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Later in the evening, I take a cold shower and try to get myself together. I give Sky and Jay some time alone, and go for a drive. After an hour, I park the bike in the garage and hang my helmet on the handlebar, then make my way to the house. Jay is sitting in the living room, watching TV, when I enter.
“Hey, are you okay?” he asks, raising his brow.
“Can I talk to you?” I ask, leaning my butt against the couch.
“Sure. Want to sit outside? Sky’s not here,” he says, walking toward the kitchen.
“Where is she?” I ask, following him.
“Tim took her to his house. Want something to drink?” he asks, opening a cabinet and taking out two glasses.
“I’ll take whatever you got,” I tell him and he smiles.
We step out onto the patio and I take my seat in the chair next to him. Staring up at the stars and the lit track in front of us, I tap my fingers on the cold glass filled with iced tea.
Jay throws his baseball cap on the table. “Timothy got some new weed. Said it could help her,” he says, wiping at his eyes. “I know her lungs are shot, but maybe it will help, I don’t fucking know.”
I nod, taking a long sip from the drink. I bite hard on my lip until I can taste the blood. “Jay, I can’t ride anymore,” I tell him, motioning to the track.
“I know.” He nods.
“I need to stay here with her. Even if it means I can’t be the world’s number-one rider. It doesn’t mean shit to me now.”
Jay taps his fingers on his glass. “She wouldn’t want you to give up on your dreams.”
“Like you gave up on her?” I regret saying it the moment the words leave my mouth.
Jay gives me a look that could cut through glass. “Because you love her I will forgive you.”
We are both quiet for a couple of minutes. “What will you do, Jay?”
He shrugs.
“Come on. We need the money if we ever want to extend the track and train more kids pro bono. And I didn’t tell you but I’m paying for a couple after-school classes for some new riders.”
He smiles, shaking his head. “Hunt, you amaze me and piss me off at the same time. But we don’t have to worry anymore.”
“What?” I drawl.
“Sky put her trust fund in my name after she talked to her mom and Conrad. We are set for the rest of our lives.”
I shake my head. “She shouldn’t have done that,” I say, leaning forward and scratch the shaved side of my head, the long strands falling in front of my eyes.
“She told me it felt right.”
I chuckle. “She keeps surprising me, she is your daughter after all.” I take another sip, debating if I should also tell him about my fuck up with Neil.
“Yeah,” Jay answers, staring out to the track.
A car stops. Tim gets out and helps Sky into her wheelchair. “She’s back,” Jay mumbles, laying his hand on my shoulder. “I’m going to hit the hay. You stay here and wait for her. She needs you more than you will ever know. She loves you, son. Take care of her.”
A single tear barrels down his face, and I hold his hand. “I will, Jay,” I promise.
We both watch her slowly being wheeled by Timothy to the porch. He helps her out of the chair and up the steps, before she sits next to me.
“Hey, guys. Didn’t think you would still be sitting outside.” Her voice is soft; she’s beautiful but so tired. I recognize it in the way she talks.
Tim places the wheelchair next to the door, saying goodbye to all of us, kissing Sky on the cheek and shaking my hand.
