Grabbing Hold (The Motorcycle Kid #1)

21. (PG) Parental Guidance

Hell hath no fury like a hungry teenage girl.

The minute Emmett's truck pulled up outside their house, Emma hopped out, dragging her bags inside. She dropped them by the doorway with a dramatic huff before making a beeline for the kitchen.

"Holy shi- Emma, what the hell, man?" Emmett screamed out in pain less than a minute later. "Take your damn bags with you!"

"Oh, you're one to talk," Emma shot back. "Your room's technically an environmental hazard."

"You're a hazard, Emma. Now come get rid of this freaking bag."

Emma ignored him, pulling the fridge door open. She grinned as her gaze fell on a container half full of leftover chicken alfredo. Without hesitation she snagged it and grabbed a clean pot from the dishwasher, plus a spaghetti spoon.

"Oooh, yes. Come to Mama."

Charlotte's ears perked up as she heard her daughter's voice. She was in her room, a broom in hand as she swept the dust that had settled off of the floor.

"Emma," she called out, "Is that you?"

Emma froze midway through throwing the contents of the container into the pot on the stove.

Crap.

"Maybe," she replied.

Charlotte struggled to keep her anger under control.

"Emma Rae?"

"Yes?"

"Meet me in the living room in five minutes. You and I are going to have a little chat."

Dread filled Emma's stomach.

I swear, if Dad told her anything...

The alfredo was starting to sizzle.

Emma grabbed the spoon before it could burn, stirring the pasta around.

I'm screwed. One hundred percent, completely, entirely, irreversibly screwed.

"Great," said Will as he walked into the garage, where Ryder was greasing some kind of gasket with machine oil and a funny-looking brush. "You're here."

Ryder acknowledged his uncle's presence with a gruff "yeah", never looking away from the task at hand. He grabbed the spanner at his side, twisting the gasket back into place until he felt resistance.

"Any luck with the job hunt?"

"What do you care?" Ryder asked callously.

"Well, you're in a bad mood."

"Like I asked, what do you care?"

"Kid, chill out, okay? You don't want to piss me off."

"What, you gonna fire me too?"

"One, you quit. And two, I can kick your ass out without thinking twice about it. Do what I tell you, and don't piss me off."

Ryder was in shock. He'd never heard Will be anything but sarcastic and goodnatured. It was strange to think that someone who was usually unfazed by life would be so angered by his attitude.

"We clear?" Will asked, an eyebrow raised. Ryder nodded.

"Clear."

"Look, kid. I know this place is new to you. You can't relate to a small town, you feel like everyone's judging you based on your parents. I get it."