Page 37 of Worthy

I take a seat between Deacon and Dex and we shoot the shit about which trails are open—since some of the higher ones aren’t accessible until enough snow melts—and which we’ve ridden recently. This is usually one of my favorite conversations, but I’m only half listening, because the rest of the time I’m trying to eavesdrop on Maddox and Ally.

For the most part, they aren’t saying anything interesting. Something about going on a hike later in the week, and... Did Ally just mention her brother? The gay one she said she’d have hooked me up with had she known I like guys.Fuck!

Then Ally has to go and bring up the bike race. ″Okay guys, only two weeks left until the race. Did you all finish your registration?”

There’s a chorus of yesses.

″We have to register?” Madd’s thick brows draw together in a way that makes him look part confused, part distinguished, and seriously fucking hot.

″Of course, it’s a race,” Ally replies.

″I thought it was for charity, not a real race.”

″It is, but you still have to register. I think that’s where most of the money comes from because the town's too small to really get a bunch of people pledging money for laps. Most of them ride in the race anyway, so they aren’t going to pledge money toward someone else’s laps.”

″Makes sense. How do I sign up?” He looks around the group for input.

″I’ll take care of it,” Dex offers, and I feel my whole body constrict.

″You don’t have to do that,” Maddox says.

″I don’t mind. You register at the post office and that’s right next to the bar. I can do it tomorrow,” he says casually as Madd gives him a curt nod of thanks.

Okay, that makes sense, but it still has me on edge. Maddox is my—friend—so I should be registering him, right? But I can’t object without causing a scene, so I pick up a blade of grass and pretend to study it while I stew quietly.

″Perfect.” Ally claps. “I’ve ordered stuff for the costumes. Finn and Ryder have coach’s uniforms, and Deacon, Dex and Blake get soccer uniforms. And I’m still good on the bike?” she prods, brows arched in my direction.

″I’m on track. But don’t get your hopes up that it’ll be comfortable or pretty. It’s strictly for function,” I warn, because if there’s one thing I know about Ally, it’s that she likes things to look good, and this will not meet her standards.

″I thought it looked good,” Maddox volunteers, and I swear you could hear a pin drop even with the band playing in the background.

Great. Of course he had to mention that.

″You saw it?” Ally gasps.

“Yeah, why?” Maddox is oblivious to the eyes pinned on him.

″Cade doesn’t show his stuff to anyone,” Deacon says.Traitor. “Not unless it’s finished, and even then, he might not.”

Though technically true, I don’t keep people out because I’m sensitive or embarrassed about the work, I just don’t invite them in because it’s my place to unwind when I can’t get outdoors, or when I need quiet. It’s not off limits, but I don’t encourage visitors either.

Maddox looks at me with wide, guilty eyes, like he just divulged some taboo secret. He didn’t, but the others will make a big deal of him being inside the studio. I want to be pissed, because I don’t need that drama, but it’s not his fault. All I can do is try to diffuse this.

″I don’t show you my stuff cause none of you have ever asked to see it,” I say dismissively.

″Not true.” Dex shakes his head. “I’ve asked if several pieces in your house were your work.”

″You have.” I nod, my jaw firm, a silent warning to drop it. “But you never asked to see what I’m working on.”

″Semantics,” he huffs.

″None of you like the studio.” I try a different tactic. “You think it’s hot and cluttered.”

″That is true.” Ally chews on her lip, throwing me a bone. “It’s stuffy and kind of smells.”

And now Ally’s bike has earned some more of my attention, to see if I can make it look a little nicer.

″Well, what if I want to see it then?” Deacon puts me on the spot.

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