Grabbing Hold (The Motorcycle Kid #1)

25. Walking Free

"Who's Seth?" asked a curious Natalie as she scrolled through Emma's phone later that night. Emma's eyebrows shot up, and she lunged for her phone.

"Why are you going through my messages?!" she demanded, snatching the phone away. "Gimme that!"

"Hey! Calm down, chica! Just tell me who he is!"

"Seth? Seth who?" asked Savannah as she let Elizabeth French braid her hair.

"Geez, Natalie, really?" Emma scowled, opening the chat.

Bet you thought I forgot.

There was a video attached to the message, and Emma smiled to herself as she pressed the play button.

"Hey!" Seth was in the middle of a bar, his guitar strapped over his shoulder. He turned the camera to face the crowd, where about thirty people were waving.

"Alright, everybody, let's do this!"

He strummed an opening chord on his guitar.

"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you- everybody!"

The entire bar started singing along.

"Happy birthday dear Songbirdddddd..."

Seth gave the camera a flirty wink.

"Happy birthday to you!"

Emma was giggling by the time the serenade was over. Seth was laughing too, and everyone was giving him a round of applause as he took a bow.

"Happy birthday, Songbird. Have a great one! I'll keep an ear out at every intersection!"

"Idiot," said Emma with a wide grin. Seth really was too nice for words.

"Oh, isn't he a cutie?" asked Natalie, clicking Seth's profile photo, havibg once again snatched Emma's phone away from her.

"Where do you find these guys? And does this one have a brother?"

Emma gave her a flat look.

"First off, I didn't find him, he found me. I also don't know if he has a brother, we barely know each other-"

"Yet he serenades you on your birthday?" asked Lizzie, impressed. "I've got to give it to the guy, he's moving fast."

Emma couldn't remember the last time she'd rolled her eyes this much.

"Please," she said. "Hush it, both of you, 'cause Lizzie, you don't believe in relationships, and Natalie, you won't stop friendzoning the guy who's a complete fool for you."

Natalie fell silent, looking away. Emma's face softened.

"He's a good guy, Natalie," she said softly. 

Her friend said nothing for a while, just sat down on the bed.

"Don't you think I know that?" she asked a few minutes later. "I know he's a good guy. Un hombre ideal, por exacto. It's just...I mean, it's just...it's Kale."

"What's wrong with Kale?" Savannah asked, somewhat defensively.

"Nothing," Natalie admitted. "It's just...yo no sé. Maybe he just isn't my type."

"Or maybe you're denying your feelings," offered Elizabeth quietly. "You guys have been playing this cat-and-mouse game for over a year. When are you going to admit you have feelings for him?"

"When I know I can trust him," Natalie said firmly.

"What makes you think you can't?"

Natalie smiled mirthlessly. "He's a guy. That's reason enough."