Page 28 of Shattered Hearts

KNOX: You da best.

GRAYSON: *thumbs up emoji*

Do you have that one thing in your life that you love more than other people?

For Macie, it’s cows, for some strange reason I don’t quite understand. Laynie, it’s baking, which I can grasp a little more. Holden, being grumpy. Cole, racing.

But for me, it’s been dirt bikes since I was little.

The first one Reid gave to me after he decided it wasn’t for him. A secondhand bike. But hey, I took it, because he prefers horses, which is absolutely wild to me. To like horses over bikes? Yeah, no thank you. But also, the feeling alone of flying through the paddock on a motorbike is thrilling.

Dad even built jumps for me in the bottom paddock when Mum deemed I was old enough to try some skills. It’s where I broke my arm the first time; although, Reid covered up the fact that I’d fallen off my bike so that our parents wouldn’t take it away from me. So, I guess he’s not entirely insufferable.

Then my collection grew.

The spare shed in the barn has three bikes I’ve purchased myself. The original didn’t survive the crash on the dirt jumps. Reid tried repairing it for me, but it was too far gone. Luckily, Mum and Dad found one that a local farmer was selling for cheap, and that’s the one I plan to start Knox on this afternoon. I’m not aware of how much he knows about dirt bikes already, but I get the sense that it’s hardly anything. He sounds like a good kid, though, and I want to help him out.

Shutting off the ute, I climb out and grab my keys when the door to their house bangs open. It’s a small double-storey house, with weatherboard and slider windows, painted an off-white and lilac. The flowers in the garden match with varying shades of purple that are starting to wilt for winter.

Out runs a girl who looks strikingly similar to Paisley but shorter, with long onyx hair, chocolate eyes framed in mascara, and she’s dressed as… a clown? She must notice me staring at her because she gives me a small smirk before pulling something out of her messenger bag. I laugh as soon as the red nose snaps against her face, and she gives a giggle.

“You must be Grayson. Knox’s knight in shining armour, or so he says.”

Her outward confidence is polar opposite to Paisley. I’m taken aback a bit but quickly recover with an easy grin. “Yeah, I guess I am.”

“I’m Hallie.” She sticks out her hand.

I shake it firmly. “Nice to meet you. I’ve seen you around town many times, but I don’t think we’ve ever spoken.”

“Would it be a bit weird for a grown man to approach me in the street?”

My mouth hovers open, and Hallie barks a laugh, her head tipping back a little to accommodate for the movement. “Sorry, but your face when I said that…” She chuckles some more.

I shake my head, a bemused smirk forming. “In Ashwood, I doubt it.”

“Yeah, me too. Plus, you’re from the most loved family in the entire town.”

“Nah,” I drawl, rubbing the back of my neck. “It’s just a small town.” My gaze sweeps over her costume. White puffy suit with large colourful dots, big scarlet shoes that appear to be fifty times too big for her, and, of course, a rainbow wing half hanging out the top of her bag. I clear my throat. “May I ask why you’re dressed like that?”

Hallie’s dark eyes roll, like I should know the answer already. “Timber Town Tiny Tots,” is all she says.

I blink at her, utterly confused.

She giggles again. “It’s a kids recreational space in Rafter’s Falls. I work there most weekends, and this week I’m covering for the boy who usually has the clown role for parties, but he’s away with his family.”

“Ahh…” I breathe out, finally caught up. “Well, I think it suits you.”

Hallie sighs. “You and nobody else thinks that.”

I grin. “It’s the nose I think.”

“Maybe I should have been called Rudolph then?”

The door opens again, and Knox comes out. Backpack slung over one shoulder, he walks down the few steps to where Hallie and I are, a beaming smile etched into his cheeks. “Stop wasting my time with Grayson.” He pushes his sister towards the road.

She tsks loudly. “I’m hardly stealing time. You were still getting ready. I was merely entertaining him while he had to wait for your slow ass.” Her finger jabs into Knox’s chest.

“I wasn’t slow. Daniel was hogging the shower.”