Bella and the Happily Ever After Read online

  Mr. Hernandez brightens when he sees me walk into his shop. He’s been a fan of mine since the day he first met me. He didn’t let the bad PR from when I was briefly on Team FRZ Frame sully his opinion of me.

  “Liam!” he says, waving me over to the register. “It’s good to see you back, my boy.”

  “Thanks. It’s good to be back.” I’m standing in front of the same register where I first saw Bella. Deja vu hits me hard and makes me a little nostalgic. I didn’t know her at all that day, but she’d captured my attention from the first second I saw her. I wasn’t even looking for a girlfriend, and yet I ended up meeting my soul mate that day.

  “You here for some fuel?” Mr. Hernandez says, breaking me out of my daydreams of Bella.

  “Yes, sir,” I say, taking out my wallet. Five gallons, please.”

  He rings me up and then we walk out to the back of the shop where the gas pump is located. I set my gas jug on the ground and he starts filling it up.

  “Are the rumors true about you moving back here for good?” he asks.

  “Yep. I’m out of the professional motocross scene. It just wasn’t my thing. I like being here with my family more.”

  He’s a cool guy, and not some gossip monger, so I don’t mind telling him the details of my life. He nods eagerly and gives me a smile that reminds me of my late grandfather. That man always seemed proud of me no matter what I did.

  “You made a good call, son. The fame is fun, but family is more important.”

  “Now I just need a job.”

  “What kind of job?” he says, screwing the lid back on my gas jug. “We’re hiring here, but it’s only part time.”

  “Seriously? Part time would be perfect while I’m still in college. Could I maybe apply for the job?”

  Mr. Hernandez claps his hands together in front of his chest. “You kiddin’ me? I’d hire you in a heartbeat. I don’t need an application. When can you start?”

  I laugh. “I can start work after tomorrow’s race.”

  He claps me on the back as we walk back toward the front of the shop. “Perfect. I’m happy to have you, boy. I’ll get three times the business with you working here.”

  “And here I thought you were being nice,” I say with a laugh.

  He walks with me back to my truck, which is parked just a few feet away. “My daughter makes the schedule. Just get with her tomorrow and pick your own hours. She’ll show you the ropes around here.”

  “Sounds good. Thank you.” I reach out and shake his hand.

  “What are you going to college for?” he asks.

  I shrug. “I’m not sure yet. I’d love to work in motocross, but if I’m not a pro racer, I’m not sure what I’d do.”

  “Now that you mention it…” Mr. Hernandez rubs his chin as he studies me. “I heard a rumor that the owner of Oakcreek Motocross Park is looking to sell it soon.”

  “Yeah… I heard that, too.”

  “You should buy it. We need a guy like you running the track. You could breathe new life into it.”

  “You think so?” I ask, feeling the idea invigorate my soul. Having just been at Oakcreek last weekend, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it. That track is awesome. The terrain is beautiful and the track is well designed. It’s a lot more popular than our local Roca Springs track.

  “You’d be perfect for the job,” he says. “Plus, you could hire me to provide all your race fuel! We could all partner up. Even get Roca Springs MX in on it. We could make a series race or something, and everyone can come to my shop to get their fuel and bike parts!”

  “That would be fun,” I say with a nod. “Maybe I’ll reach out to him soon. Do you know his name?”

  “I’ll do you even better,” he says, taking his phone out of his shirt pocket. “I’ve got his number. You give him a call and tell him Jim Hernandez referred you.”

  It takes me three days to get the courage to call the owner of Oakcreek Motocross Park. I don’t know why I’m so scared about it. I guess I’m afraid no one in their right mind would sell a teenager their well-established motocross track. Of course, if I can work out a deal to buy it after I graduate, then I won’t be a teenager. I’ll be a slightly older college graduate.

  I’m not kidding myself on the costs involved. I’m sure it’ll be a lot of money to buy a business that big, but I still have most of my Team Loco money saved, and now I’m working at the shop part time, so I’ll save up even more money. Whatever it takes, I’ll find a way to get the down payment.

  I haven’t told Bella yet, either. I’m afraid of what she might say, and I want to have all my ducks in a row before I tell her about this crazy idea of mine. So the next day after work, before I drive over to her place to take her and my little brothers to see a movie, I close and lock my bedroom door and then I take a deep breath and call John Avery, the owner of Oakcreek.

  When he answers, I introduce myself.

  “Ah, Liam Mosely,” he says with a chuckle. He has a deep, raspy voice. “I’ve been expecting your call.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes, sir. Jim Hernandez hasn’t shut up about you. Apparently, he’s been telling you to buy my track.”

  Well, I guess that’s one way to break the ice. “He did mention it,” I say, trying to sound confident on the phone. Ever since I started thinking about owning my own motocross track, it’s all I’ve been thinking about. I can’t imagine a better career. Working for myself, in the sport I love. I’d get to ride my bike every day, and still make money from it. And sure, I could always get some land and make my own track from scratch, but buying an established track with name recognition would be much easier.

  “Are you interested in selling the track in a few years?”

  “It’ll be a hard thing to let go, but unfortunately I’ll have to sell it soon. I’m getting too old. I can’t keep up with it like I used to. My wife says I should retire already so we can travel and all that crap she wants to do.”

  “I’d love to talk with you about buying it,” I say. “I still have a few years of college left, but after that—”

  “I’d be happy to sell it to you, son,” he says before I can finish my well-rehearsed thoughts.

  “Really?”

  “I don’t have any kids to leave it to. I don’t want to just sell to some investor. This place is my heart and soul, kid. I want it to go to someone who loves motocross as much as I do. Someone who will run my track with love and care and keep the sport alive. Can you do that?”

  “Yes, sir. I know I can.”

  “Then consider it yours. I’ll give you a real cheap price, too.”

  I thank him several times, and the rest of our conversation just flies by. He tells me about the financials and the logistics of running a track. He says his wife does all the office stuff, and he has a few part time employees who will probably stay on when I buy the place. The idea is even more exciting when he tells me about what his wife does. She maintains the website, keeps up with the paperwork, and basically runs the track from a business standpoint while he works the tractor and maintains the property.

  Bella wanted to work a job where she could be the boss but get to do her own thing. Working the track with me would be exactly that kind of job. We could do this together. We could own it together. This could be the opportunity that both of us have been looking for.

  17

  Bella

  “Bella.”

  Liam’s whisper is soft and far away. I hear it again. Then my body gently shakes. My eyes flutter open and I hear Liam’s voice for real, right next to me. “Bella, wake up.”

  It wasn’t a dream.

  I roll over in bed and see my boyfriend standing here, in my bedroom, at—I look at the time on my phone—seven in the morning?

  “What is wrong with you?” I say rolling back over and burying my head in my pillow. “It’s so early.”

  He sits on the edge of my bed. “Wake up, babe. I have one final career adventure for you.”

&n
bsp; I roll back over and glare at him. What can I say? I’m not a morning person. “How did you even get inside my house this early?”

  He smirks. “Your brother let me in.”

  I roll my eyes and tug the blankets up to my face. “I liked it better when he hated you,” I mumble.

  Liam laughs and then leans over and kisses my forehead. “Rise and shine, my love. This is going to be an amazing day. I have found the career to end all careers. You’re going to love it.”

  With a yawn, I sit up and watch him standing there all eager and basically spilling over with excitement. It’s way too early in the morning for this kind of joy.

  “What kind of career?” I ask skeptically.

  He shakes his head. “I can’t tell you. It’s a surprise. I have to show you.”

  I yawn again. “Do I have to dress nice?”

  He shakes his head. “That’s just one of the many benefits of this career. You can wear whatever you want.”

  “Well…that’s enough to convince me,” I say, throwing off the covers. I am immensely grateful that I wore decent pajamas to bed last night, otherwise Liam could have seen me looking really stupid with a baggy Mickey Mouse shirt or something otherwise horrible.

  “Get dressed,” Liam says, opening my bedroom door. “I’ll be waiting out here. There’s coffee and donuts in my truck.”

  My curiosity is on high alert as I tug on some jeans and a shirt. The rest of these little career adventures have mostly been for fun, but Liam is acting like this one is a big deal. What had he called it? A career to end all careers? How can he make that kind of statement when he knows how impossibly impossible it has been finding a job I like?

  But I want to trust him, so I brush my teeth and throw on some makeup and then meet him in the living room. He’s sitting with my brother, who is showing him his one-legged squats.

  Now that Brent gets to start physical therapy on his foot in a few weeks, he’s been preparing by doing squats with his good leg and lifting barbells and working out the rest of his body from the couch. My brother has always been an early bird, hitting the gym before school. He’s weird like that. My mom and I do not share that trait and we prefer to sleep in as late as possible.

  “Ya’ll have fun,” Brent says, waving to us as we leave. I’m still not used to this nice version of my brother who likes my boyfriend. But it’s nice.

  Liam’s truck smells like sugary, coffee goodness, and we snack on donuts while we drive out of town, heading west. I’m trying to pick up on clues as to where we’re going, but there’s an entire half of the country in this direction. It could be anything.

  “Is it scuba diving?” I ask.

  “There’s not an ocean in this direction.”

  I bite my lip. “Is it puppy training? I could totally be a puppy trainer.”

  “No, but that is a cool idea.”

  “Is it the circus?” I ask after our trip reaches its first hour of being on the road. I’ve asked about a hundred questions so far, and none of them have been correct.

  He snorts. “No, but it’s a fun thought. I know exactly which sideshow circus attraction you’d be the star of.”

  I cross my arms over my chest. “And what would that be?”

  “Hear ye, hear ye,” Liam calls out like he’s some kind of PT Barnum circus guy. “Gather around and see our newest, most annoying attraction. It’s Bella Castro – the girl who has zero patience for surprises! Her sheer lack of patience will astound you!”

  I burst out laughing. “You’re a nerd.”

  “I’m your nerd,” he says, winking at me.

  He takes the next exit, which is vaguely familiar. As soon as we turn off the main road and take a left, we’re in the middle of the hill country. Chills prickle over my arms. “We’re close to Oakcreek Motocross Park,” I say.

  His eyebrows lift while he’s watching the road. “Yep.”

  “There’s not much else out here,” I say, looking out the window. “This town is a lot like Roca Springs… just all country town and fields of open land.”

  “Yep,” he says again, not looking at me.

  “What kind of career is out here?” I ask.

  He tisks. “You and your impatience…”

  “Sorry,” I say, leaning my head against his shoulder. “I’ll shut up.”

  Liam turns into the driveway that leads into the motocross park. “We’re here.”

  I stare at him for a moment, waiting for him to laugh and say he’s just kidding. There’s not really a career at a motocross track. I’m not going to become a pro racer or anything. He didn’t even like that career for himself. So why are we here?

  “I don’t get it.”

  Liam parks his truck next to the main office building which is where you pay to ride or sign up for a race. But we don’t have our bikes with us today, so we can’t ride. He turns to face me, and when our eyes meet, I can tell he’s nervous. It’s written all over his face, and swimming around in his eyes. He’s nervous of whatever he’s about to tell me.

  “What is it?” I say, reaching for his hand. They’re warm and a little sweaty. Wow. “Liam?”

  He clears his throat. “Okay so… I think I found the perfect career for me and you. But… only if you’re on board.”

  “I’m listening.”

  He takes a deep breath. “I want to buy this track.”

  My eyes widen. “Okay…”

  “I want to buy it and run it. Not now, but in a few years when I’m done with college. I want you to run it with me. We’d have to move out here and it’d be a full-time job, but it would be so fun. I’ve been talking with the owner and his wife does half the work and you’d get to be your own boss and we could just apprentice with them until we figure it out and— ”

  “Babe,” I say, cutting him off.

  His brows are flattened with apprehension. I squeeze his hands. “You don’t have to convince me,” I say. “I am totally on board.”

  His lips stretch into a grin. “Really?”

  I nod excitedly. “Oh my God, totally. One hundred percent. Are you kidding me? We could run our own track!”

  “I know!” He bites his bottom lip and we sit here and smile at each other, both overflowing with excitement. “It would be amazing,” he says.

  “It would be so amazing. We could be our own bosses… Liam it’s perfect. You were right. This is my perfect career.”

  “And you’d be fine moving out here with me?” he asks, swallowing. “In a couple years, of course.”

  “Yes,” I say. “It’s not too far from our families. Let’s do it.”

  “And then one day we could… well you know,” he says with a little awkward shrug. “We could maybe get married and run it together like the owners do now. In the future of course. When you’re ready.”

  I make this goofy grin and put a hand to my chest. “Liam! Are you saying you might propose to me one day?”

  “Yes,” he says quickly. “I am definitely, definitely saying that. I don’t care if we’ve only been together a few months and if it’s too soon for that and if I haven’t even...” He stops himself with a shake of his head. “Look, I know it’s early, but you’re my girl. You’re my heart. My everything. I want to make these plans with you. And I hope that doesn’t scare you away.”

  “I’m not scared at all,” I say. I slide across the truck seat and crawl into his lap. “In fact…” I take a breath. “I love you, Liam Mosely.”

  His eyes widen and then he shakes his head. “No… no… I was supposed to say that first. I’ve been waiting for the right moment…”

  I lace my fingers behind his head and smile at him. “You waited too long, my dear. I beat you to it.”

  He sighs. “I love you, Bella. I should have said it first but I totally do.”

  I grin. “Hey, this is an equal opportunity relationship. I get to be romantic, too.”

  His arms tighten around me as he presses his forehead to mine. “I guess we’re now officially in a competiti
on to see who can be the most romantic.”

  I grin. “That sounds fun.”

  “Everything with you is fun.”

  I press my lips to his. “I love you,” I say again, just because I can.

  His chestnut brown eyes sparkle as he looks right into my soul. “I love you, too.”

  Epilogue

  Three Months Later

  Liam

  It’s the perfect summer day for an outdoor picnic. Mom was more than happy to host today’s lunch since Phil just finished building her a long picnic table that fits perfectly in the middle of her garden. The weather has been perfect for gardening, and Mom’s flowers are in full bloom.

  She’s showing off some purple flowers to Bella’s mom, and they’re both talking about how beautiful they are. It’s pretty awesome how our families are getting along so well. My mom invited Bella’s mom to join a local book club a couple months ago, and they’ve been inseparable ever since.

  I slide my metal spatula under the burgers to check to see if it’s time to flip them. Phil has a state-of-the-art grill and every time I cook on it, I tell myself that I’ll buy one just like it for when Bella and I move out to Oakcreek in a couple of years.

  “Go long,” Brent calls out as he prepares to throw the football at my little brother. “Go longer than that, kid.”

  Dylan runs further into the backyard, then braces himself to catch the ball. Brent has found a good friend in my little brother. They both love football I addition to motocross. Matt likes dirt bikes more though, so he’s been teaming up with me to convince our parents to let him get his own dirt bike. Little does he know, my mom told me they’re getting him one for his seventh birthday in a few months. The little kid is going to be so psyched. I’ll take him under my wing and teach him everything I know, but I won’t pressure him into thinking he has to make a career out of it.