Riley Defends Ethan Against Biker Mockery
835 Words
The garage smelled like oil and exhaust, the familiar haze clinging to the air as the Vipers lounged around, half-fixing bikes and half-talking trash.
Riley wiped her hands on a rag, trying to keep her focus on the carburetor she was adjusting.
The laughter from the corner made her ears burn. She didn’t have to look to know what they were talking about.
“You should have seen him on the ice last night,” one biker, Hank, said between chuckles.
“Golden boy skating around like he’s too good to breathe the same air as the rest of us.
Another voice chimed in, Razor’s, dripping with sarcasm. “Oh yeah, Silver Ridge’s big hero.
Bet he cries when he breaks a nail.
The table erupted in laughter.
Riley clenched her jaw, trying to stay out of it.
But then Caleb’s voice cut through, smooth and sharp. “Funny thing is, I heard our Riley here’s been spotted near the rink more than once. Must like watching pretty boys skate in circles.
The laughter grew louder, and Riley froze. Her hand tightened around the wrench until her knuckles went white.
“Careful, Caleb,” Razor added with a grin. “You don’t want your girl getting starry-eyed over some hockey boy.
That was it.
Riley slammed the wrench down on the workbench, the sound cracking through the noise. Everyone went quiet, eyes turning toward her. She turned slowly, meeting Caleb’s stare head-on.
“Say what you want about me,” she said evenly, “but leave him out of it.
Caleb raised a brow. “Touchy, aren’t we?
“He works harder than any of you,” she shot back. “Day in, day out, pushing himself until he can barely stand. You call that weak?
Hank smirked. “All I see is a boy in pads chasing a puck. Not exactly man’s work.
Riley’s voice sharpened. “That boy in pads has more discipline than most men I know. He doesn’t waste his nights drinking until he can’t walk straight.
He doesn’t throw punches just to prove he’s alive. He gets up, he fights for something bigger than himself. That’s strength, whether you want to see it or not.
The room fell uncomfortably quiet.
Caleb leaned back in his chair, eyes narrowing, “You sound awfully protective of him.
Riley held his gaze, unflinching. “Maybe because I actually know what he’s worth, You all sit here mocking him, but deep down you know none of you could do what he does.
Razor scoffed.
“Skating around with a stick? Please.
She stepped closer, voice rising. “You think you could take hit after hit, game after game, with the whole town watching and still get back up?
You think you could stand on that ice and not crack under the pressure? Don’t fool yourselves. Ethan Cole’s got more guts than half this club combined.
The tension was thick, the Vipers staring at her like she had grown another head.
Caleb finally spoke, his tone calm but edged. “Careful, Riley. You’re sounding like you forgot where your loyalty lies.
Her chest tightened, but she forced her voice steady. “My loyalty hasn’t changed. But mocking someone who’s out there fighting for his future? That’s cowardly. And I won’t sit here and listen to it.
For a long moment, no one moved. The only sound was the faint hum of the garage lights.
Then Hank muttered, “Damn, she’s got claws.
A few chuckles broke out, but it was uneasy laughter, forced and brittle. Caleb’s eyes stayed locked on Riley, studying her, searching for cracks.
She turned back to her workbench, grabbing the wrench again with shaking hands. Her heart pounded, but she didn’t let it show.
Behind her, Razor whispered, “Guess we’ll shut up about golden boy.
Caleb’s chair scraped against the floor as he stood. He walked past Riley, pausing just long enough to lean close and murmur, “You’re playing a dangerous game.
Her grip on the wrench tightened, but she didn’t look at him. “Maybe it’s worth playing.
He lingered for a second, then walked away, the sound of his boots fading.
The others slowly drifted back into their chatter, though quieter now, like the air had shifted. Riley exhaled shakily, wiping her forehead with the back of her arm.
Her chest burned, half with fear, half with defiance. She knew defending Ethan had just put her on thinner ice with the club, but for once, she didn’t care.
Later, when the garage emptied out and she sat alone in the quiet, her thoughts returned to Ethan.
To the way he had smiled at her, to the warmth in his voice when he told her she deserved more.
For the first time, she whispered the words aloud, almost testing them. “Maybe he’s right.
Her voice was barely louder than the hum of the fluorescent lights, but it carried more weight than anything she had said all day.
- Writer
