Chapter 6
The dinosaur museum is hardly a museum. It’s more like a hobbyist’s office, and it makes me think we’re going to be murdered.
Reid is fascinated by the fossils. I genuinely can’t tell if he actually cares or if he’s just putting on a stellar performance.
Either way, the old man is enjoying every second of it.
“No one ever stops! Maybe I need a bigger sign.”
I’m fairly certain the sign isn’t the issue, but I offer the man a smile. “Yeah, maybe.”
“Well, they’re missing out,” Reid interjects as he slings an arm around my shoulders. “Aren’t they, Addie?”
I wish he hadn’t told this man my name. A big part of me is still worried this little detour will land us on a true crime podcast.
The old man hands us a dusty notebook. “You two are such a cute couple. Will you sign the guest book?”
“Oh we’re not a c—”
“We would love to,” Reid says, cutting me off as he grabs the notebook.
Reid signs the book. He etches an “R” and an “A” and draws a heart around them. It makes my heart flutter, even though I know it’s all for show. The last entry before ours was in 2020. It makes me a little sad. Clearly the man is lonely and wants people to appreciate his rocks.
Reid narrowly avoids purchasing an XXL t-shirt that features a T-rex as we meander our way back towards our vans. We’re almost in the clear before Reid stops in his tracks and blocks me from escaping. “Wait!”
His mouth hangs open but nothing comes out. I try to urge him to continue, but he’s already wandering through the souvenir section again. What could he possibly be looking for?
He’s crouching down low, flipping through a section of tank tops. They’re cropped and covered in plastic designs. Resisting the urge to sigh out loud, I crouch down next to him and whisper in his ear, “What on earth are you looking for?”
Through laughter he tells me, “You need a new shirt, remember?”
I grab for the tank he’s holding, but he hides it behind his back. Foolishly, I keep trying to get it until I’m halfway in his lap and we’re about to tumble sideways. I absolutely do not want any part of my skin to touch this glorified dirt floor.
I scramble to stand and pull him up with me. He’s laughing out loud—unrestrained and beautiful. His happiness is contagious, and I find myself smiling too.
Reid, still holding the shirt behind his back, covers my eyes with his rough hand and whispers in my ear, “Prepare yourself. I’ve never seen anything quite like this.”
He uncovers my eyes and holds up the most atrocious thing I’ve ever seen.
It’s a cropped tank top that’s two sizes too small for me.
The color is somewhere between brown and green, and the design gets worse from there.
A plastic T-Rex is plastered over the center, and it reads ‘I’m rexy and I know it. ’
I can’t help but cackle. This is absolutely ridiculous. “Reid! I am not wearing that.”
He’s pouting. “Aw, come on! It’s perfect for you.”
Reid holds up one of my arms and says, “See, you have such small arms.”
He’s barely able to get the words out before his laughter overcomes him.
I’m rolling my eyes even though I want to let go and enjoy this moment. I toss the shirt at his head. “You think you’re soooooo funny, don’t you?”
Reid shrugs and carefully hangs the visual abomination back on the rack. He’s still chuckling softly at his own antics. I love when he makes himself laugh so hard that he cries. We make our way towards the exit, and I feel lighter than I did this morning. Maybe the trip won’t be so bad.
I’m back out under the blazing sun as Reid pauses to say goodbye to the strange owner. Now that I’m alone, I allow myself one full smile towards the sun before covering it again.
He’s beaming when he joins me in the parking lot—I don’t know why he loves little stops like this, but he does. Even back in Colorado, he would make us go to the dingiest diners and gift shops. Reid is always looking for diamonds in the rough.
“Let’s get back on the road.”
“What, you don’t like fossils?” Reid asks, ignoring my remark.
I disregard him and climb back into Willa. Arriving in Jackson is going to be a relief. If I spend much longer alone with Reid, I’ll probably do something stupid like try to kiss him and ruin our friendship forever.
The Tetons come into view, and I’m wiggling my ass around in my seat.
I can’t sit still. My friendship bracelet from Riley typically hangs on my rear view mirror, but right now it’s serving as my fidget toy so I don’t tear my fingernails off.
The rough edges of the leather help to center me so that I don’t drift off of the road and into some ditch.
I’m equal parts excited and terrified to be back in these mountains.
I love the Colorado mountains, how could I not? They’re gorgeous and they’re home. There’s something extra special about the mountains in Wyoming though. These mountains are sharper—wild and free. The wildlife here is more extreme too, from grizzlies to chipmunks and everything in between.
Wyoming is big and rugged. It makes me feel small, and I love it.
July is the perfect time to come here, in my opinion.
Jackson is at a significantly lower elevation than our hometown of Ridge Crest, Colorado.
The air is still just as fresh and full of pine, but there’s a bit more of it, which should help me during my ride.
Wildflowers are in bloom, and I can’t wait to go looking for some tomorrow. We have the next two days off before the Teton Trail Blaze. It will be significantly more intense than our last event, with way more downhill terrain and far bigger jumps.
The women have a different course, but it’s still pretty gnarly.
They released the details of the trail a few weeks ago, so I feel ready.
I know exactly how I want to ride and what moves I want to try.
The forecast looks ideal, so I’m feeling pretty confident.
This is the first event that really feels like it matters though.
The first half of the season is more like practice, but as we get closer to fall and Red Bull Rampage, the stakes are significantly higher.
I don’t expect an invite this year—that’s the goal though, even if it feels like an unrealistic one.
Reid made it last year, and the one before that.
He came in second to last place the first year, but we were so proud of him.
Just being invited is a massive accomplishment.
He didn’t place in the top three his second year, but I’m sure he will this year.
He’s never been in better shape, and he’s found his style as a rider.
Every competition he leans further and further into the ‘Hasty Hastings’ persona.
I lay awake at night wondering if—and when—he’ll hit his limit.
He had a pretty bad fall a few years ago and had to get ACL surgery.
No one in the circuit remembers that except for me.
With the way that Reid rides, it seems he’s forgotten too. I know it still bothers him—I see him lean more on his good leg when it rains or after a hard ride, but he still hits jumps like he’s twenty-two and invincible.
Reid also has a far more significant social media presence than me. He has thousands of followers. I can barely get ten likes. All he has to do is get a little sweaty and post his forearms holding his handlebars, and it goes viral. The same innocent pose doesn’t do so well for me.
The only extreme sports girls that do well on socials are showing their titties. While I respect their grind, I can’t bring myself to objectify my body like that for engagement. I wish I could do it though, because it would definitely help me get more sponsors.
Damien is my only current sponsor, which I’m not really sure counts.
I have plenty of cash from my trust fund, but I always hate using my daddy’s money.
It feels obscene to use something I didn’t earn.
Plus, I know how much my parents disapprove of my career choice.
Maybe if I was using it to invest in real-estate, like they wanted me to, I wouldn’t feel so guilty.
My travel partner has no issue getting sponsors. Lately, he’s been having to turn them down. His social media surely helps, but his performances alone have people knocking down his inbox.
Reid slows down as we enter the Jackson Valley. We’re almost there.
The Tetons tower above the bright green pastures. They’re stark against the blue sky. I’ve never seen such imposing mountains. Granted, I’ve never been much of a mountaineer, unlike Damien and Delaney. They love hiking and climbing as high as humans can possibly go.
Hozier is blasting through Willa’s speakers, and the afternoon sun is pouring in the windows. I want to scream. It feels so damn good to be out in the open like this, I can finally breathe.
Apparently, Reid agrees, as his hand floats out his window. As I roll mine down, I can hear his music drifting behind. I’m grateful for the wind, even if it does smell faintly of cow manure.
I wish he and I were in the same van—listening to the same music and sharing the same air.
I’m so close to him yet somehow still so far.
It’s just like when we were kids and I’d watch him racing down hills with Damien and Parker while I tried to fit in with the girls.
He’s always right there, but never quite where I need him.
The open road ends sooner than I want it to. We slow to a painful standstill as we arrive in downtown Jackson. There are hundreds of tourists in cheap cowboy hats moseying across the street. An iconic arch of antlers sits to our left. At least three influencers are waiting to pose in front of it.
I’m not sure where Reid is leading us.
He said he knew where we’d stay while we were here, but he wouldn’t tell me where it was. I like knowing every little detail of every little thing. I’m doing my best to trust Reid, but now that I’m actually here, the lack of control is making me sick.
I hope there are girls around. Maybe Chloe will be here. I need something to force me to finally apologize—it’s been two years too long.
There aren’t many of us in the circuit, but we’re mostly friendly with each other.
Blair is kind of a bitch, but she typically books hotels anyways.
I’m acquaintances with some of the other girls, but I don’t need to be best friends with any of them.
I feel less awkward when I’m not the only girl at a campsite.
Reid does his best to make sure nothing happens to me, but it’s always hard being around so many men.
Most of them are pretty respectful and generally treat me as if I’m one of the guys, but there are always hidden weirdos that reveal themselves after a few beers or a blunt.
I only participated in a few competitions last year, but somehow, I still managed to run into a creep.
There was this one dude who tried to grope me during a bonfire when no one was looking.
He thought he’d get away with it, but I kicked him in the balls.
Then, I drug him by his collar in front of the fire to tell everyone he was a piece of shit.
Thankfully, they believed me. I never actually saw Reid punch the dude, but he had a bruised fist in the morning.
Without shame, I let myself daydream about Reid punching that scumbag.
There’s something sexy about a man fighting for his girl. Even if I’m not actually his girl.
I’ve been reading too many romance books lately because every time Reid does something even slightly possessive, I start daydreaming. Apparently, I have drifted off into the depths of my head again—I almost miss Reid turning a corner into an unsuspecting parking lot.
It’s filled with school buses on one side, and a bunch of white water rafts piled high. There are probably five other vans parked between the buses. I can’t believe he brought me to a boat yard…
I definitely should have been the one to pick the campsite.
There are a bunch of guys walking around half naked. They must have just gotten off the river, because they all have damp, shaggy hair. I roll my windows back up because it smells faintly of rotten fish.
Damn, I shouldn’t have trusted Reid. I don’t see a single feminine entity.
This place looks like a home for lost boys.
Some perpetual neverland filled with dopamine addicts and freelancers.
My thumb scrolls until it settles on his contact.
The profile picture always makes me smile.
It’s him with Josie on his shoulders, and he looks so at peace.
“Reid.”
“Yes, Addie?”
He pauses like he knows exactly what I’m going to say. I don’t even care if I sound high-maintenance. I don’t want to sleep in a swampy boat yard.
“We can’t sleep here.”
“We can.”
“Okay—we can, but I don’t want to.”
“It’s just a few nights, Addie. It’ll be fine. There’s even a kitchen we can use.”
Forgetting he can’t see, I raise my eyebrows. He laughs softly on the other end, like he knows exactly what my face looks like.
Reid pulls into a spot and ushers me to park next to him. I park closer than I should have and I’m forced to shimmy out of the van. He leans up against Willa with his arms crossed and his head thrown back.
I open my mouth to start protesting our sleeping location, but he must have anticipated what I was going to say because he yanks me against him into a tight hug.
He pushes my head against his chest so I can’t speak.
Not that I want to. All I want to do is revel in his usual scent of sandalwood and pine trees.
It relaxes me instantly, just like it always does.
There’s a slight rush of warm air on the top of my head, almost like he’s sniffing my hair? He takes his thumb under my chin and tips my head up to meet his gaze. “I have a surprise for you.”
“Oh what, is there a luxury outhouse here?”
I sound so annoying—bitchy. But I can’t help it. Something about sleeping among these rafts makes me want to throw up. The reason I have this van is to camp in beautiful places surrounded by trees and streams, not weird parking lots.
Reid’s cheeks puff out with a restrained laugh. I’m baffled by him bringing me here. I thought he knew me.
“Riley will be here in the next few hours.”