Chapter 19
Slade
North Carolina
His folks talked to me about turning pro, and how hard it had been when Clay had done it. But what really got my attention was how much alike they were to my parents. Once we got back to Clay’s house, I sat on the porch and called home.
Mom answered. “Slade, sweetie. How’s your break been?”
“Good. Relaxing.”
“Oh great.” She talked to be a bit about Brooke and Dean, before asking what she really wanted to know. “And how’re things going with Clay?”
“Mom, I really like him.”
“Good. You know, I was worried you’d end up alone, or wouldn’t have anyone until after you stopped racing, and I heard some of those guys are still winning in their thirties.”
“I know.”
“You’re being careful right? You might not be able to get pregnant, but there are diseases—”
“Mom, geez, yes. Subject change.”
She laughed a bit at my embarrassment, but that was just like her to do. “We expect to meet him properly.”
“Yep. If we’re still together, which we probably will be, I hope, after SMX, we could come home on the break.
” There would be plenty of time to visit.
And figure out the rest of our lives. Motocross would take us from May to the finale at the end of September.
Then Supercross started back in January.
At some point, if everything worked out, I hoped to be in Jacksonville before then, but we had three months to figure that out.
“Well, good luck with all that. You know I’ll be following you. Here’s your dad.”
“Love you, Mom.”
“Love you too. We’ll be rooting for you.”
Then Dad got on the phone. “If nothing else, we’ll come out to see the SMX in Carson, CA.” That was the closest race ahead to where they lived.
“That would be cool.”
“If you need anything before then, you call.”
“Thanks, Dad. Love you.”
“Love you too. Always. No matter what.” Those words meant so much to me. I couldn’t be happier with how things were going. Dad had sent me his top three picks for business managers, and I would pick one after speaking to them over the next week or so. For now, all I had to do was relax with Clay.
He handed me a bottle of water. “That sounds like it went well.”
“It did. But after SMX you have to go to New Mexico with me for a few days.”
“Done.”
“Really?”
“You met my folks. Fair’s fair.”
My heartbeat picked up. “This sounds like we’re out of the qualification stage. Are we in a heat race now?”
“Uh…I think we’ve already moved to the Main Event.”
“Already?”
“Yeah. I have something to ask you.” Clay sat on the bench beside me.
“What?”
“What do you think about moving in with me? I like having you here and do not look forward to being here without you.”
“Okay.”
“That was easy.”
“For you, I’m easy, but only you.” Of course, I was hoping he would ask me anyway.
He leaned in and we kissed to seal the deal.
“Good. Because I enjoy a challenge on the track, Rookie.” He gave me a look like he was daring me to say something about it.
“I’ll challenge you everywhere.”
Clay laughed. “Good. Let’s go inside.”
“Hey, Clay?”
“Yeah?” He turned and stopped in the doorway.
“I think I love you, is that okay?”
“Yeah. I love you too. Now let’s go.”
We had a ton of great stuff to look forward to in our careers and in our relationship. My mom had nothing to worry about. Clay Preston was the best thing that ever happened to me, and I was grateful he chose to kiss me instead of punch me. “Race you to the bedroom.”
“You’re on,” he yelled as he dashed up the stairs.
~The End