Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
Bax stood out by the truck. They were loaded and ready to go to New Orleans, but he couldn’t make himself open the damn door. His hands felt cold, and he was sweating. He thought maybe this was what a panic attack felt like.
Jason came out, following the rope system they’d set up to the carport, his casted hand held up against his chest real careful-like.
Jesus, he was still beat to hell.
The wrist wasn’t the half of it. Jase’s back was bruised from shoulder blades to ass, just black still, and he knew Jason wasn’t sleeping right with it. Mini wasn’t ready to go back, and Bax knew it.
“You okay?” Jason asked, and he shook his head violently.
“Let’s sit this one out, Jason. Just this event. Let you heal up. Make Doc happy.”
“What? We’re all packed up.”
That wasn’t a no. That so wasn’t a no.
“I know. But it ain’t too late to call a medical. Compromise with me. Take this week off and I won’t bitch for two events.”
Jason frowned and began working his way around the truck, one hand trailing along the vehicle on his way over to Bax.
Shit. Bax knew he was being a little bit of a freak about this, but he couldn’t help it. Jason was still pale. Hurtin’.
“Hey.” He said it when Jason got close, waiting to see what his stubborn man was gonna do.
“Hey.” Jase walked right into his space, reaching for his face, touching him intimately—smoothing his eyebrows, tracing the lines on his forehead, thumbs tracing his lips. He knew Jason was looking, reading his expression.
Bax had to admit it. He was stressed.
“You think I cain’t do it?” Jason asked.
“I think you can do any damn thing you try, but you need a break. You need to heal up. The finals are more important than the season, even with the newer points system.” That was the solid truth.
“Part of me wants to fight and tell you to get in the damn truck.” Jase was still touching. “A bigger part of me is tired and wants to go pick out one of them blow-up hot tub deals. Tell me I’m not being a pussy.”
“Nope. You’re being smart, Mini, and I ain’t just saying that.” Bax turned things over in his brain for a minute. “If you wasn’t blind, but you had the injuries you have right now, and the season you’ve been having, what would you do?”
“Stay home. I’m gonna have another crash. I’m not in the middle.”
Bax felt a little like screaming—and not in that bad way, but rejoicing because he knew his Jase, dammit, and because he was fixin’ to get his way without Jason whaling on his happy ass.
Jesus, when did we grow up?
Bax took a deep breath, then let it out. “So we stay home this time and do the smart thing. Hell, we don’t and someone like Ace will wonder why you’re desperate.”
“You’ll make burgers?”
Okay. Okay, Jase was going to be chill, so he was too. They could just stay home, breathe. Rest.
He took Jason’s hand, heading back into the house. “I will. And baked potatoes later.” They both loved those. He’d unload the truck in a bit.
“Sounds good. I want the six-person blow-up hot tub with the drink holders.”
“You got it. I’ll call that feller we took the card from.” They’d talked to a million people in town already.
“Good deal.” They headed back together, the lines around Jason’s mouth already easing.
Thank God. He’d made the right call. One more week to heal. They were gearing up for the finals, and he knew it. Post break, they always barreled through the events to the big show.
This time, it was different.
This time, it was literally winner take all.