Page 53 of X My Heart

Sky

“No, Hunt, that’s not the fucking way to balance yourself,” Jay yells up the starting hill. I’ve been sitting in the stands for the last hour, watching Jay and Hunter go at it during training. Drew hands me a coffee, and takes his seat next to me on the bleachers.

“Thanks, Drew,” I say, focusing my attention on the men who are one swear-word each away from compiling their own dictionaries.

“Anytime,” he answers, watching Hunter make his way down the hill.

Hunter comes to a screeching halt inches away from my father. “No, do it again,” Jay bellows.

Hunter says something to Jay I can’t make out. They look ready to punch each other in the face.

“That’s trouble right there,” Drew mutters under his breath, checking the messages on his phone, before taking a sip from his coffee.

“Is it always like this?” I ask.

He shakes his head. “Sometimes it is. They take it easier if Hunt’s injured. He’s lucky he only bruised two ribs, could have been worse. I’m glad we still have a couple weeks off though.”

Hunter raises his shirt, and tightens the white rib wrap around his chest. He motions with his hands to the track. Jay shakes his head, and shows him something on his iPad. Hunter nods, running a hand through his long hair before wiping the sweat from his forehead.

“Are you liking it here, Sky?” Drew asks, while we watch them adjust something on Hunt’s bike.

“I am,” I tell him. “It’s beautiful, and I like hanging out with you guys.”

“Me too,” he says, smiling. “Have you talked to Jay about what’s going on with you?”

“What makes you say that?” I mumble.

“I’ve had my fair share of hurt, Sky. I know when someone is going through the same thing,” he says, laying his hand on my shoulder.

“I’m fine.”

“But are you okay?” he asks softly.

“Why?”

“The way you talk is different.”

“What do you mean?” I ask, shifting uncomfortably on the bench.

“It’s much slower than it was last week. Don’t get me wrong, a man like me can appreciate a slow, husky voice, but …” he says, clearly waiting for my response.

This is it. I brush my hair out of my face. “I don’t know what to tell you, Drew.”

“Is it bad?” he whispers.

I nod, not saying anything for a while as I watch Hunter laugh about something with my father.

“I know we don’t really know each other, but I like you,” Drew tells me, laying his hand on mine. “Hell, it’s like I’ve known you for the better part of my life, with Jay telling me all these stories about you.”

“I like you too.” I chuckle. “And don’t believe everything you hear.”

“Hey, dipshit,” Hunter yells. “Are you going to sit there all day?”

Drew flips him off and Hunter does the same in return, then sticks his tongue out at him and winks at me.

“I love that boy out there, and he likes you more than he wants to admit. I’ve never seen him look at a girl this way,” Drew says, locking eyes with me.

“I like him too,” it comes out like a sigh.

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