From Bully To Beloved

She won’t come.

“Absolutely, wow, thanks, man! We’re thrilled to finally open our doors here in New York City,” I hear Justin say to Jake. “We’ve put our heart and soul into making this space a true celebration of motorcycles, and we couldn’t be happier with how it’s turned out.”

“What made you take the leap and open this big-ass bike shop, Cal? I’m curious!” Jake asks me.

“I’ve always loved bikes,” I say. “I love the sense of community among riders. We’re family. When I found the perfect location in the city, I knew it was the right time. Our goal is to be more than just a place to buy a bike.” I point to my left. “Our showroom is about creating an immersive experience. We want to be a destination for riders, a place where they can come and fall in love with the beauty of motorcy-”

A blonde woman walks in and takes my breath away. Dressed in a sleek brown leather jacket and a flowy white dress, she immediately catches my attention as she floats through the showroom.

I excuse myself mid-sentence and start walking toward her.

Is she an angel?

Is this paradise?

Her smile widens when she sees me. “Hey, husband.”

Have I died and gone to heaven?

“Hey, wifey.”NôvelD(ram)a.ôrg owns this content.

“I dressed for the occasion.” She points to her jacket and boots and twirls around.

I’m still trying to gather my senses. “You perfect angel.”

Sera’s eyes dance. “I have a gift for you. Two gifts, to be precise.”

She hands me a bottle of wine with a huge silver-black ribbon around it. It’s a merlot, a 2019 Chateau Marzy. “This is from Marie and Kelly,” she declares. “It’s Bianca’s favorite wine. That’s the one she used to drink when she visited our diner.”

“That’s the blood running through her veins?”

We both laugh. She nods. “The very same.”

“I love it. Thank you.”

Next, she hands me a thick, half-rolled-up paper. “This is from me.”

When I carefully unroll it, I see it’s a sketch of the shop-a view from the street, with the main building in the foreground. There’s our large sign and today’s welcome banner above the entrance and some balloons. The lot is full of shining motorcycles and people, showing the excitement with a lively and dynamic feel. It’s so cool. She must have sat outside for over an hour to finish it.

“Careful, don’t get charcoal all over you,” she warns. “I thought it might be something for your office space. A little memory, you know.”

“It’s a wonderful gift. Thank you, Sera. It means a lot.”

With my thumb, I wipe a cute smudge of charcoal off her chin, quickly grab her hand, and pull her into one of the offices. After I place the gifts on the desk, I close the door behind us.

Without warning, I pull her into a kiss.

I kiss her like a starving man. Our kiss is fierce, hungry, and passionate, filled with all the emotions we want to say.

It’s like the world explodes into color again.

My body breathes a sigh of relief, and I slide my arms around her waist, crushing her against my chest so she can’t get away.

“Sera,” I mumble against her lips. “Babe. I was worried I wouldn’t see you again.”

“Cal, there’s so much I want to say, to tell you. You were right all along. I didn’t sign the contract for The Diner.”

“What? You didn’t? When I called the diner, Kelly told me that you and your boss had left to sign the papers. You didn’t sign them?”