“I’m sure,” I said and tried to swallow past the emotion starting to clog my throat. “Thank you.”
2
COAL
"Fuck," I cursed when the slowly moving traffic came to a complete stop.
According to the forecast, a winter storm was headed toward Devil Springs that was expected to drop several inches of snow, and I was trying to get home before it started. Unfortunately, I still had at least two hours to go.
I was hoping we would get moving again after a few minutes, but when snow flurries started falling from the sky, I had a feeling I was in for a long night.
"Yo! What's good?" my roommate and club brother said into the phone by way of greeting.
"Not much. I'm sitting at a standstill on the highway near Rockwood, and it just started snowing."
"Shit. Is there a wreck or something?"
"I can't see anything except the cars ahead of me, but there has to be. I've made it two miles in the last thirty minutes."
"That sucks, dude. What are you gonna do?"
"Nothing I can do but sit here and try not to freeze to death."
"You're on your bike, man. Split lanes and get out of there."
I snorted. "You think I'd still be sitting here if that was a possibility?"
"I’d hope not."
"I'm in between towns. Even if I could get off the highway, there's nowhere to go. According to my phone, the closest gas station is eight miles away."
"You can't sit on your bike all night in the snow."
"Who said anything about all night?"
"You're at a standstill on the highway, and it just started snowing. Things are probably going to get worse before they get better."
He was right. I knew it, but I wasn't ready to acknowledge my fate yet.
I sighed and moved my hand to pinch the bridge of my nose and felt like an idiot when my fingers smacked against the faceplate of my helmet. "I'll be fine," I said, not sure which one of us I was attempting to reassure. But as the snow fell harder, I realized it was me that needed convincing.
An hour later, things were much worse. The traffic hadn't moved an inch, but that was about how much snow had already accumulated on the ground. Thankfully, I had an eighteen-wheeler and a box truck on either side of me to help block some of the wind. But it was still cold. Really fucking cold.
"Yoo-hoo," a female voice called.
I glanced around and didn't see anyone. I briefly wondered if hearing voices was a sign of hypothermia, but then I heard it again and knew it was directed at me.
"Up here, Mr. Biker Man."
I glanced up to find big, green eyes peering down at me from the passenger window of the box truck next to me.
"You’re going to freeze to death out there. Do you want to wait in here where it’s warm?” she said and pushed the door open.
I didn't hesitate. It was so cold I was pretty sure my balls were frozen. I was off my bike and inside the warmth of her truck in the blink of an eye.
After I closed the door behind me, I pulled off my helmet and one glove. "Thank you," I said and extended my hand. "I'm Coal."
“I know; that’s why I offered you a place to get warm.”