Series: Fever Falls Series by Riley Hart
Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 81272 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81272 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
I was the first to turn the corner, heading into the first straightaway, which then led into a jump, followed by a second corner and then the whoops, another straightaway and a double.
It was like nothing could stop me. I felt like I was flying, a herd behind me, but no one could touch me.
The night was mine.
The race was mine.
I felt it in my bones, in the zip of energy coursing through my body.
The whole season should have been mine.
I didn’t think I’ve ever ridden so fast. It was as if I was invincible. My bike and I were one. Every corner I took perfectly. Every jump I landed with skill and ease. Because of the time I lost this season, I didn’t have a shot at the championship, but I knew it would have been mine if it weren’t for my injury.
The race went by in a blur. The gate had just dropped, and then suddenly my bike flew over the finish line. My trainer and team came running for me. There were hugs and congratulations and my bike was gone. I felt like the fucking king of the world, only one thing having been missing—I wished Linc were there, celebrating with me.
“That was some of the best riding I’ve ever seen! You were in control the whole race. You didn’t make a single mistake out there. What are you feeling right now?” the sports reporter asked.
I could hardly catch my breath enough to reply. “I can’t explain it. I’ve never felt as good as I did tonight. It was just…” I ran a hand over my head. “It was like magic. I’d like to take a moment to thank my manager and trainer, my team. My mom, who has always been there to support me. She’s going back to school, and I’m so proud of her. Dean Browning with Sports News Daily! I’ve been working with him since my injury, and we’ll be putting together the final pieces for what I feel will be a really great special. Trey and Tyson, if you’re watching…I can’t wait to find out if we did it!” I took a deep breath…then let go. “And Linc…Red…I felt like I was out there riding for you today. I love you and thank you for taking a risk with me. Christ, I feel like I won the championship here or something.” I didn’t know what had come over me.
“You raced like the championship was yours. That was some beautiful riding today!”
I thanked her and then stepped down off the podium. My legs felt shaky, as if I was starting to come down from my high. All I could think about was calling Linc, hearing what he thought of the race. Telling him I was okay, even though he knew I was, just because he worried.
I raced back to my trailer, getting stopped every few feet to answer questions or hear congrats. It meant the world to me, but right then, I just wanted to hear Linc’s voice, talk to him about the race and how we would celebrate when I got home. If this night was a sign, I’d kill it in the outdoors in two weeks.
A pang landed in my chest at that thought, of how much time I’d also have to spend away from Linc during the summer. It was the first time in my life I had something outside of my family that meant as much to me as racing…more than racing.
When I finally made it back to my trailer, I wiped my sweaty, dirty face on a towel before rummaging for my phone. The second I found it, I saw I had multiple missed calls from Jude, Mom, and Lincoln. Not taking the time to pay attention to messages—I figured they were all calling to congratulate me—I tapped Linc’s name to call him first.
“Rush, baby, I—”
“Did you see that fucking race? God, I can’t describe it. I don’t know that I’ve ever felt that perfect on a bike. It was as if I could fly, like everything just sort of fell into place…and I know I mentioned your name. We haven’t talked about it, though you said Dean could use it with the interview, so I hope you don’t mind. I just wanted…fuck, I wanted you and to acknowledge you and—”
“Rush!” Lincoln cut me off. “Baby, listen to me. I saw you race and you were incredible, but I have to tell you something. I need you to sit down for me, okay? Are you alone right now?”
My heart swooped and then free-fell, landing somewhere near my feet. “What is it? What happened? Is Mom okay?”
“Yeah, baby, your mom is fine. It’s just…your dad. I hate to have to tell you this, but there was an accident—a car accident. They Life Flighted him to a hospital in Richmond. Mama K and Jude are already on their way there, but I wanted to wait for you. You can come home if you want, and we can go together, but I figured you’d just want to get there. I can meet you and—”