Page 84 of Send It
I laugh because he has no idea that I beat him last weekend at East Bend.
“Yes sir,” I tease, saluting him. He doesn’t entertain the idea of joking around. He straps his helmet on and we both line up at the gate. When the ten laps are over, we pull off to the side and Reiss cuts the bike off.
“Are you getting faster? I thought you were coming around me in the corner before the finish.”
I could’ve passed him but I didn’t want to tip him off to anything. Especially not the fact it was my dust he was eating last weekend.
“Almost but not quite, good run.”
He fist bumps me and pushes his bike back over to the shop. The sun is beginning to set and the home track doesn’t have lights so we have to call it a night because in about ten minutes we won’t be able to see.
The flood lights on the outside of the shop building illuminate the gravel lot and Colson is still inside working on the bike for Nationals.
“What happened with Stas?” I ask Reiss. “She was really upset. I’ve never seen her like that.”
He pulls his brows together and I can tell he’s bothered. “When was she upset? She didn’t seem upset when she was screaming at me over Mira and throwing Landon in my face. She seemed pissed off more than anything.”
I cross my arms, “Don’t bullshit me.”
“I’m not. I don’t know why she would be so upset about it anyway, she’s your best friend and that’s it. She’s nothing to me.”
He stomps away and I watch as he disappears into the shop with Colson, but I’m not letting him get off that easily.
“I don’t believe you,” I say, chasing him down. “I think you like her and I think she likes you too but you both are too stubborn to admit it.”
Reiss turns around, screaming at me through his helmet. “Just drop it, Lincoln!”
Colson stands up, pushing him back, “Don’t yell at her, dude. Come on.”
Reiss’ eyes dart between myself and Colson and he starts to backpedal. “Oh my God,” he starts to panic. “Are you fucking my sister?”
Colson’s eyes jerk from Reiss’ to mine and I silently plead with him not to do this yet.
I can tell Colson’s having a hard time so I cut in, “No we aren’t fucking but what would be so wrong with that since you’re obviously in love with Stassie?”
Reiss just stares at me, so I don’t back down. “You were fine with Jackson wanting me but God forbid it be someone decent.”
“Don’t throw that in my face,” he growls. “I didn’t know any of that was going to happen.”
“I don’t blame you,” I cry, my voice breaking. “I just don’t understand what would be so wrong with me and Colson?”
He shakes his head, “I always knew you had a thing for him. All the times you’d drag him away from me at the races to hold your hand while Dad raced. I figured you’d grow out of that shit and realize he just felt sorry for you. You can’t have him like that, Lincoln. It will fuck everything up.”
My gaze finds Colson’s as I wait for him to tell my brother the truth, that he didn’t just hold my hand out of pity but he doesn’t speak. I know it’s because we agreed to tell him after Nationals but for Reiss to sit here and talk to me like that and Colson not say a word kind of hurts. I know deep down Reiss is just upset and projecting his emotions onto me. My throat burns with the threat of screaming, what comes out is nothing but a whisper.
“When the time comes for me to decide who I want to spend my life with, my brother won’t have a say in it.”
I walk out the shop door, slamming it behind me. I love Reiss and he’s my brother, but tonight he’s just an asshole.
42
Colson
Lincoln
I think we need to take a break. Let’s just focus on training until Nationals.
Colson
