Chapter five #2
“Woah. Woah. Wait a minute. I didn’t ditch the video boys. Jason chose not to be around all morning, and Nix was with me in the cafeteria. He knew where I was going. Not my fault if he can’t keep up.”
“Uh-huh. And Davey?”
“Those two always get their panties in a wad around me. You know there’s no love lost there, and I certainly do not get paid to be nice to them.
Plus, I wasn’t mean. I said hello…and left.
I have a schedule to keep. One you put me on.
” I couldn’t resist pointing at him, turning it back on him. “Not my fault.”
“You need a better attitude. This is the kind of shit that got you in trouble in the first place.” He waved his hand around, but I didn’t see his connection at all.
“I didn’t say shit. I didn’t do anything. I left. I came here.” I was tempted to start the bike back up and ride away from his crap.
“Cole. Do not let me have any more complaints about you. If I have one damn person tell me you sneezed wrong, so help me, you’ll be cut from this team.”
I yanked my helmet back on and pulled the goggles over it, covering my eyes, hoping to block out his bullshit. “Sure boss. I get it.”
“You better.”
What the fuck did he want from me?
“Andy is taking over full time. He’ll be out in a second to talk about the bike.
” He flicked his fingers at my ride. The old head mechanic for the team had retired.
I hadn’t been sure if they’d promote Andy or not, but I was glad they had.
He was almost as good as Tyler, but nowhere near as cute, which was probably the best thing about him. He didn’t distract me.
Andy walked up and plugged his tablet into the bike, checking the sensors installed there, and I told him what I’d noticed on the track.
He wanted to make some adjustments, so we maneuvered the bike on a stand where he could work on it.
Then, I went to find somewhere I could lick my fucking wounds while he worked on it.
Around the far side of the track, there was a stand set up for mechanics, coaches, and observers. I climbed up and sat on the floor. I needed twenty minutes of silence to clear my head.
That wasn’t what I got.
Not two minutes later, Nix popped his head in. “Hey, man.”
“Are you stalking me?”
“Yes, that’s my job.” Nix winked at me. Fucking winked.
I shook my head. “Can I have a few minutes of privacy?”
“Sure. Why?”
“Are you filming now?”
Nix looked at his camera, clicked a few buttons. “No. It’s off. What’s up?”
I exhaled loudly.
“That bad?”
“Okay, sorry I ditched you like that, but Davey and Tyler are…” And what the hell could I say about them that wouldn’t get me in more fucking trouble?
“Obviously not your favorite people.”
“You could say that. It’s a rivalry. I’m sure you heard their story. Tyler was my mechanic before—”
“Before he fell in love with Davey, and you fired him.”
I scowled. That was true, but not the entire truth. I didn’t want to rehash it.
“You know you could suck it up and be nice.” He dropped down on the floor beside me. “They seemed like they were over it.”
“Well, I’m not.” I stared down into my lap. I didn’t know what to say.
“What else is going on? You’re not up here looking for privacy because you had a run in with the competition, are you?”
“Duh, no.” I snorted. “They’re the least of my worries.”
Nix bumped his knee into my thigh, and I immediately felt his heat. My dick took notice, too. Maybe I needed to get laid. It wasn’t something I often looked for. Normally, a rub off in the shower was enough to take off the edge. With Nix around, it was already different.
He nudged me with his shoulder. “Okay, tell me.”
“You’re awfully nosy.”
“I’m a good listener. And I think if I’m going to get any good footage of you on the track today, you need to vent. So, let’s go.” Nix rolled his hand in the air, encouraging me to spit it out.
“Fine.” I kicked at the wall. “Vick chewed me out. I’m on thin ice with the team. Happy?”
“Chewed you out for what?”
“Not being nice to Davey’s boys. Ditching you and Jason.”
Nix scoffed. “You didn’t.”
“Doesn’t matter. Someone told him I had an attitude. That’s all he needs to kick me off the team. I have to be perfect, or I’m done.”
“I’m sorry you’re in this position, but they’re not wrong. Not entirely.”
“What the hell do you know about it?”
“I know you have a chip on your shoulder the size of Mount Rushmore. Your attitude makes John McEnroe look like a cupcake.”
I busted out laughing. “I’m not that bad. It’s just that everything makes me cranky.”
“I like you better when you laugh.”
That stopped my chuckling. I felt a zing of current between us. “Yeah…” I was used to not being liked. Maybe things had been easier that way, but I couldn’t keep that up. I’d lose my sponsors.
Nix pressed against me where our shoulders touched. “You don’t have to be the bad boy all the time, Cole. People might actually like you if you relaxed a bit.”
“How do you know?” I asked, my voice soft and worried about how he would answer.
Nix leaned across me and stared at me with those wide, brown eyes. His hair slid over one eye, and he brushed it back, giving me a look at the rest of his face. He wasn’t cute like Tyler. He was more manly with thick eyebrows and a long, solid nose.
“I know a lot more than you think, Cole.” My name on his lips did weird things to my stomach.
Then he leaned forward and pressed his hot lips against mine.
I froze.
Did I want that? Didn’t I? What was I supposed to do?”
Nix pulled back. He tugged at the stray hair, curling around my temple. “It’s all good. Relax and ride. You’ve got this.”
I didn’t know if he was right or not. I didn’t know if I had it, or if I’d lose it. I didn’t know what his kiss meant. Probably nothing. But one thing I did know, if I didn’t have my ass back on the track soon, I could kiss it all goodbye.
I stood and walked off. Nix didn’t follow me. I figured he was going to get footage from the stand. I felt relieved at that, but also disappointed.
Keeping my head down and focusing on my ride kept me busy the next few days. Avoiding the Apex crew was my number one priority. Doing well on the track was second only to that. I would have liked to avoid Nix and Jason with their cameras eternally focused on me as well.
Breakfast was early, the doors to the cafeteria were already open. I hoped to eat and get to the track before anyone else, but somewhere along the way, I’d lost my luck. As I sat at the table and started in on my egg white omelet, Nix planted himself beside me.
“Hey, Cole. Ready for the day?”
I felt like spitting out a mouthful of snark but wound it back in.
I was on double secret probation. Vick was watching me.
How could anyone go through life like that?
I almost thought it would be better to tell him and the team to fuck right off, but the thought of not having a team and sponsors sent a cold chill down my back. I’d have to play nice.
“Yeah. Right, hey, I’m good.” Practicing my nice boy act on Nix wasn’t that bad, especially when he smiled at me.
I smiled back.
“You look good with that.”
“What?”
“That there on your face.” Nix winked.
I thought I had egg on my face or something and wiped it, trying not to scowl in the process.
“No.” Nix laughed a bit. “I meant the smile, Cole.” He tapped the table, and I stared down at his long fingers. Long masculine fingers. I wondered what they’d feel like touching me, running through my short hair or down my back. “You okay?” he asked.
“Yeah. Fine.” I smiled again, hiding whatever stray thoughts I had. “Ready to get to the track.”
“Great. I hope to get some great footage today. It’s beautiful out like only Florida can be.”
“You’ve been out already?” I asked, I had come straight from my room. I wasn’t sure the sun had even come up yet.
“Oh yeah, I had to catch a sunrise, plus I was waiting on you.”
All my Apex-avoiding probably hadn’t made it easy on Nix. “Yeah. Sorry. I’ll try to, like, um, not ditch you.”
“Good.”
Another tray dropped on the table across from us. “Nix, man, guess what? Gavin has Craige Lee coming in a few days.” Jason blathered on, not even giving Nix time to guess.
“So?” Nix asked.
“He’s super photogenic, haven’t you seen his commercials?”
“I have,” I blurted. They were incredible. “They’re good for the sport. He always looks like he’s having fun.”
“Huh.” Nix bumped his leg against mine, then turned those soft brown eyes on me. I was becoming fond of his dark coffee-colored gaze on me.
“What? I can appreciate other racers.”
Jason made a weird noise in his throat like he was nearly choking.
Of course, Vick walked up at that exact moment. “Then you won’t mind hearing that I have you racing against Rico on the far track in five minutes.”
“Five?” I asked, my eyes widening. Not really about the timing, but the race itself.
I wasn’t anywhere near ready, I held back from commenting on how poorly my arm had been feeling on the track.
I didn’t want to give him any reason to drop my contract.
“Uh…okay.” I got up and dumped my tray before heading out. This was not going to be good.
“Wait, Cole.” I heard Nix’s tray dropping behind me, but I didn’t look back.
I took a long deep breath and slowed my steps.
“Do you have your equipment ready? I’m going straight to the track.
” I was wearing my gear, including chest plates and pads under my jersey and pants, and boots.
I only needed to pick up gloves, goggles, and helmet which were stored in the garage with my bike.
I didn’t want to wait for Nix. I turned and glanced at him long enough to see he had a big video camera hanging from a strap around his neck. “That all you need?”
“Today. We’re going to put a camera on your helmet. Actually, we got it set up last night. Just have to turn it on.”
“Lovely.” I smiled again, knowing exactly how fake it was.