Page 90 of Still The One

As I finish my medication ritual, exhaustion washes over me like a wave crashing against the shore. In spite of this, sleep seems elusive. My bed, once a sanctuary of comfort and security, now feels foreign without Eve’s reassuring presence in the next room. Instead of drifting off, I find myself staring at the ceiling for hours on end, music still playing in my head as my thoughts replay every moment since the accident and even before.

My phone disrupts the endless cycle of thoughts with its insistent ringing and with nothing better to do, I tap an earbud to accept the call.

‘Ye-llow?’ I try to sound upbeat, but it comes out so sad even I notice.

‘Got your text,’ Matty says. ‘You’re home? Last I knew, you two were considering driving into the sunset together again.’

‘For a second I thought the same thing. But you know how I like to fuck romantic things up.’

‘That, I do. What’re you doin’ now?’

I heave a sigh. ‘Sulking in bed.’

‘At three in the afternoon? Jeez, you’re such a girl.’

‘Thanks.’

‘Well, don’t sulk alone. Come on over. I had to run to the store for grilling meats so you can come and spend the evening with us. I’m barbecuing, and the guys are over. I told them you were home and you know how sappy they are.’

I chuckle. ‘Yeah, I bet Jeff can’t wait to see me.’

‘You’d be surprised, bud. Get ready, I’ll be there to pick you up in five.’

‘Fine,’ I say, reluctant to go. But I can’t keep lying in this bed replaying where things went wrong.

I guess seeing the guys could be fun. Even though I can’t ride right now, I’m excited to get back to my usual life and savor the scent of gasoline, oil, exhaust and hot metal.

Matty lives on a sprawling estate in Florida, where he’s constructed an impressive FMX practice track tailored for his team of riders. The track features strategically positioned jumps and ramps, spanning a combination of hard-packed dirt and loose soil. It includes elements such as berms, rhythm sections, and tabletops to test his riders’ skills. Lined with palm trees on both sides, the area is bathed in the intense glow of the Florida sun, which can be pretty relentless during the day’s scorching heat. I could ride the track with my eyes closed, that’s how familiar I am with it.

Heidi, Matty’s wife, welcomes me with a warm smile as she opens the front door of their home.

‘Foster!’ she exclaims, her eyes lighting up with joy as she gives me a gentle hug. ‘You look great! How are you feeling?’

It’s good to be reunited with familiar faces, especially those I used to encounter daily. It’s particularly nice to see Heidi, who has always been a strong source of support for me, second only to Matty.

‘Not gonna lie, I’ve been in better shape. However, the doctors have assured me that physically, I’m on the mend.’

‘Good! I was so worried, but Matty assured me you were in good hands?’

I nod, an undeniable grin at the thought of those hands. ‘The absolute best by way of my ex-wife.’

‘Ex?’ Heidi asks with a gasp. ‘I’ve never heard you call her that. Things didn’t go the way you’d hoped?’

I shake my head. ‘I lost her. Again.’

‘Oh, honey, I’m so sorry.’ She wraps me in another hug, this time a little tighter. ‘We’ve missed you around here. Things weren’t the same without our Famous 15. The guys are out back. I’m sure they can take your mind off things.’

Only a lobotomy could succeed in that right now. But I make my way outside and as I step onto the practice track near the back of the property, Jeff zooms toward me, skidding to a stop, his back tire practically touching my toes, kicking up a cloud of dirt that covers me.

He kills the engine of his bike and pulls off his helmet. ‘You made it!’ he says enthusiastically, then follows it up with a frustrated – yet not entirely serious, ‘Damn it.’

‘Ha ha,’ I tease with a mischievous grin. ‘You might be winning now, but just wait until I’m back on my bike, Jeffy boy. You won’t know what hit you. Enjoy your victory while it lasts – asshat.’

He slaps on his helmet, raises his middle finger in response to my words, and then slams his right foot onto the kick-start lever. With a twist of the throttle, he sends a rooster tail of dirt flying in my direction as he speeds away. With unwavering confidence, he maneuvers through the track, cutting through the air effortlessly as he nails a double backflip, landing it without a wobble. It’s a feeling I remember well and I can’t wait to experience it again.

The familiar sound of roaring engines makes me feel like I’m home. This last month is the longest I’ve ever been away from this. I missed it.

I seat myself in a row of worn lawn chairs arranged outside the track, under the shade of a line of swaying palm trees. This spot has been witness to countless memories shared with the people who fill my days, where laughter knows no bounds, and we challenge each other with outlandish bad ideas. Here is where we push the boundaries under the open sky. It’s a place where the motto is ‘the bigger, the better’.

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