Chapter 5 Slade
Chapter five
Slade
Indianapolis, IN (Triple Crown Event)
I’d never worked with a professional coach before.
Coach Tweed was alright, but I got more useful pointers out of Coop.
Working with multiple racers on a track was also very different for me but felt closer to actually practicing how to race and not simply riding.
There were more than a few times when all three of us were on the track going at it.
Now, as I lined up for the first race of the triple crown, I felt good.
The bike was definitely better and faster than my old one, and with all the practice, I was comfortable on it.
Now, I needed to show everyone what I could do.
The triple crown was different than what we normally did.
It was more like a motocross in format, if not exactly the same type of track.
Still Supercross, but we would race three mini-Main Events instead of heats and one Main.
When the gate dropped, we were on. The race was tough, and I came in fourth, but I beat Clay.
That felt like a victory in itself. I didn’t kid myself about how good he was.
In moments of honesty, I could admit he was probably going to win the overall championship, but I sure as hell wasn’t going to admit it out loud, especially to him.
We still had two more races to go, though, and after all the points were added up, we would see who came out on top.
I didn’t stick around to listen to interviews, I headed straight back to the pit, which was admittedly better than we previously had.
Zahr was determined to make an impression, and they’d provided a big trailer and plastic ground cover.
My dad and our new mechanic, Pete Bennet, were chatting beside the tool box towers.
It seemed like they were getting along, but Dad often hid his feelings.
It had taken him some negotiating, but Zahr ended up writing some options into the contract, and one of them said dad was also a mechanic and leader of the team as long as I was winning and everyone was happy.
My uncle and brother were no longer involved.
I made a mental note to chat with him about it later.
I didn’t think he was thrilled about the arrangement but was going along with it for my sake.
Pete used his hip to push the bike up on a stand. “How did it feel?”
“Great. I don’t think we need any changes. That finish was on me.”
“We’ll change the tires and clean it up.”
“Thanks. I’ll work on getting a better start.”
Dad glared at me. I wasn’t sure what he expected, but I took it as my cue to get out of there. Out of curiosity, I headed to the BikeMax pit. I would never have done that before, but after practicing with them, they were kind of my sister team now.
Clay ignored me completely, and while I was chatting with Zeke, he actually walked off.
That wasn’t the reaction I wanted from him at all.
I’d thought we were becoming friends, or at least we would be on speaking terms by now, which was why I followed him.
What the hell? Maybe we were nothing off the track, but seriously, he could be respectful. “Clay, wait up.”
When Clay turned around, he was obviously angry. “What?” he snapped.
“What is your deal?”
“My deal? Who the fuck do you think you are? You’re all on a team now. Think that because we practiced together that you actually belong on the track?”
“What the fuck? I do belong on the track. I’ve proved that.” I pointed in the direction of the track. “Just now. When I kicked your ass. Maybe you don’t belong.”
Clay stepped forward and got up in my face, bowing up like he was going to shove or punch me.
I braced myself and balled my fists up. Then he shocked me with a shove, but that pushed my back against the bus, and when our chests bumped, something shifted in him.
Clay was just a little taller than me, and he leaned down, angrily taking my mouth, kissing hard with tongues and everything.
It wasn’t like I was completely inexperienced, though probably not nearly as much as my peers, but that wasn’t it.
Nope. It was the surprise of it. I thought we were going to fight, and in a way we were.
He demanded dominance, but I wasn’t willing to give in. My tongue wrestled his for control.
After a minute, he shoved away from me. “Fuck.”
I cocked my head to the side, trying to figure him out. What did he want?
“Come inside and get some water. We need to cool off.” He headed for the door.
“Good idea.”
The difference between our rigs was night and day. I was in a tiny trailer, which was barely a step up from our old beat up truck, but this was like a luxury hotel room on wheels. “Is all this just for you?”
“What? No. That’s my bunk.” He pointed to the bottom level. “That one there is Craige’s.” He pointed to the bed above his. “Cole and Ryker have their own because they have partners, or they stay in hotels. Guess they’re the stars.”
“Oh. Mine is tiny, but it’s all mine.”
“You’re not sharing?”
“Guess not yet. I’m the only racer on the team. Pete and Ian came earlier so they’re in hotels. Dad got a hotel room too.”
“Let’s go there then.”
“This is much nicer.” I couldn’t help look around at the furnishings. Nice curtains, thick rugs.
“I’m not interested in nice right now.” He pulled his phone out and glanced at it. “I’m interested in how long we have until the next race.”
“Oh. Right.”