Page 43 of Shade
In the distance, I can hear the bikes revving while airborne over jumps. I brush past Roan knocking his shoulder with my own and stand in front of Jaime’s bike, looking at him for the first time in years. He looks the same. Older, a dark scruff to his hair but he has the same blazing blue eyes that practically look clear as the sky outside. “I asked you a fuckin’ question, Jaime.”
This time he shuts his bike off and takes his helmet off. Look at that. He’s mad I questioned his talent. Casually, he takes a drink of water from the water bottle beside him, then points at me. “I’ve been doin’ tricks longer than you, Shade. I think you knowwhyI’m here.”
Placing one hand on the handle bars and the other on his seat, I lean into him, my eyes cold as ice.
Are you watching his face? You should be.
Silence falls in the arena, heavy and loud, or maybe it’s all in my head. “I fuckin’ know whatyoudid.” I draw back. I want to see his reaction.
Don’t you?
Do you see the way the color drains from his face? Did you notice the way my mouth twists into a smile?
Jaime’s face goes completely blank, masking his emotions pretty fucking well. He slides his eyes over my face contemplating his next move. “What are you talking about?”
He’s asking for it, isn’t he? He knows. Oh yeah, he fucking knows.
“I know whatyoudid,” I repeat, this time paying closer attention to the reactions.
Reece steps toward us, eyeing Jaime, then me. I hadn’t realized it but we’re surrounded by guys now. About ten of them. “What’s the problem here?”
Did you know these two are best friends?
Fucked up, right?
I shrug, a sly smile playing on my lips. I look at Jaime. “No problem.” Then I shove him, knocking him off his bike. “You better stay away from me.”
Are you disappointed I didn’t hit him?
That makes two of us.
Do you notice he stays on the ground?
I do. While he’s down there trying to piece together how I know what happened between him and Rhya, I take in his every mannerism. From the shock on his face that I pushed him off his bike, the eyebrows collapsing into a frown to the realization Iwon’tback down until he admits what he did to Rhya. What it will mean to Reece.
He looks from Reece to me, then back to Reece, but says absolutely nothing. He won’t. The last thing he wants to admit to Reece is he raped his little sister.
Want to know the fucked up part about this? His brother is just as bad.
Do you remember who Jaime’s brother is? I might not have told you.
Gage Neeley.
I bet you remember that name, don’t you? I’ll come back to him here soon. Just wait.
With a sold-out crowd of over twenty thousand fans packing the stadium, I put down a flawless run with my unique style, but it’s not enough in the final match-up of the night against Reece. He takes the win.
Do you know why I didn’t win?
Because my mind isn’t on my job. It’s onher.
