Page 12 of Burnout
“You came flying out of nowhere.” Her tone sharpens and she attempts to glare at me, but she’s just so damn adorable, my smile widens.
“One ride, princess.”
“Princess?” She scoffs, looking even more like a stuck-up, prissy chick.
“I’ll have you back before your friend comes up for air. You might even like it.”
“Doubtful since you’d be there. Why don’t you go ask your girlfriend?”
“My what?”
“The girl you were making out with earlier. Does she know you’re off flirting with other women?”
“Sounds like you were keeping tabs on me tonight. I’m flattered.” I step forward and lower my voice. “She’s not my girlfriend, and I just asked if you wanted to go for a ride on my bike, not my dick. Though…”
Her jaw goes slack, and her cheeks flush a pretty pink. “The answer to both of those would be a hard no.”
“Your loss.” I wink at her and take a step back then flick my gaze to Colter. I raise my voice so that maybe he’ll hear me over the sound of him making out. “I gotta get going, man.”
His mouth pulls away from his girl, but he keeps his arms around her. “Thanks for coming. See you next week at the track?”
“You can count on it.” I nod to his girlfriend and then take one last look at Avery. “Later, princess.”
FOUR
I’m drivingto pick up Flynn from basketball practice the following week when my phone vibrates in the cupholder. I pull over and stare down at the name on the screen with something like hope blooming in my chest. I pick it up, thumb hovering over the screen. I hit accept on the call and bring it to my ear. “Hey, Mike.”
“Knox.” My old team owner’s voice is upbeat and casual, giving me further hope that this call is good news. “Hey, how’s Valley?”
“Good,” I answer succinctly. “I’ve been training every day, working hard.”
“Yeah, I got your messages. I’m glad everything is going well.”
“It is. I’m feeling stronger than ever, and my times have never been better.”
“I’m really happy to hear that. Truly.”
“Does that mean you’re going to give me another chance?”
I hold my breath. This is it. I need back on the team. I need another shot. I’ve come too far for it to all be over before it’s really started.
His sigh twists my insides into knots. “Your riding was never the problem, Knox.”
“I’ll steer clear of Link.”
“I’m sorry, but I haven’t changed my mind.”
“This is bullshit.” My anger gets the best of me and the words fly out before I can stop them. “I can win. I’mgoingto win.”
All season I raced hard for them, bringing the Thorne team a lot of top finishes. I went from a has-been rider that everyone had forgotten about in the five years I’d been gone, to a top contender over the course of the season. That championship was mine to lose. Then one mistake and they toss me out. Me, instead of the guy who cost me the race. Accidents happen on the track, but Link knew what he was doing. He knew the risk and he decided he didn’t care. He was reckless and it cost me everything.
“It was never your ability to win that was the problem. You’re a talented rider, no doubt about it, but I’ve got two other guys to think about. This isn’t Team Knox. We’re a tight-knit group. We want guys that can work together and help each other out.”
I barely keep the words “Like Link helped me out?” from tumbling from my lips. This is bullshit.
“I like you, Knox, I do, but you’ve got a bad attitude, and your temper gets the best of you.”
“He cost me the championship!” I yell, wrapping my fingers around the steering wheel and squeezing hard. I don’t care that I’m proving his point by losing my cool. Link fucked up. Not me.
