“These aren’t for luck. It’s because knowing I’ve got your briefs in my pocket makes you hot, and I like it when you jump my bones.”
“Pig.” I can’t hide the smile tugging at my lip.
“Only for you.” He gives me another quick kiss and heads out the door, leaving me to feel both comforted and terrified that he knows me so well.
***
“Knock, knock,” Jace calls out as he rattles the door.
I spring off the couch to open the door, feeling a little awkward about being a gatekeeper to a place I suspect he practically lives in.
“The competition is about to start.” He steps inside with a warm smile. “Axel wanted me to make sure you didn’t have any trouble getting close to the track. Are you ready?”
“Almost.” I dig through my backpack for a pair of sunglasses, less to block the sun than to hide my eyes, which I’m sure are broadcasting that I’m anxious. Whether that’s about the competition, my undeniable feelings toward Axel, or the fact I’m about to be publicly labeled as his boyfriend, I’m not sure. All I know is it’s an uncharacteristicemotion for me, so I’m hoping the dark lenses will let me hide in plain sight.
I follow Jace outside, pausing on the steps of the trailer. “Do I lock this or…?”
“It’s fine. No one will go in there who shouldn’t.” He holds up the badge hanging around his neck for emphasis—identical to the one I have—reminding me that this area is accessible only to people wearing one.
“Right.” I fall into step beside him. “So, how’s he doing?”
“What do you mean?” Jace cocks his head to the side.
“I don’t know. Does he seem ready, I guess?” I’ve never been overly invested in sports, as a participant or a fan, so I have no idea if the nerves I feel on Axel’s behalf are normal or not.
“Are you asking if your being here is good or bad for him?”
I hadn’t thought of it in those terms exactly, but now that he's mentioned it… “Yes.”
Jace slows to a stop and looks off toward the track in the distance, a pensive expression on his face. The announcer’s voice echoes around us as he introduces the first rider, a cue that we need to get moving I assume, though Jace remains frozen in place. Finally, he turns to me with a solemn look.
“I’m honestly not sure if being here will help or hurt his riding, but as for Axel himself, I think you being here is good.”
“I don’t understand.”
Jace inhales deeply and holds his breath for a second before letting it out. “He seems lighter, I guess. Like the shit that normally weighs on him isn’t so heavy. I think maybe that’s because of you.” His whole body seems to tense up before he abruptly spins forward and starts for the track so fast, I have to jog a few steps to catch up.Looks like someone said morethan they meant to.
Unfortunately, Jace’s words makemefeel heavier. I don’t like the idea that my presence matters or could in any way contribute to Axel’s performance. If he starts thinking of me as important to his success… I shake my head to clear the worry, figuring the moments before he hurls himself through the air on a bike aren’t the time to question the future. But the nerves remain.
As we approach, a sea of riders come into view, but my eyes are immediately drawn to Axel in his red jumpsuit. He sits casually on his bike to the side of the track, motionless as he watches the riders before him go through their routines. I’m just as still as he is, but not because I’m calm. I’m so fucking anxious I feel myself vibrating, though I’m sure my fidgeting would be a distraction so I’m pretending to be a statue instead.
Why am I such a wreck?I should not be so invested in this, but damn if I can tell myself the outcome doesn’t matter. I want Axel to do well. And be safe.
I’m concentrating so hard I don’t even notice the other riders, the roar of the crowd. All I can see is him, bike between his legs, helmet hanging off the handlebar, eyes focused on the arena. Until suddenly they’re on me, and he crooks his finger, beckoning me forward.
“I can feel you freaking out over there,” he says when I reach him.
“Sorry. Should I leave?” I trap my bottom lip with my teeth, feeling uncharacteristically uncertain.
“Hell no. You should come closer and give me a kiss for luck.” His gaze lands on my mouth.
The heat in his eyes has my heart pounding so ferociously it’s hard to breathe. “You said you don’t need luck.”
“I don’t, but I’ll use any excuse to get you to kiss me.” The corner of his lip pulls upward with a sly grin.
“You don’t need an excuse for that.”
“Then get over here.”
