Page 31 of The Champion
“It’s good to see you Lisa.” I kicked my feet up on herdesk after I took a seat in the leather chair to the left of her desk.
“Feet down Riley,” She snapped but smiled despite herclipped tone.
I was surprised to see I was joking around considering myshit-tacular mood.
“First of all...congratulationson the baby,” she smiled. “I hear he’s cute.”
“Pft...look at hisdad...why wouldn’t he be cute?”
She smiled and clicked her pen obsessively. “I seefatherhood hasn’t calmed the Rowdy Riley down, has it?”
“Ohplease, that fucker was asking for it.”
“Regardless, just because you’re a champion, doesn’t meanyou can go around starting fights. You need to act like a champion. Going outthere and roughing up the rookies is not the way to conduct yourself.Especially after last season.”
Of course she would refer to last year.
Everyone seemed to like to remind me of what happened asthough I forgot. Fuck no I didn’t forget. Every single time I looked at mywife, I was reminded. Every time I looked at my son, I was reminded. And everytime I looked at the championship trophy, I was reminded of how I got past it.Why they thought that reminding me would be beneficial to me, when I constantlyreminded myself, was stupid.
I stood immediately, my temper rising again.
“I didn’t start it!”
“Sit down.” Her glare had me sitting. “I know you didn’tstart it but I’m not going to put up with shit this season. Act like an adult.Walk away for once.”
I had no comeback for that one because when I thoughtabout what I just said, I was acting like a child. I only nodded after that asshe told me I was being fined but she wouldn’t issue a probation if I kept outof trouble.
I left after that, only to be stopped by my dad.
“Where have you been?” he asked following in step besideme.
“Uh...bathroom?”
“Bullshit.” His eyes narrowed. “You were in the NASCARHauler, weren’t you?”
My eyes flickered to his but I kept looking straightahead while a group of fans approached us. I shrugged once. “I just wanted tosay hello to Lisa.”
“Yeah...I’m sure.”He replied and signed a few autographs beside me.
“You wanna catch some dinner before I fly home?”
I hadn’t had seen much of my dad since New Year’s. Heleft right after the holiday to prepare for the World of Outlaws season. Theirseries actually started in late January as opposed to mine that started inFebruary. Being the owner of the team I raced for, he must have thought hispresence was needed at the first race.
The fans around us distracted him so I asked again.“Dinner?”
“Sure.” He agreed with a nod. “How’re Sway and Axel?”
I felt a huge smile graze my lips.
“Good. I can’t wait to see them.” Smiling even wider whenI saw she was calling me. I hadn’t seen her and Axel in nearly three weeks andI couldn’t wait to get home tonight.
“I’ll bet.” My dad smiled and shook his head as Ianswered my phone.
5.Blister – Sway
Blister – Anoverheating of the tread compound resulting in bubbles on the tire surface.
“I’ve had a good forty-two years, Sway.” Charlie saidrandomly, his breathing labored as he lounged around my family room. “I’ve doneeverything I wanted to do.”
