Dad smiled."No but that's a pretty good visual.You barreling down the trail and then you stop, pick up your bike, hop up on tiptoes and carry it around the jump."
I smiled too."Glad I at least amused you today."
"C'mon, bud, let's go home.Your mom said she made enchiladas, and I'm fucking starved.Invite Lacey over and give yourself a night off from thinking about it.Then you can give it some real thought."Dad headed toward the truck but then stopped and turned back to me."You know, this is all your decision.Don't factor me into the equation at all.I love being your coach and support staff, but if you decide to give it all up, I'll still be your support staff."He pulled the brim of his cap lower and headed to the truck.
My dad and his brothers grew up with a shitty dad, but all of them were fucking amazing as parents.It was almost as if their dad had shown them everythingnotto do and that had given them the blueprint for doing it right.One thing was damn sure, Dad had never had a support staff.Other than his brothers and, eventually, Mom, he never had any support period.
TWENTY-SIX
LACEY
"Best enchiladas I've ever had, Britton.Thank you so much for having me."
Britton Stone was one of the most beautiful women on the planet.I could never get over how flawless her complexion was."You know you're welcome anytime, Lacey."
I started picking up the plates to help with the dishes.Britton held up her hand."Nope, I've got it.Slade will help."She winked at me.
Slade looked up from his phone."I will?Uh yeah, I will," he said quickly after Britton lifted her brow at him.
"I've got a couple of cold beers, Theo.Why don't you grab 'em and go out to watch the sunset," Britton suggested.Theo had been extremely quiet through dinner.It seemed he had something heavy on his mind.I hoped it was about riding and not about us.I was still getting used to the newness of our very old relationship.We'd known each other for years, yet it seemed we were both being extra cautious around each other as if we were just getting to know each other.In a way, it was like that.In a way, we were just learning about each other again.
Theo was silent as we walked out to the patio.The house was set high enough on a hill that the view from the backyard went all the way out to the horizon.There was a layer of gray haze leftover from the day and the traffic in town.The sky was still crystal blue, but the pink whispers of sunset were starting to make their way across the horizon.
We opened our beers and drank a few sips in silence.I considered just letting him brood silently, something he could do annoyingly well, but we were still at the point in our relationship where I needed to know if it was me.
"What's up?"I asked and looked over at him.
He lifted his beer and drank a few gulps."It's nothing."
"Right.Thought you'd say that.Would you like me to leave?"
His face snapped my direction."No, why would I want you to leave?"
"Uh, well excuse me for pointing out what is blatantly obvious, but you're in a shitty mood."
His shoulders slumped."Yeah, sorry about that."
"Was it something I said?"
He took hold of my hand."Nope, you're the only right and sure thing in my life right now."He took another drink."I choked," he said quietly.
I stared at him."You mean like on a hard candy or grape?"
He laughed."No, like I choked on the trail.I got to the road jump; you know the infamous jump that the whole world has seen on my humiliation tour video.Anyhow, I laid down the bike.Couldn't do it.There's no way I can race next week.I'm sure as hell not going to choke in front of cameras and a crowd.As it is, everyone is going to have their phones ready in case I do something stupid again."
I reached over and tucked his long hair behind his ear."Fuck the crowds and their phones.Theo Stone, you are the most fearless person I know.Other than your younger brother but then his lack of fear borders on insane.If you want to race and you want this win, then just do it.If you don't—well, I still love you.You might not be as cool without the racing medals," I started.
"You brat."
I laughed as he wrapped his arm around me and pulled me against him.I spilled beer on my thumb and licked it off.
"Oh wow, that's all I need," he said, his mood suddenly better and his voice deeper."Let's go back to my place.I'm thinking, you, naked in my bed, will erase the shitty day, and you can tell me more about how fearless I am.Kind of likin' that."
"Dinner just ended.Wouldn't it be kind of rude to leave right now?"
Theo leaned over and kissed me.It was one of those gentle kisses that had a lot of latent passion waiting in the wings.And, of course, I melted into a smoldering mess.He lifted his mouth from mine."Well?"
"Rudeness isn't always a bad thing."
