Page 28 of Rush
‘I know. And I appreciate you for thinking of the idea, for protecting me the best way you know how. Even if it does all feel very strange.’ Strange was an understatement. It still felt like she was betraying him, even if he didn’t seem fussed.
‘Well, just know it’s always going to be me you get to come home to.’
Except that was such a rare occurrence, it wasn’t really true. When Jesse wasn’t on tour, he was in the recording studio for months at a time and Savi was either travelling to different racetracks or she was at home with her family.They got a week or two together in the cabin every now and then, or Jesse would sometimes manage to spend a few days on her family’s ranch with her when he was visiting his own hometown just down the road, but they weren’t likely to ever share a home together or start a family. It just seemed impossible.
Savi had accepted it a couple of years into their relationship, but it was playing on her mind more and more as time went on. It wasn’t the case that she desperately wanted marriage and a family and four walls to call hers, but what if she reached a point in her life where she had to choose between that, and him?
‘Hey, I need to get going. I’ve got to give my brother a call. I promised. He’s got a doctors’ appointment today and he wanted to hear my voice before he goes.’
‘Okay, give him my best. I’ll talk to you later. Love you.’
‘Uh, yeah. Will do… Bye.’ Now who was avoiding the L word?
She leaned her head back and gazed up at the dull grey sky, watching the clouds drift across and letting herself momentarily forget who she was and where she was before she came back to reality. She needed to call Weston. Not just for his sake, but for hers, too. He was her anchor.
‘About time! I’m leaving in twenty minutes!’ Weston berated her for her timing, forgetting that she had always struggled to stay on top of their time differences wherever she was in the world. ‘Let me guess, you were talking to the rock star?’
‘I was.’ She rolled her eyes at his nickname for his sort-of brother-in-law. ‘You excited about your appointment?’
‘Why would I be excited to have a doctor lift me in and out of my chair and be stared at like I’m some sort of animal?’ he bit out.
‘Alright, misery guts. First of all, you know you’re only being stared at because the ladies at the doctor’s office all have a crush on you and want your autograph which you refuse to give them. Second of all, you’re being lifted in and out of your chair because you’re getting a brand spanking new one with loads of cool features. You’re gonna be the new Lightning McQueen in no time,’ she teased, knowing he was super strict about the speed people pushed his wheelchair at. She had once let him roll down a slope out by the barns and he’d screamed the whole time.
‘I will be driving the thingslowly. And none of you can take over because I’ve got control of this one at all times.’
‘No drunk driving.’
Savi had used some of her money from her contract signing to gift him a new wheelchair which was a lot more comfortable and convenient for him. He had complained for days about not wanting to take her money, until she’d told him it was either that or she paid for an extension on the main house, so he had his own space. That was a lot more expensive than the chair, so he’d shut up and accepted her generosity.
‘When are you coming home so I can annoy you in person? It’s not the same over the phone, for example, I can’t crash into you or run your foot over when you piss me off.’
‘Thanks, Wes. I’m so lucky to have you as my big brother.’ She recalled the last time she visited when she told him hewas being a baby for ignoring an invitation to go out with his old friends, and he’d literally wheeled away and faced the wall, refusing to speak to her. They still fought like kids, and they drove each other insane, but their bond was stronger than ever since his accident.
‘I’m lucky to have you as my kid sister, too. I mean that. I don’t thank you often and I don’t want you to think I’m not appreciative, but Savi… I couldn’t do this without you. You take care of me in so many ways even when you’re so far away, even down to reminding me to take my medication and arranging my appointments on my behalf. You took so much on when I had my accident, and I’m so proud of you.’
‘Okay, now is not the time to be mushy. Also, it doesn’t suit you. I prefer it when you bully me, it feels more natural. But thank you, seriously. You’re my best friend, Weston.’
‘I won’t be saying anything nice for the next three hundred and sixty-five days, you have reached your quota for the year.’
‘Go to your appointment. And give the doctor’s office ladies their autograph! Maybe even dig out an old charity rodeo calendar for them. Bet they’d love to hang that up.’
‘Never in a million years. Bye, loser.’
‘Bye, idiot.’
She hung up and headed to a nearby café for her final caffeine intake of the day. The team were heading out for dinner later, the Jensen-Moretz twins in tow, and she would be switching to cocktails for the evening. Her last team hadn’t been close-knit in the slightest, and she had spent many evenings alone in her hotel room with roomservice. She loved Revolution Racing’s way of doing things. Together. Like a family. It made being away from Wyoming a little less heavy on her heart.
She was seated outside a cute little bakery when a group of fans spotted her and asked for photos and autographs, and she was halfway through her latte when said group tripled in size. It was too much. Savi never had to deal with situations like this alone, she always had a teammate or someone with her, and now with the Marco thing, she felt like a circus animal. They all had questions and opinions, and they weren’t shy about getting in her face. It was the girl who took a seat at her table who sent her over the edge, and she could feel the panic starting to rise in her chest, threatening to take over.
If she left, she would be viewed as rude. Her fans would think she didn’t appreciate them. If she stayed, it was only going to get more awkward and intense, and she was going to have an anxiety attack in public. This was the last thing she wanted.
They continued to swarm around her like bees and she continued to choke out responses and fake smiles for them all, praying at least one of them would get the hint, but they were all getting too carried away with themselves. She got it. They’d travelled miles for the race and here was one of the drivers, sitting here casually enjoying a coffee on her own. What could they possibly be interrupting other than her peace and quiet and her sanity?
Right when her eyes pricked with tears, two familiar faces appeared amongst the crowd of strangers. Marco and Julien. Her knights in shining armour, who causedquite a stir themselves. The crowd parted like the Red Sea to let them through, fans going from merely invasive to full-on screaming and thrusting their phones at them for photos.
‘Savi, what are you still doing here? We’ve gotta go, urgent meeting.’ Julien picked her bag up off the floor and held it out to her, and she took it gratefully.
‘If we hurry, we can make it.’ Marco rushed her out of there, his hand placed on the small of her back. ‘Deep breaths, you’ve got this,’ he murmured.
