“Then why’d you do it?” I spin to face him. “Why ride with Max if you didn’t want to ride at all?”
“I like the kid. Plus, Carter was gonna keep giving both of us shit until he got his way.” Ryder shrugs, though it seems forced, like there’s more to say but he's not going to elaborate.
“You’re saying Carter isn’t used to people telling him no?”
“He’s rich.” Another shrug.Now is not the time to ogle his chest, dammit.
“Being rich doesn’t mean he gets his way all the time.” Though I had my own reservations about Carter’s motives at first—hell I even questioned his judgment for a while—I’ve come around to thinking he’s a good guy. I feel obligated to defend him.
Ryder shakes his head at me like I’m missing the obvious. “That’s usually how it works when you’ve got money.”
“You don’t like him?” I squint my eyes as I study his face.
“I don’t know him all that well.” His gaze doesn’t waver, though what Ryder’s claiming as truth doesn’t add up for me.
“He’s the one who got your community service here. Why would he do that if you don’t know him that well?”
“Been wondering that myself, Frosty.” He turns toward the lockers and reaches for a clean shirt. “Maybe because the mountain sponsors me and I’m costing him money if I don’t ride? But he’s not forcing me to compete, yet.”
“Yet?”
“I’m a bad investment if I’m not racing.” He shrugs his shirt over his head. “I assume at some point that’s the ultimatum he’ll give me.”
“Are you that good?”
“What?” Ryder’s deep brown eyes find mine.
“Are you that good? I mean, obviously you’re good if you’re a pro, but Carter’s risking the reputation of the mountain on you if he’s pulling strings to get you back on it. And if you think he’s going to do the same to get you back in competition… Are you number one or something?” I’m baiting him, poorly, since the intense stare directed my way has me rambling. Still, my gut tells me Carter isn’t pushing Ryder toward racing so much as trying to help him deal with his grief by getting back on a board. I’m not sure my unwilling employee gets that though.
Ryder drops his gaze as he sits on the bench to put his shoes on. “Hooking me up with community service is hardly risking his reputation.”
“Isn’t it? If you fail it reflects poorly on his judgment of you.”
“Then he shouldn’t have stuck his neck out. I don’t belong on the mountain.”Damn he’s insistent.
So am I.
“You look like you do.”
“What?” He spares me a brief glance as he stands and reaches for his coat.
“You really are a natural rider.”
“One lesson and you’re an expert,” he mutters under his breath as he tugs it on.
“You said you ride better than you walk and I’m agreeing with you. It’s evident in the way you move. And you’re a natural with Max too. Even though you didn’t want to do it, I’m glad you started riding with him. It’s something he’ll remember forever.”
Ryder’s eyes have an almost haunted quality to them when they meet mine, and I know without a doubt I’ve been too loose with mywords. Told him something he wasn’t ready to hear. I only wish I knew which part tipped him over the edge.
“I’m late for the bus.” His monotone words echo through the room as he grabs his bag and lunges for the door, and I collapse on the bench, wondering for the first time in my career if I’ve met someone who’s beyond my help.
***
“Knock, knock,” Sloan calls as he barrels through the door with a burst of frigid air. “I know we did this last night—” he leans his elbows on the counter “---but both Lennon and Beck are working the bar, and Maddox and Kane just finished a meeting with Carter, and my sister is also on her way here, so we’re doing another happy hour tonight. You need to come and meet everybody.”
The only thing on my calendar tonight is—was—a bowl of reheated pasta and a movie, so the offer is too good to turn down. Plus, there’s a good chance meeting new people will take my mind off the whiplash of emotions I’m feeling after my lesson with Ryder.
I know the saying is one step forward two steps back, but with Ryder it feels like for each foot of forward progress I lose five. And while I’m no stranger to the ups and downs of the healing process, in my experience, physical activity is the key to overcoming that back and forth. Yet, Ryder shuns all attempts to get him moving unless he’s forced into it.
