Chapter 9 Slade
Chapter nine
Slade
Practice Track, North Carolina
Grabbing a pack of Twizzlers, I headed out to meet my dad and Tweed in the cafeteria for breakfast. I wasn’t hungry, and I hadn’t slept well the night before. Too worried and anxious, Nate’s accident was too close to home. “How’s Nate?” I needed to get right to the topic
“They’re releasing him later this morning, and we expect him back tomorrow. Gavin is out there with him. Man, that could have been so much worse.” Tweed shook his head and took a sip of his coffee.
“Good.” I dropped my treat on the table and went to search for something healthier for breakfast. The licorice addiction was for later in the day when I started dropping. I was scheduled to hit the track soon, and then I had an afternoon workout session.
As I was eating, Clay walked in. He had the ability to stop my heart like nothing else, and when it started beating again, it was pounding entirely too hard.
That make out turned frotting session with him had been everything.
I felt the heat of blush on my cheeks thinking that he could probably see the hearts popping out of my eyes.
Clay was sexy, confident, and rode his dirt bike like a demon.
But did we even have anything else in common?
Did it matter? And how fast could I get him back in my bedroom?
I dawdled instead of finishing up, waiting for him and hoping he’d sit beside me. When he did, the butterflies were real, and jumping internal obstacles like pros.
“Hey.” Clay sat beside me, and probably a little closer than normal.
“What’s on your schedule today?”
“I don’t know. I’ve been thinking too much about Nate and lost my focus.”
“Me too, but we need to get our heads together. Nate’s fine.”
“This time.”
“You can’t think like that.” I bumped my shoulder into his, and he moved his leg closer until our thighs were touching.
I wanted to ask Clay to spend time with me after practice, but I was currently sharing a trailer with my dad.
That was a change I hadn’t been happy about, but Tweed said he’d have to stay at a hotel at his own expense if he wanted to stay.
Privacy was a thing of the past. It was incredibly difficult sitting this close to Clay and acting like nothing happened.
I kept sneaking glances at him, and he was always looking back.
I kicked the side of Clay’s foot under the table and he looked up, his dark blue eyes staring back.
Was this a heated moment? I sure felt heated.
Tweed slid his tablet across the table, breaking our silent tension. “We’ve got G they were on there in a way that made it look badass.
“We still have MDC providing your gear, but we did get them to tone it down. Look.” He tapped on the screen then showed me the design for the new gear.
Still rainbow, but only across the shoulders, the rest was the teal of the bike and faded into white.
My helmet was the same blue on top but faded into the rainbow on the sides, but a lot of it was covered with sponsor graphics.
“That’s better for sure.”
When Clay looked over my shoulder, he put his hand on my thigh. I remembered the heat of his body against mine as I felt some of it with his current closeness, and I wanted more. I swallowed hard, not knowing what to do about any of this. Was everyone staring at us?
“Yeah. I like it. See ya on the track.” I stood and patted Clay’s shoulder, then took off.
I had to get out of there before I combusted.
Damn, I was an idiot. Nothing like running away—such a coward.
I was sure Clay would be so attracted to that.
Not. I felt like a kid drowning in the deep end of the pool