Chapter 23 #2
‘You’re still struggling with that?’ Bonnie asked, concern etched across her face. ‘Sav, if you need to go back on your medication…’
‘No, Ma. It’s not that bad. I can handle it, but you know, the start of the season has taken some adjustment.
We’re a few races deep now and I’ve got more of a handle on everything, even with what’s been happening the last few weeks.
Being home with you guys helps, reminds me I’m just some girl from Wyoming at heart. I’ve always got an escape route.’
‘You’ll never be just some girl, Savannah.
’ Marco was watching her with a look on his face that she couldn’t quite read, and it was making her cheeks heat up.
The sky was streaked with pink and orange as the sun went down, but nothing would hide how rosy they were under his gaze.
‘Anyway, Weston. Been meaning to ask, what’s your story? ’
‘My story?’ Weston quirked a brow. ‘Well, I was born in Sheridan. In Dad’s old truck on the highway, actually. I was just so excited to see the world, I couldn’t wait for the hospital.’
‘Wes, you idiot.’ Calvin threw a balled-up napkin at him and Weston dodged it. ‘You know that isn’t what he means.’
‘I know, I know. Sorry.’ Weston rolled his eyes. ‘I was in a rodeo accident. Fell off a bull and it trampled me. Was in a coma, woke up paralysed. That’s really all there is to it.’
‘Shit, man. That’s intense.’
‘Wes was a rodeo star,’ Bonnie chimed in. ‘He was right up there in the rankings; had all the sponsorships he could dream of. That wasn’t the first accident he had, but he had problems with his back after the previous ones and was warned against competing again.’
‘Yeah, but us Harts don’t do things by halves.
I had to go out with a bang.’ Weston took a swig of his bourbon.
‘Rodeo was my thing, you know? It was what I was good at, what I wanted to do until I couldn’t anymore.
And here I am. Never expected it to end quite like this, but I’m still glad I had all those years of competition in me.
I’ve got a collection of trophies in storage to rival yours, I imagine. ’
‘He’s serious,’ Savi smiled. ‘I don’t advertise that we’re related because Wes disappeared off the face of the earth after the accident. He doesn’t want all that attention again. He gets to live his life in peace, and now it’s my turn.’
‘Mind if I search you up?’ Marco waved his phone in the air.
‘Go for it, bud, but try Wes Jameson . I used my middle name as a stage name, probably half the reason Sav’s fans haven’t connected the dots yet.
’ Weston beamed, and Savi and her parents exchanged quick glances paired with subtle smiles.
He didn’t talk about his past with anyone, even them.
It was hard to talk to him about anything personal these days, he would always change the topic.
‘Wow…’ Marco muttered, and Savi peered over at his phone, watching him scroll through countless articles about Weston’s short-lived but extremely successful career. He was undoubtedly a star in his industry and was easily the rodeo equivalent of his younger sister.
‘Entered my first comp when I was seventeen and competed right up until my accident when I was twenty-three. I’d already had one surgery before, and yeah, I was stupid for carrying on, but rodeo was part of me. It was all I knew. You get that, don’t you?’
‘I do,’ Marco nodded. ‘I can’t imagine not racing. I’ll do it for as long as I possibly can, and if there comes a time I’m forced to stop, whether it’s my choice or someone else’s, I’ll find a way to stay in the industry somehow.’
‘You kids,’ Calvin laughed. ‘So many people lack direction in life, and yet you guys had it all figured out before you even started high school. Dreams bigger than your fears.’
‘I’m just glad that all three of you have seen so much of the world and experienced so much of what life has to offer.’ Bonnie wiped her eyes, the wine obviously getting to her.
‘Well… not so much recently.’ Weston chewed on his bottom lip. ‘Sav, how hard would it be to get me out to a race? To come and see you?’
‘What?’ Savi sat up straight. ‘Is that something you want?’
‘I’ve wanted that since day one. I almost came to your first race with Dad, but I wasn’t ready, and I’ve regretted it every day since. I think…’ he swallowed roughly, ‘it might be time to bite the bullet and come support my baby sister from the sidelines.’
‘If all of you come, I’ll pay for it. Put you up in a hotel, get you VIP passes. The full works. And if you need a security team, I’ll get that sorted for you.’
‘Let me call Jasper tonight, see about bringing you to Le Mans with us when we leave here?’ Marco suggested. ‘It’s the biggest race in history, Savannah should have her family with her.’
‘Is it not short notice with hotels and everything?’ Bonnie looked nervous.
‘Ma, they’re rich and their bosses are super important people.’ Weston rolled his eyes. ‘Let them take care of us. I’ll have some champagne waiting on the jet, please. And oysters.’
‘I mean, you can have those things, but we will judge you harshly… The jet is usually full of sweets and all the crap we shouldn’t eat.
Plus, water. A lot of water. Gotta keep hydrated.
’ Marco laughed. ‘I’ll shoot Jasper a quick text, put the feelers out.
I can’t imagine he’ll say no to helping us out, and if he does, we’ll just turn to Gabriel. ’
‘Oh, of course! A Gal reunion!’ Calvin clapped his hands. ‘Haven’t seen my buddy in what feels like forever.’
‘Gal reunion?’ Marco frowned.
‘Gabriel and Cal. Gal.’ Calvin shrugged like it was obvious and Savi buried her head in her hands in embarrassment.
The pair of them were a nightmare when they were together, and she had fond memories of them when she was younger, waving foam fingers at her from the grandstands of the karting track and making fools of themselves and her.
Marco leaned closer to Savi and whispered, ‘Cowgirl, I think Gabriel has a clone…’
They spent the rest of the evening sat around the fire, Marco impressing them with his guitar-playing skills and singing, while her dad did some sort of interpretive dance to the music.
She hadn’t laughed so hard in so long, and watching her family do the same thing provided her with a comfort she’d been missing.
Savi should be an ugly, crying mess, but she just wasn’t.
She was starting to grow very accustomed to the bubble that was formed to protect her against the reality of the outside world every time Marco was around.