Chapter 16
Chapter sixteen
Johnny
Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Atlanta, Georgia
The pits at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium were set up in a section of the paved parking lot.
That made Johnny happy. Less dirt. At least it seemed that way to him.
He sipped his coffee. The early morning sun peeked over the horizon, slowly turning the gray world into something new.
The crowds hadn’t picked up yet, leaving only soft sounds of people talking and an occasional clank of a wrench against a toolbox floating in the air.
If only the day could stay that way. It would quickly turn chaotic. He’d seen it all before.
Tyler and Mickey worked on the clutch on Bolster’s bike.
The rest of the Apex team was discussing strategy inside the truck.
Pilot leaned against it, eyes ever watching the growing crowd around them.
Johnny also watched everything. Not that he could do shit if someone attacked.
He’d probably drop to the ground and try to crawl under one of the massive toolboxes.
He laughed, thrilled that he’d been doing a lot more of that lately.
He totally blamed Gavin. That crazy happy feeling kept coming over him whenever Gavin was around, and even when he thought about him.
He expected Gavin to be at this race. His new guy, Craige Lee, would be making his debut, and regardless of how he performed, they would be celebrating afterward.
Gavin still hadn’t finished putting the team together, but having a 450 racer on the track was a major step.
The sponsors wanted to be represented at the highest level.
Gavin had been true to his word, and they had been spending more time together, and with Craige racing now, that would mean more Gavin-time.
Johnny frowned. He needed to unwind the mystery of Gavin.
The man was slow to open up, and Johnny still barely knew much about him or his family.
Gavin had a sister, Rita, who was single and managed a successful career.
His mom and dad both had professional careers.
His dad worked for an engineering firm as some kind of regional director or something like that, and his mother was an insurance broker.
It all seemed so flat, though, like numbers on a page.
He didn’t know who those people were or how they fit in Gavin’s life.
As he contemplated his new boyfriend, a line formed outside the Apex pit. People joined, hoping to get their stuff signed.
Bryce came out of the trailer, and a huge roar went up.
Bryce shook his head. Instead of racing gear, he wore jeans and a jersey.
This wasn’t his division, so he wasn’t racing, but people wanted his autograph all the same.
It was weird that so many people connected with this little, gay kid with purple hair.
If he hadn’t been a Supercross star, he’d be going to college like any other kid.
Bryce waved at the crowds and chatted with Tyler, pointing animatedly at the bike. Then he came over and nudged Johnny’s shoulder. “Hey, man. How’s it goin’?”
“Not bad. Is it strange being here when you’re not racing?”
He shook his head, drawing Johnny’s attention to that streak of purple bouncing across his forehead.
“No, but I should be practicing. I’ll have to put in double time when we get home.
” Home meant Colorado. Pilot’s house. The more he got to know Bryce and Tate, the less that felt like an invasion of his territory.
Davey and the others walked out to the center of the pit.
Davey looked down the line of autograph seekers, and Johnny wondered if he thought it was long.
Some guy in an Apex jersey who Johnny didn’t know handed him a bull horn.
“We’re going to open the autograph lines.
Qualifying starts soon, so let’s roll.” He waved his hand in the air.
Even if Davey wasn’t surprised at how many people were there, Johnny sure was.
They lined up not only for Bryce but also for Sarah Bolster and the new guy, Rico.
The excitement of the crowd grew, and music pumped through some speaker system they’d set up.
Bolster jumped over and grabbed Bryce’s shoulders.
Tate strolled up and waved at everyone. Johnny hadn’t expected to see him until later, but he should have known better.
Tate spent every free second at the Apex pit.
His team should totally get mad about it, but they didn’t.
They knew they would be losing his contract at the end of the season.
Rico moved up next to Bolster and Bryce, swinging his hips in time with the music. Tate practically bounced over to them, and without a word, they all formed a line and started dancing. Tyler shook his ass right along with them. Johnny laughed at their antics.
Tate slid in behind Bryce, and Pilot made a weird noise. He gave his boyfriends a strange look, kind of like he was pissed off but also very interested—intensely interested—in his guys gyrating around each other. It was all very funny.
Rico stomped his feet to the beat of the music and waved his hands in the air.
Bolster shimmied her shoulders and rocked around in a circle.
Tate slid a helmet over Bryce’s head and ground up against his backside.
That was comical with Bryce wearing jeans, sneakers, and an Apex jersey with a racing helmet on.
Davey’s cousin, Dillon, was sitting in the corner in a wheelchair that had big, thick treads on the tires. He watched the racer’s antics, laughing and pointing. He waved when Rico turned around to face him. It seemed like everyone was getting in on the fun.
After a few moments of crazy antics, the music stopped, and the Apex riders laughed and clapped their hands to encourage the audience’s cheering before settling at the tall benches set up to sign stuff for the fans. People applauded, shouted out, and laughed right along with them all.
Tate moved over to stand next to Johnny, and Johnny bumped into Tate’s shoulder, shaking his head. “Y’all are crazy. You know that?”
Tate shrugged and winked at him. “It’s fun. Bolster brings some life to this team.”
Johnny noticed Mickey Hun watching her, chuckling quietly. “I think he thinks so too.” He raised his empty coffee cup toward Mickey.
They both laughed, and Hun shot them a dirty look, but when Tyler caught on to the implications, he snorted a laugh.
Johnny’s phone rang, interrupting the hijinks. The number had a Colorado area code, though he wasn’t familiar with the number.
He headed toward Gavin’s pit, where they were supposed to meet up, as he answered the call. “John Killebrew. Can I help you?”
A woman’s voice came across the phone. “Mr. Killebrew, I’m calling from St. Joseph’s hospital about Gary Killebrew. You’re listed as his emergency contact. An ambulance brought him in maybe twenty minutes ago. He’s doing fine, but he is in ICU. He’s had a small heart attack. Can you —”
Johnny stopped walking. He stopped hearing—thinking.
He stared across the BikeMax pit. Gavin stood in the back, typically wearing his dress slacks and a dress shirt with his fancy shoes.
He spoke to a tall, dark-haired man, similarly dressed.
Business. They had to be discussing BikeMax business.
Johnny needed him, but how could he ask for help?
Gavin had a new racer. In the big league. He couldn’t...but...
Gavin turned and caught his eye. He rushed over and put his hands on Johnny’s shoulders. “Hey, what is it? What’s wrong?”
Johnny glanced at his phone. He hadn’t clicked off the call, and the woman had stayed on the line, asking for him. “Mr. Killebrew?”
He put it to his ear. “I’m, uh...sorry, I’m out of town. I’ll be back as soon as I can. I’m on my way.”
She thanked him, but he didn’t hear whatever else she said. He looked up at Gavin, trying desperately not to cry. “I have to tell Pilot.”
“What happened? What’s going on?”
“I have to go back to Colorado. I’ll catch up with you later.”
“No, come on. What’s wrong? Johnny, tell me what’s going on.”
“My uncle. H-He’s in the hospital. I have to—have to go, okay?” He kissed Gavin softly and dialed Pilot as he turned and walked away.