Page 54 of Jackrabbit

“Don’t even start,” Beau sighed.

The cat gave Beau a silent meow and padded across the hall to rub against Beau’s calves.

“We’re in trouble, huh, boy?” Beau murmured as he bent over so he could scratch behind Toast’s huge, tufted ears.

Toast’s whiskers twitched as he chittered.

Was Colt going to be okay alone? There was a chair in the corner of Beau’s room. Maybe Beau could—

“Hell.” Beau stood, running his hand over his mustache and down his chin.

Colt was a grown man. He’d had a breakdown, but he’d be fine come morning. Certainly didn’t needBeauthere in case he woke up disoriented or upset.

Beau cracked the door and nudged Toast’s rear with his foot. “Go on. Go take care of him.”

Toast was already purring as he sprinted into the room, and Beau shut the door behind him.

Chapter 31

“Merc, have you seen Colt?” Camila stood in Beau’s office doorway, twisting a shop rag and frowning. “He was here this morning, and Joyce said he showed for his shift at the diner, but…”

“But?” Beau prompted.

Camila twisted the rag harder. “I saw him watching a video of his race. No proof, but I think thatpendejofrom the race Saturday posted it and added a nasty song.”

Beau sighed. “Knew that jackass was gonna be trouble.”

The bell over the front door dinged, and Camila turned toward the lobby. She shoved the rag in her pocket and disappeared from his doorway. “Colt, what the hell? Were you—Jesus. Did you go for a run? You’re dripping.”

Beau raised his eyebrows and took off his glasses. He set them on a stack of paperwork. Camila sounded worried, and when Beau saw the state of Colt he understood why. Colt was wearing short running shorts and a tank top with the sides cut out, and they were stuck to his skin like paint. His cheeks were bright red, and his eyes—

His eyes were the worst part. The circles under them had only gotten darker in the two days since the race, and his smile wasn’t reaching them at all.

“Yeah.” Colt grabbed a clean shop rag from the box under the desk and wiped at his face and neck. “I ran to the gym and did a few supersets instead of eating lunch.”

The gym was only a mile and a half from the shop, but it was a hundred and fifteen degrees out and the air was thick with humidity that had been trying to break since the last rain.

“Mhmm.” Beau crossed his arms and leaned against the doorway. “How many supersets?”

Colt shrugged. “Dunno. Four?”

“This is supposed to be your rest day,” Beau reminded him as Colt dug his gym bag out from under the counter. “Doesn’t sound like you’re doing much resting. You got a race Saturday. Planning to be burnt out before the flag drops?”

“Exactly,” Colt said, running a hand through his hair. His fingers got stuck in the wet curls, and he winced. “I have a race on Saturday. I gotta make sure I’m ready.”

“Youareready.” Beau nudged Camila’s shoulder and nodded toward the garage.

She gave Colt one more worried look before she left to get back to work.

Once the door to the shop was shut, Beau uncrossed his arms and stepped closer to Colt. “You’re gonna burn yourself out.”

“I’m fine,” Colt assured him, already heading toward the bathroom to change.

Beau wrapped his hand around Colt’s wrist before he could disappear. “If I catch you back at the gym today, I’ll cancel your track time for tomorrow.”

Colt looked stricken. “You wouldn’t.”

“Try me.”