Page 7 of Now and Forever

On Saturday, I wake up very early and stare out the window.

Knowing Eric is a few miles from where I am and that there may be some possibility of seeing him today worries me. I don’t say a word at home. I don’t want anything that might happen between us to upset them. When Bicharrón and Lucena arrive with the motorcycle trailer and my father rides up with Jesús, I smile, amused.

“C’mon, girl!” my father exclaims. “Everything’s ready.”

At the car, I’m happy to see Fernando waiting.

“You’re coming?” I ask.

“When have I ever missed one of your races?”

When we arrive at the Port of Santa María, it’s overflowing with people, like every year. After standing in line to check the registration and get my racing number, my father comes back.

“You’re number eighty-seven, sweetheart.”

I look around for Frida, but I don’t see her yet. Too many people. I check my phone. Not a single message.

I walk with my sister over to the improvised changing rooms set up for the participants. I take off my jeans and put on my red-and-white leather jumpsuit.

My sister puts the guards on my knees.

“Judith, at some point you’re going to have to tell Papá you’re not going to do this anymore,” she says. “You can’t keep jumping around on a bike forever.”

“If I like it, why not ... ?”

My sister rolls her eyes.

“I did it twice,” she says. “It’s not for me, no matter how much Papá loves it.”

She’s right. Although we’ve both been raised by the same father and with the same hobbies, she and I are different in many ways. And motocross is one of them. I’ve always loved it. She has always suffered through it.

Once I’m in uniform, I head out to where my father is waiting with what can be called my team. For the first time in several days, my smile is open and friendly. I’m doing something I like, and it shows. A man comes by selling drinks, and my father buys me a Coke. Pleased, I start to drink it, when my sister exclaims, “Hey, Judith!”

“What?”

“I think you’ve got an admirer.”

I make a face at her, but she goes on.

“The guy wearing number sixty-six, the one on the right. He hasn’t stopped looking at you. And it’s not for nothing, but he’s hot.”

Curious, I turn around and recognize David Guepardo. He winks at me, and we both move to greet each other. We’ve known each other for years. He’s from a nearby town called Estrella del Marqués. We’re both passionate about motocross, and we connect from time to time at races. We chat for a while, and, as always, David is charming. I enjoy his company for a minute, then say goodbye and go back to my sister.

“What do you have in your hand?”

“You’re such a busybody, Raquel,” I say, giving her a hard time. But when I realize she won’t leave me alone, I show her the paper in my palm. “His number, are you happy?”

My sister covers her mouth. “Oooh, Cuchu! If I’m ever born again, I want to come back as you.”

I’m laughing, when I hear, “Judith!”

Frida runs toward me with open arms. I hug her happily until I realize Andrés and Eric are right behind her.

“The world didn’t end,” Frida mumbles.

“I told you,” I respond.

My God! Eric is here!

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