Page 121 of Burnout
“I’m really glad to hear that.”
“Thank you for the PT recommendation. Flynn said you made a call for him.”
“Oh, that was nothing. John did some of my therapy on my knee.”
“He really appreciated it, and so do I.”
“You’re welcome.” A beat of uncomfortable silence passes between us and the noise around us infiltrates our bubble. I motion toward the track, where one of the riders is doing a trick I watched Knox practice not that long ago. “Missing all this yet?”
“I actually do miss it,” he says. “And you.”
My lungs struggle to pull in air. His words are a relief and yet still make me ache. I push past the discomfort and smile. This is Knox. However things were left between us, I don’t ever want us to not be able to be friends. Or at least friendly. “Yeah, I miss you too, but I hear you’re really liking the new team.”
“I am, yeah.” He nods again.
We’re joined by Brooklyn and another rider who was out on the track when Knox walked up. They say hello and immediately pepper him with questions. Pretty soon nearly everyone has crowded around him.
Quinn falls in beside me and takes my hand, squeezing it lightly. She whispers, “You good?”
“Yeah,” I reply.
For the next couple of hours, Knox is constantly flanked by someone wanting to talk to him. I hang with Quinn until aroundeleven when most everyone has stopped riding and instead, they’re sitting around and cracking open beers.
“I think I’m going to go,” I tell her.
“No. Already?” she asks as she hugs me.
“Yeah. I need to be up early.” I give her my best nonchalant smile that she absolutely interprets as, yes, I am running away from Knox because I’m in love with him.
“Text me when you get back so I know you made it.”
“I will.” I wave at Colter. No one else really notices my departure. They’re all friendly, but I’m still very much Colter’s girlfriend’s friend to most of them. Knox is talking with Brooklyn and has his back to me. I debate whether or not I should say goodbye, but ultimately decide it’s better than slinking away. I really do want us to be able to be around each other and talk without it being weird. Today isn’t that day, but maybe eventually.
“Hey,” I say when I step into his line of vision.
Brooklyn offers me a polite smile, then ducks away with an excuse of needing to grab another drink.
“Hey.” Knox’s smile is bigger than it was earlier. It’s almost hopeful as he angles his body toward me.
“I’m getting ready to head out, but I wanted to say bye.”
His smile dims. “You’re leaving?”
“Yeah. It was nice to see you though. I’m really glad things are going well. I’ll see you around.” I step away quickly. I can feel the tears building and I do not want to cry here.
“Wait.” He hurries to step in front of me. “Where are you heading?”
“Home.”
“Do you maybe want some company?” His mouth falls into a crooked smile. “I barely got to talk to you. I thought about you nonstop since I’ve been gone.”
My heart skips and races. “I have an early morning. We have a competition Sunday so practice in the morning to run through routines.”
“Right. Is it in Valley?”
“Yeah. It’s our home opener.” It’s on the tip of my tongue to invite him, but I know he has to go back to New Mexico.
“What about tomorrow afternoon? Are you free after practice?”
