, Amy, Chaos, and a few other club members, I hug my arms around myself as the desert wind whips against my skin.
The sound of motorcycles fades into the distance long after the actual bikes disappear behind the dusty road.
Frost looked back three times before he finally pulled out of the lot.
Every time, I felt that little tug in my heart, equal parts hope and fear.
“He’ll be fine,” Paige says gently beside me.
Amy snorts. “He better be. I didn’t bring my bat across state lines for nothing.”
Chaos throws her a side-eye. “You terrify me, and I don’t know how to feel about it.”
“That means it’s working,” she says sweetly.
I finally turn away from the road. “Okay.” I take a deep breath. “We have a lot to do.”
“Are we ready to start?” Chaos asks, rubbing his hands together like a villain in one of my stories.
Paige perks up. “Christmas mission?”
“Christmas mission,” I confirm.
Chaos throws his hands in the air. “I knew this was gonna be some Hallmark-level shit.”
I grin. “You signed up for this when you hugged me in the hallway.”
“I said sorry about that!” he protests.
Amy pats his arm. “You’re part of the family now, Chaos. Suffer with the rest of us.”
Chaos mutters something about regretting all his life choices, but he follows us inside anyway.
I follow Paige toward the bar where Eagle and Hawk are already waiting, drinking coffee and discussing the Vegas situation. They both go quiet when they see me approach.
Hawk gives me a nod. “You okay, Hope?”
“I’m fine,” I say honestly. “Ready to get started.”
Eagle raises a brow. “Started with what?”
Amy hooks her arm through mine. “Operation Christmas Chaos.”
Chaos freezes. “Why does it have my name in it?”
“Because you’re involved,” Amy says.
He looks personally victimized.
I focus on Eagle. “I already went over the details with Hawk, and he’s the one who helped get Frost out of the clubhouse.
I want to decorate the clubhouse from top to bottom.
Frost has been lost since his mom passed away, and I think this will help him and the rest of you get through the holiday.
” I pause with my eyes on Eagle. “That is, if you’ll let me. ”
Eagle’s entire expression softens. “Hawk filled me in. I had to ask why I was losing two members this close to Christmas because we didn’t have anything going on with Vegas right now.”
“His mom loved Christmas,” Hawk says quietly. “She went overboard every year.”
“I want to do that for him.” My throat tightens, but I keep talking. “For her, too.”
Eagle nods once. “You tell us what you need.”
“I actually already have a list,” I say, pulling out my phone.
Amy leans over my shoulder. “A color-coded list? My girl is serious.”
Hawk’s mouth twitches with a smile. “Paige loves lists.”
Paige bumps his hip. “Don’t make fun of Hope. She’s trying to make your son happy.”
“He needs it,” Hawk admits. “And you’re probably the only one he’d let do it.”
His words hit me square in the chest, and I swallow hard. “My parents should be here soon. They’re bringing decorations so we can get started.”
Paige claps her hands. “I’m so excited. Don’t get me wrong, because it’s like a double-edged sword. I want to help Frost, but at the same time, it’s hard knowing Mom isn’t here,” she says, her tone somber. “She would’ve liked you, Hope.”
I yank her into my arms and hug her tight, trying to absorb some of her pain. Everyone, including Paige, has been so worried about Frost, they seem to have forgotten that Cynthia had another child who’s also hurting.
“I want to incorporate everything your mom used to do and mingle it with my ideas. I’m counting on you to help me with that,” I tell her. “We’re going to make this fun.”
Paige swipes her eyes and nods with determination. “You got it.”
“Fun,” Amy repeats, glaring at Chaos. “If anyone tries to ruin it, I’ll put them under the tree.”
Chaos backs away slowly. “I’m gonna… go volunteer somewhere else.”
Eagle laughs. “Relax, kid. She won’t kill you before Christmas.”
“I make no promises,” Amy sings.
Before I can respond, the front door swings, open and a gust of air blows inside.
“Hope!” Mom barrels into the clubhouse like she’s storming the beaches of Normandy, arms wide open, tinsel already hanging around her neck like a trophy.
Dad follows behind her, carrying two massive boxes, and what looks suspiciously like a cookie tray.
My heart leaps. “Mom! Dad!”
Mom nearly tackles me in a hug. “Sweetie! You look beautiful. Are you eating? Are you sleeping?”
“Mom, I’ve been gone less than two days.”
“That’s long enough!” she insists.
Dad sets the boxes down with a grunt. “Where do you want Christmas?”
Amy waves them over. “Over here, Ted.”
“Amy, I’ve told you repeatedly to call me Dad,” Dad says.
Amy squints. “Why mess with a good thing?”
Chaos whispers from behind the bar. “Are all her friends like this?”
“Yes,” Mom answers proudly. “Now, where’s Frost?”
Hawk steps forward, offering a restrained, intimidating nod. “We got him out of the clubhouse since Hope wants to surprise him.”
Mom rocks on her heels. “I love a good surprise!”
Dad shakes Eagle’s hand enthusiastically. “Thank you for helping our daughter out.”
Hawk looks mildly terrified by my parents’ eagerness. “Sure. I’m grateful to her for pulling Frost out of his funk.”
Paige leans toward me. “Your parents are adorable.”
“I know,” I whisper.
Dad looks around the vast room. “So! Where’s the main tree going?”
Hawk gestures toward the open space near the bar. “We usually put it there.”
Mom gasps. “Perfect! We can fill the whole ceiling with lights!”
Chaos rubs his face. “The electric bill is gonna murder us.”
Amy slaps his shoulder. “Shut up, and grab a ladder.”
Everything quickly turns into joyful chaos as boxes are opened, lights untangled, and decorations hung.
Mom puts Dad in charge of finding a good extension cord, and Paige talks excitedly about garlands while Amy threatens the Christmas tree like it's an enemy combatant, and Glitch encourages her delusions.
I glance toward the door Frost disappeared through hours ago, my chest warming.
“I hope you like surprises, Frost,” I whisper. “Because this one’s for you.”