Grabbing Hold (The Motorcycle Kid #1)

50. Hard Feelings

I found it quite fitting to properly celebrate 50,000 reads (well like 58K now) in our fiftieth chapter. Don't you agree? I'm a feeling a little better now, so I think it's time for a proper thank you, which I've decided to share in the author's note which will follow this chapter.

Again, thank you guys so much for everything! You're such swell dudes, or as I would say where I'm from, yuh too sweet.

Enjoy this landmark chapter, and don't be afraid to drop your thoughts on the characters, plot or whatever you want! I'm a sucker for reading and replying to your comments, so don't be shy!

I've actually considered setting up a couple Q & As, how I developed the plot and characters of this story, my favourite books on Wattpad, all that good jazz. I think it'd be fun to interact with you guys outside of the story, but I want to know what you guys think first. Let me know in the comments :-)

If enough people are up to it, let's do our very first Q & A!

Last thing: check out two books while you're at it:

1. Dear Alice by my wonderful friend pa_lukas. She's just come off a two year writing hiatus, and the plot draws you in from the very first chapter, so go show her some love.

2. A Secret Service by one of the people I admire most on this site, the lovely and supportive joymoment.

You won't regret it.

Now on to the good stuff.

This chapter will be most Derek x Charlotte centred. Don't worry, Emma and the rest of the kids will be back very soon.

TRIGGER WARNING: Divorce (It may not seem like a big thing, but this may trigger bad memories for some folks, so it's there just in case).

When Derek dropped his keys on the kitchen counter, Charlotte looked up from the chopping board where she'd been preparing some vegetables for the stirfry she planned to do for dinner. She watched him silently, following his movements as he washed his hands at the sink, grabbed a large bowl, and began to pull together the ingredients for a salad.

"Hi," she said cautiously, not quite understanding his motive. "What are you doing?"

"Making salad, Charlie," said Derek with a nervous chuckle. "There's something I need to talk to you about, but I gotta calm down first."

His ex-wife gave him a quizzical stare. "So you're making salad?"

"Indeed," replied Derek, methodically chopping a head of cabbage into pieces.

"Just talk, Derek." Charlotte bumped his shoulder gently. "Go on. I'm listening."

"It's awkward..."

"What are you, fourteen and confessing to your senior year crush? Grow a pair, Daniel. Communicate."

"Actually, I confessed at fifteen, and Sally Duncan took me out on two whole dates before she told me I was like a little kid and broke up with me in front of the whole school."

They laughed, the memory rich.

"I wonder what Sally Duncan's up to now," said Charlotte.

"She's a minor shareholder in OptiTec Florida. My, my, how the tables have turned."

"Life's funny that way- Derek, stop destroying the cabbage!"

"Sorry," he replied sheepishly as Charlotte took the knife and the remainder of the mangled cabbage head away from him.