Chapter five
Cole
It was strange having two dudes following me around filming my every move.
It wasn’t like I’d never been on camera, but this was a lot more intrusive.
Jason and Nix tried to make me feel comfortable.
I didn’t fault them, but I couldn’t even work out without a lens up my ass, recording every drop of sweat.
I needed to concentrate rather than worry what Nix saw from behind his lens.
I glared at him, not knowing what to say or do.
I wiped my forehead and dropped the towel on the ground, then took another breath before moving back to the exercise, ready to hit my second circuit.
I jumped over the little red plastic squares on the floor, moving as fast as I could for thirty seconds, then I ran around them for another thirty, and so on.
It helped my coordination, added a bit of cardio and lower body.
After the first thirty, I stopped worrying about falling on my face and simply did the exercise.
Jason left at some point, but I hadn’t noticed until after I stopped moving. “Where’s your buddy?”
“Out filming some other parts of the facility. You’re really fast.”
“Huh. I imagine this is pretty boring for you.” I had never been one to watch and not do.
“Some…” He moved his camera off his face. “Off the record, uh, why did you give in and sign the paper for us?”
I snorted. “Off record, huh?” I wiped my face again, then turned toward Nix. I trusted him more than Jason. He seemed, I don’t know, nicer. “I had to sign it. I didn’t have a choice from the beginning.”
“Sure, you did. You always have a choice, even if the consequences aren’t ideal.”
“You don’t know shit about how this works. KTM wanted me to do it. I want a new contract with them next season.” I tossed the towel against the far wall. “There was no choice.”
“Oh, I get it.”
I glanced over at him. Nix had sucked his upper lip between his teeth.
It looked funny, but his eyes said he was serious.
They were a soulful brown that made me feel soft and comfortable inside.
His messy hair floated around his shoulders, inviting my fingers to tangle themselves there.
I didn’t. I took a step back wondering why the hell I had these weird feelings, when I was still hooked on Tyler Whitmore.
The two men were so different. Tyler had amazing muscles and tons of pent-up energy that came out in strange ways, from shaking his ass while moving around a bike he was working on, to tapping his fingers on the seat or toolbox or whatever.
Nix on the other hand, exuded calm and cool.
He was a bit older, and the scruff on his strong jaw made him seem even more serious.
“So…” Nix interrupted my study of his face. “What’s next?”
“Weights.” I pointed across the room. “Then I’m going to eat lunch. After that, I’m getting on a bike.”
“That sounds exciting. Well, the bike part.” We both knew it would be my first time back on a bike. I was sure he’d catch some footage of me making a fool of myself.
I gave him a roll of my eyes and crossed the floor to the row machine. I set the weights and readied my stance before pulling back on the cables.
Once my workout was finished, Nix followed me to the cafeteria. He ordered a burger and fries, while I was handed what was on my meal plan for the day. It looked like a broccoli and chicken wrap with carrot sticks and avocado slices on the side. An apple and a glass of milk rounded out the meal.
“That looks, uh, not nearly as good as mine.” Nix set his tray on the table across from me.
I bit into my wrap, rather than answer him, simply glad he wasn’t filming me stuffing my face.
“Okay, bike next. Are you ready for that?”
I stared at him while I swallowed then took a swig of milk. “Do you ever stop being the reporter?”
“I’m not really a reporter.” He wiped his mouth with his napkin, which drew my eyes to those firm lips. “I’m a videographer. I work on documentaries. Jason is the reporter.”
“Not much difference from where I’m sitting.”
Nix stared at me, intensely, as if trying to figure something out, but I doubted I had whatever he was looking for written on my face. “Trust me. There’s a difference. I shoot a lot of video, maybe help with the scripting, but that’s it. Jason is more of the brains here.”
“I don’t know him, but I know of him. He’s done a few great pieces for Motomags. None on me.” Of course, who would want to report on the bad boy of Supercross? Which made me wonder what the fuck they were doing here.
“Well, I don’t follow everything he writes.”
A commotion interrupted our conversation. I thought I was happy about that until I turned around to see what was going on.
Of course. Fuck my luck. Davey and Tyler walked in, entourage in tow.
Other riders in the facility slowed them, shaking hands and chatting with them, but they kept coming.
Tyler caught my eye, and I scowled at him.
He looked entirely too sexy for my own good.
He wore an Apex jersey and track pants, looking like he was about to get on a bike.
The shirt bulged, showing off his traps and biceps in a way that had my brain thinking up all kinds of indecent thoughts.
Tyler scowled right back, but Davey waved and smiled. “Cole! Good to see you. How are you? Recovering?”
“Yeah.” I shoved the last bite of wrap in my mouth, followed by a couple of carrot sticks, hoping he’d get the hint. No way did I want to talk to them.
The tension in the air practically zinged around the three of us.
Davey frowned, but I didn’t care why. We had an agreement that I wouldn’t harass them or fuck with them in any way.
It didn’t mean we were friends, or that I’d enjoy chatting them up.
I washed my food down with the last of my milk, forcing my eyes to tear away from the golden couple of Supercross.
But that was just as bad, because now I had Nix scowling at me from across the table. He folded his arms over his chest.
“Hi, I’m Davey McAllister.” He leaned close, getting Nix’s attention. I didn’t want him talking to Davey. Nix’s image of me could be tainted by anything those two might have to say about me. I didn’t particularly want Davey’s shining star out glowing me for him, either.
I cringed when Nix stuck his hand out, grasping Davey’s. “Nix. I’m here filming Cole’s recovery.”
My hands started sweating, and I swallowed hard. What next?
“That’s cool. We’re all hoping you’ll be back on the track when season starts, Cole.” Davey sat beside Nix and stared at me with those deep blue eyes that tried to bore into my soul.
“Right. I’m sure you are.” I gave him an eye roll for good measure.
“Still the same positive happy guy, I see.” Tyler slipped in beside Davey and pressed his shoulder and thigh against his husband’s body. I wanted to gag. Not because two men were together, but because Tyler still had to rub it in my face that he chose wonder-boy over me.
A couple of other guys were walking around in Apex Jerseys, one of them was Rico.
He sat next to me with a full plate. His meal looked a lot like what I’d already eaten.
Rico Dominichi was the latest and greatest addition to Davey’s camp.
He rode 450s, and he was good, but that made him the competition. “Cole. Good to see you here.”
“Whatever. I’m gone.” I stood and grabbed my tray, heading to the drop off without waiting for Nix to catch up.
At least I knew falling off my fucking bike couldn’t be worse than enduring that torture, surround by the Apex crew.
They were all entirely too happy. They didn’t give a fuck that they stole two of my mechanics, Tyler and Mickey Hun, who had followed him.
As if I gave a damn.
I missed seeing Tyler bebop around the garage, but I’d hated everyone else’s eyes following that pert ass as well. I’m sure I had made that last part up, but it didn’t matter. Tyler made me fucking crazy, and I needed to stay the fuck away from him.
I headed to my room to change into my gear, then out to the track. Thankfully, Andy was there waiting by the track and handed my bike over to me, ready to go. “Here you go, Cole, it’s ready. Let me know if you need adjustments.”
“Sure.” I straddled the bike. It felt good. Felt like home.
“Did you hear, Davey and Tyler are here?” Andy asked, his eyes entirely too sparkly for my liking.
“Yeah. I saw them. But you need to focus on my bike. That’s it.”
Andy raised his hands in surrender, and I pushed the button on the electric starter, then revved the bike. I pulled on my helmet and wrapped the goggles around my head. I didn’t want to hear any more of Andy’s bullshit.
The KTM machine was in better shape than I was.
It purred as I made a slow sight-lap around the track.
When I felt comfortable, I took off down the straightaway of the track, took the corner, then flew over the whoops section.
My hand was already tingling, going numb.
I relaxed my grip as I took the next jump.
I could feel it, but it wasn’t the worst thing ever.
According to the therapist, I only needed to keep working it, give it time.
I made two more laps around the track then stopped for a break.
I pulled up near the mechanic area to give Andy the information on how the bike had been performing and see what his sensors said. I didn’t get that far.
Vick stood there, looking pissed as hell, arms crossed over his chest and his eyebrows pinched so tight, I feared his head might implode.
I killed the bike and glanced around for Andy.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” Vick practically growled at me. He was worse than my father.
I pulled my goggles and helmet off. “What? I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing. I need to go over the bike performance—”
“You know what I mean, Cole. You were downright nasty to the Apex team. You ditched Jason and Nix. You—”