Page 76 of Rider Forbidden
Robyn
One week of hell. It feels like it’s been a month. I’ve avoided Jack like the plague all week. It’s been awful. For some reason Denny has been weird with me too, he’s hardly been able to make eye contact with me, which makes me think that Jack did something with that barmaid last Saturday night – well, fuck him.
Everyone is busy, there’s a buzz in the air, its Friday night - the qualifier race is tomorrow. People are starting to arrive from all over the world. It's so busy at the track today. Riders coming to test out the track, test their bikes – teams are milling around everywhere. I wish I could be excited about the race. I’ve told Eli that he can come to the race, of course he wants to watch Jack win. I’m going to bring him at one tomorrow, after lunch - the race is at two, so plenty of time.
It’s almost time to pick Eli up. He’s been the thing that’s kept me going this week, he’s been his usual happy self, he asked after Jack a couple of times, but I fobbed him off with the hope that he’ll forget after a couple of weeks and not ask anymore. Truth is, I fell for Jack. I fell in love with him. As much as I hate to admit it, I know that it's true. He has such a sweet side, caring and fun, sexy. Last week he was so horrible to me, it was like he blamed me for ending it, when it was all him. I don’t get it.
Way to go, Robyn - falling for the wrong guy . . . again.
I treat Eli to McDonalds for dinner - saves me having to cook anything, I’ll have some toast or something later, I haven't been hungry this week. I will pick myself up from this, I know I will. I’ve given myself until the race and then I’m done wallowing in self-pity. I’ve looked into courses for going back to college to finish my teaching and I can do it, I have to wait until September but the open day is in a couple of days at the college, so I'm excited to be starting something new, something for me that I want to do. It costs a lot of money, but I’m using my trust fund, I’ve decided to bite the bullet. This is for a better life for Eli and me, so it’ll be worth it.
We watch a movie - Eli picksAngry Birds 2- for the tenth time and then I see him up to bed. I readThe Highway Rattonight, I try to do the voices as best as I can as Eli has suggested a few times that I do the voices funny like Jack. Once he’s settled, I decided to call it a night too - there has been no sleep to speak of this week.
Big day tomorrow - race day! I have butterflies in my stomach thinking about it - I know I shouldn't care about Jack winning, especially how he’s been with me - but it's not just about him, it's about Denny, Sophie, Harry, Craig, Gary and Jock. They're all as invested in this as Jack is. That’s not to mention Eli - he’s so excited about tomorrow. The thought of watching Jack race sends chills around my body - watching him on his bike, tipping around the bends, winding his way around the other contenders - looking all hot in his leathers. I'm going to have to wear sunglasses and keep my eyes closed. I don't want to have that reaction to him anymore but who am I kidding? I know that’s never going to go away ever.
Just as I'm about to get into bed with my kindle I hear a knock at the door. I go to open it with trepidation, and maybe a little bit of hope, thinking it might be Jack. I didn't need to worry, it's not Jack, however the fact that Denny stood there, is weird - I didn't even know he knew where I lived. He looks worried . . . nervous.
“Denny, hey, what’s up?” then I have a horrible thought, “Is Jack OK?”
He shakes his head. “Jack’s fine, well physically anyway, I was hoping I could have a chat with you?”
“Of course, come on in, you'll have to excuse me being dressed in my pyjamas, I was going to have an exciting Friday night with my kindle.”
He laughs. “Don't worry.”
I wonder what he could be here for at this time of night, something is wrong with Jack. It feels awkward – as though he doesn't know what to say.
“So, what’s up?”
He takes a deep breath and gives me a strange look; he’s making me nervous.
“What is it?” I ask
“This isn't easy, and I’ve deliberated all week whether I should say anything or not, but he’s my best friend you know? I can't see him hurting like this.”
Jack? Hurting? “What do you mean he’s hurting? He ended things with me.”
“Well, that’s the thing . . . why I'm here . . . it wasn't exactly his choice.”
“What do you mean? It wasn't mine; I was happy, really happy with how things were going Denny, I liked him, and he’s so good with Eli. But then he was awful and said some terrible things.”
He shakes his head. “He didn't mean them.”
“Oh, he meant them.”
“No, trust me, he didn't. He was forced into it.”
“What are you talking about? No one makes Jack do anything he doesn't want to do.”
He snorts. “Except your dad.”
I feel cold seeping into my blood. “What does that mean?” I don't know why I ask, I need a couple of seconds for my brain to catch up, but I know, immediately that my dad has done something bad.
“Your dad found out about you two, he had Jack followed after he had an idea about you guys. He knows about Jack coming around to you and leaving in the middle of the night. He went to Jack and told him that if he didn't end things with you that he would pull his investment.”
I'm stunned. I need to let all this sink in.
“He blackmailed him?”
