Chapter thirty-five Round 1 Race
Chapter thirty-five
Tyler made his way through the pits section to Cole's garage area with a scowl on his face.
He wasn't happy sleeping alone in his hotel room, or leaving his engagement ring home, back at The Ranch.
Neither could be helped. They'd agreed that during the race, they'd act like strangers.
Three days of hell as far as Tyler was concerned, but he didn't know what else to do about it.
Thursday to Saturday was Supercross and only Supercross.
Davey needed to concentrate on the race just as much as Tyler needed to concentrate on his job, and letting anyone outside of their immediate circle know about their engagement, hell their relationship at all, was not happening.
He didn't realize he'd be so miserable without his fiancé around, though.
He missed Davey every second they were apart.
He entered the garage. Cody wasn't around yet; it was early. Andy had his back to the door. "What's up?" Tyler called.
"Hey, man. How you been?" Andy gave him a quick one-arm hug. They hadn't seen each other at all during the off-season, but they had become decent friends, so it was nice seeing a smiling and friendly face.
"We have anything specific to work on yet?" Tyler asked.
"Nah. I'm just waiting for Cody or Cole, hanging out." He was flipping through his smart phone, not paying much attention to Tyler or anything else, as he leaned against the counter.
"Andy, Tyler, come help me unload these bikes!" Cody had arrived. Andy stuck his phone in his pants pocket and they both jumped up to the back of the trailer. They each started working on the straps to release the two 450 bikes. "So, the news is we're adding a rider to the team."
"Who's that?" Andy asked.
"Parker Shannon."
Andy stood up straight with a puzzled look on his face. "Shannon?"
"Oh? So, is that the guy that was riding Suzuki in the 250 West the last couple of years?" Tyler asked.
Cody grunted, pulling at a strap. "That's him. Took third in points last season. We sent him a bike to see if he'd like to run for us."
Someone at KTM must have seen some potential in the rider. He hadn't been on Tyler's radar, but he hadn't necessarily been following that class. He'd been following the 450 and Davey. It hardly mattered, though.
"So, I'm making Andy the lead on his bike."
"Fuck, yeah," Andy answered and pulled the bike down out of the trailer.
Tyler followed with the second bike, and Cody jumped down behind him. "That means, Tyler is lead for Cole's bike."
That perked his ears up. "What? You mean it?"
"Yes, I mean it. I need you two on lead for each. I have to supervise both and the 250s. I'm also bringing in a junior mechanic, Michael Hun—"
"Mickey? Mickey Hun?" Tyler asked, excited at the prospect of working with someone he knew.
"Yeah, I take it you know him?" Cody asked.
"Yeah, he's cool. We worked together some. He has good instincts."
"So, fucking glad you approve, now get on this bike, Whitmore." Cody grunted and moved on to other things. Tyler was proud that Cody trusted him and Andy with the 450s, but the man did have a lot to oversee; he had to trust others to get the job done.
Andy rolled his 450 up on a stand. "This is totally cool."
"Yep. I just hope Shannon has a better personality than Cole."
They both knew Cole could be a jerk, especially when it came to his bike. That would be something Tyler would have to deal with, but it would so be worth it.
"Damn, we should have asked if that means we get raises," Andy said with a raise of his eyebrows.
"Who cares, this is better than a raise."
"Easy for you to say."
They joked throughout the day as they gave the bikes a once over.
Eventually, Cole came in barking orders and telling Tyler he needed to be at the track early the next morning to make sure the bike was good.
Tyler agreed to the early time, as if he didn't know he would need to be there.
He wouldn't be up all night fucking Davey anyway, so he might as well go to bed early.
The entire day seemed surreal. He couldn't wait to get back to the hotel to call Davey.
They couldn't be together, but they still had their video chat on their phones.
The thought of watching Davey stroke his cock for him, made his own dick start to swell.
He had to stop thinking about it until later.
He had to ride back to the hotel with Andy after all, and he didn't want to do that sporting a hard-on.
Friday's practice run went well, and Cole seemed very pleased with the bike and with Tyler.
He went to lunch with Andy and Mickey. He'd been honestly glad to be working with his friend.
Mickey was a delight to work with and cute too.
He had a nice compact body, thick dark hair that could only be described as luscious, and olive skin.
If he wasn't engaged to Davey, and Hun was gay, he'd totally be going for it.
But, neither of those things were true, so he just enjoyed the friendship. He didn't even flirt with the guy.
Andy spent most of the lunch flipping through his smart phone, following the social media and all the hype accompanying the first race of the season. "There's some great pictures of McAllister with his cousin," he said at one point. "Fuckin' shame what happened to the guy."
"For sure," Tyler answered, hoping the conversation would shift quickly. He certainly didn't want to talk about Davey and Dillon. He was way too close to that situation and feared letting something slip.
Mickey added his own two cents to the conversation. "It's a risk they all take, every race. Hell they risk having an accident just practicing."
His words struck home, and even though Tyler had known that all along, hearing Mickey voice it in so many words made it seem a lot more real. Suddenly, Tyler feared for Davey's safety on the track.
"You okay, Ty?" Andy asked. "You just suddenly went pale."
"Uh, no, I'm fine. Just, excited about the race."
He was relieved that Andy let it go and the conversation shifted to other riders and teams and their expectations for who would win.
Tyler tried to keep up with the conversation, but the entire time, his thoughts kept circling back to Davey.
He needed to talk to him. Needed to confront this fear.
He would be working for a few more hours, though.
He settled for a quick text. I miss U and luv U. Can't wait 2 talk 2-night.
It wasn't what he really wanted to say, but if he had said he was terrified Davey was going to get hurt, Davey would call him.
Neither of them needed to break their silence.
As it was, it took over an hour before he got a return text.
His phone vibrated in his pocket, but he couldn't answer it.
By that time, he was greased up to his elbows.
He figured he knew what it said, anyway.
A few hours later, he finally washed up and checked it. I love U 2 - fiancé!
He loved it when Davey called him that. He had never been so happy. He just wished that they could be out in this world of dirt bikes and races that they both loved so much. He knew it would never happen, but maybe he could live with this.
That night he told Davey what Mickey had said and how scared he was. Davey smiled sweetly and reassured him. "I've never been seriously hurt, Ty. I know what I'm doing. Promise."
Davey couldn't control everything on the track and all it took was one mistake from him or even one of the other drivers and it could be over. "I know, but I just can't deal with the thought of someone else taking you out."
"Ty, baby," Davey's soothing voice purred over the phone. "I've never backed down from a race regardless of that possibility. I've learned not to focus on it. I can't and still be able to race. You just have to have faith and trust me. I'm not going to take any risks. Okay."
"Okay. I don't know why it freaked me out so much."
"Maybe because we're in a different place now?" His voice was soft and understanding.
Tyler thought about it. That had to be it.
Last season's races were intense, and he knew he was in love with Davey then, but now everything was out on the table, their future intentions declared.
Davey was more than a boyfriend. Soon, he'd be his husband.
The thought of the word still sounded dreamlike even in his own mind.
Spoken out loud still felt odd. Husband.
Yet, that's what they were going to be. "You're right. I just love you so much."
"I love you too, baby. Now, get some sleep."
The next day was race day. "You too. I want to see you win tomorrow."
"Then keep your eyes open, baby!"
Tyler loved it when Davey got all cocky. He was going to have to take a long shower before he crashed.
Race day started early. Tyler would be on the track in the mechanic's area for Cole's first heat.
Davey wouldn't be racing until the second heat, and Tyler would be back in the garage for that.
After the first heat, he needed to tweak out the bike based on Cole's feedback.
That was normal. It'd take up the rest of the afternoon, until Cole's next race.
He would be in the Main Event for sure since he was one of the top racers.
He didn't expect Cole to have to race again in the semifinal round to win his spot.
Tyler hoped he would come in first for his heat, but he had to root for Davey in the Main Event no matter what.
He watched with rapt attention, as Cole and the others lined up at the gate.
The bright colors of the racers' gear looked like a colossal confetti explosion.
His heart raced with excitement. Watching Supercross never got old for him, especially since he knew so many of the drivers and mechanics, although he knew some more than others.