Switching Gears Page 3
“Here.” I grab another tray and the plate off the table. “I’ll clean up. Maybe Dad or Gavin can bring some pizza home.”
She stares straight ahead and I’m not sure she heard me.
“Mom?”
Still staring.
I touch her arm. “Mom?”
“What?” She’s frowning at the garbage can now.
“I’ll clean up for you. Go sit down. You look tired.”
She closes her eyes and rubs her temples. “Sorry. I’ve been a little stressed out at work lately. Maybe I’ll go take a nap or something.”
“Okay.”
She looks around at the messy kitchen and finally goes down the hall to her room. I finish cleaning up, call my brother to tell him to bring dinner home, and head downstairs to my room.
First thing’s first: a shower and a change of clothes. My biking gear is fine and comfortable when I’m riding, but walking around in spandex for a while, especially in my padded shorts, tends to feel like I’m wearing a giant diaper. And … Mom’s right. I do look ridiculous.
After a quick shower, I opt for my pajamas and grab a notebook when I’m changed.
If I’m going to beat Whitney, I have some training to do, but more importantly, I need to figure out what to do exactly. I try to start my list, but sit there, pen in hand, staring at the paper in front of me. I have no idea where to start.
So instead, I grab my iPod and stick the ear buds in. Nothing better than a bunch of girl music to get the ideas flowing.
After a while, I doze off. Until my older brother, Gavin, bursts into my room. He jumps onto my bed and knocks my notebook on the floor. Which, for the record, I haven’t written anything in.
Gavin and I are only eleven months apart, but we couldn’t be more different. I swear all he cares about is long boarding and work.
Long boarding is weird and I don’t work.
Huh. Maybe I’m just a slacker.
“What are you doing in here?” I ask, ripping my ear buds out of my ears.
“Pizza’s here.” He tackles me and we both fall off the bed. “Mom told me to come get you.”
“You’re such a butt-head.” I scoot away from him and stand, giving him the evil eye.
He snorts. “Seriously? Are you in third grade?”
I roll my eyes. “You’re my brother. I can call you whatever I want.”
“That’s the best you could come up with?”
I glare at him. “Also, there’s a thing called knocking. You can’t just come down and barge in here whenever you want. I could have been naked in here.”
He looks horrified and closes his eyes with his hand held in front of his face. “Fair enough.” He grins and lets his hands fall to his sides. “For the record, though, Mom said I could come get you. She didn’t say anything about knocking first.”
“Of course she didn’t.”
He raises an eyebrow and swipes his light shaggy hair away from his eyes. “You two fighting or something?”
“No.” I think about the cookies again. So weird.
Gavin sits down on my bed and looks around my room. “Lots of biking posters.”
“You’re very observant.” It’s not like I just put them up. They’ve been up forever. And he’s been in my room before.
He chuckles. “Go on a ride today?”
“I had a race.”
“How’d ya do?”
I try to smile, but the thought of Whitney winning makes it not as genuine. “I got second.”
“Awesome.” He hesitates a moment. “Did Kelsie race, too?”
I shake my head. “She’s having problems with her knee, so no.”
“Oh.”
I’m beginning to notice something about my brother: I’m pretty sure he has the hots for my friend. Too bad that would be super weird. For me. They’d actually be kind of cute together. I stand and grab my dirty biking clothes off the floor to go throw them in the wash.
“So, do you want to come biking with me tomorrow? We’ll go on an easy trail. Promise.”
“Gotta work from eight till ten.”
“Sounds awesome.”
“I know. Lucky me.”
“Well, when you’re done waiting tables, you can come with me anytime you want.”
“Nice try. I’ll stick to long boarding.”
“Lame. I don’t know how you can do that. I’ve heard it’s dangerous.”
“And flying down the side of a mountain on a bike isn’t?”
“Nope.” I smack him on the shoulder as he rolls his eyes.
“We should probably go eat.”
My stomach growls. “Yeah, probably.”
We sit there for a second. He looks at the door, as do I. At the same time we run for it. I get to the stairs first, but as I run up a few of them, he grabs my foot and pulls me so I slide down three.
On my face.
“No fair! You cheated!” I catch up to him and knock him into the wall as he tries to pass me.
“Cheating isn’t illegal when you’re racing your sister,” he says as I try to trip him. His footsteps are out of my reach and he bounds up the rest of the stairs, leaving me in a heap at the bottom.
I don’t care if he’s bigger than me. He’s so going down.
CHAPTER 3
Saturdays are supposed to be awesome. And mine was, until about two hours ago. I put the key in the ignition of my stupid Civic again and turn it.
Nothing.
My car is officially a big piece of crap. And so am I, since all I have on me is a dead cell phone. Stupid battery. They’ve got to find a way to make phones last without batteries someday. But for now, I’m screwed. Without a phone. At the bottom of a stupid mountain, stranded in a dirt parking lot, and surrounded by a bunch of trees. Which are honestly looking pretty creepy as the stupid sun sinks lower in the sky.
And yes. Stupid is the word of the day.
This same thing happened last year, but Lucas was with me. His first ride. But he had a cell that actually worked.
We were at a different trail—an easier one, for his sake. I remember it was windy. Probably too windy to take a newbie biking, but he wouldn’t let me reschedule. He was stubborn like that. Like me.
“You’re sure this is as easy as you say it is?” he had asked as he stared down the dirt trail. His blue eyes were wide as he gripped the handlebars of his bike. He looked terrified, which kind of thrilled me. Just a little. He was always so good at everything he did, so I secretly hoped I could best him at this.
“You’ll be fine. I promise. It’s like … well, riding a bike.” I tried to hide my smile, but it didn’t really work.
He narrowed his eyes. “Really?”
I laughed. “Obviously. Just pretend you’re on cement and you’ll do great.”
He sat back on his seat and squeezed his grips tighter. “I’m not on anything close to cement. I’m on dirt. Lots of dirt. With lots of rocks.”
I glanced around. “There aren’t any …” I trailed off as he pointed to a huge one in the middle of the trail. “Well, that one’s kind of … out of place. But just go around it. You’re a big boy.” I patted his arm and he grinned. And I melted.
“Quit distracting me.” He cleared his throat and flexed his fingers as a huge gust of wind came up. “This wind is totally throwing me off my game.”
“At least it’s not messing up your hair.” I swear the kid had perfect hair. And I always let him know about it.
He let out a frustrated breath. “Helmet hair isn’t any better.”
“You ready? You look nervous.”
He put a hand to his chest. “Me? Never.”
He totally looked nervous. “You’ll be fine. Promise.”
“Whatever you say.” He pushed off, going so slow that I had to control my laughter when we reached the next section of the trail. I pulled up alongside him as he stared at the downhill we were going to have to take. “There is no way I’m riding down that.”
I snorted. “It’s e
asy. I already told you not to pull your brakes too hard. Lean back on your seat and, most importantly, don’t crash.”
“Thanks for the tips, Miss I’m-way-more-awesome-than-Lucas.” The sarcasm dripped off his tongue like water, but he couldn’t hide his smile.
“You’d better remember that.”
“Okay smarty-pants. You go first. I’ll be right behind you.”
“Great.” I took off down the hill, relishing in the moment when all I could feel was the wind on my face. Once I got to the bottom, I stopped and turned to see where Lucas was. I tried to retain my laughter as I watched him walk his bike down the hill, but failed.
“Yeah, yeah. You kick my butt in mountain biking. I know. But I totally kill you in basketball.”
“We’re even then.”
He smiled as he stopped his bike next to mine and leaned over to plant a kiss on my cheek. “Even if I suck, you’re the bestest teacher ever.”
My cheek tingled and I stared at him, losing myself in those blue eyes all over again. He had no idea how long I’d loved him, but there was no way I’d tell him. Unless he told me first. So instead of reacting, I giggled and tried not to let him see how much it affected me. “That was so cheesy it kind of made me want to barf.”
He had acted hurt, but had burst out laughing two seconds later. “Me too.”
The memory fades and I’m thrust back into reality. I feel the knot in my chest tighten and take slow breaths to keep myself under control.
With the door open, my eyes fall on the heart I had drawn in the dirt with Lucas’s name in it. Why do I do this to myself? Emotion rushes through me as I stare at his name. I grab the stick I made it with and destroy any evidence of it being there.
I stand, chuck the stick across the parking lot, and sink back into the driver’s seat. The knot in my chest loosens a little and I close my eyes and lean my forehead on my steering wheel.
Get a hold of yourself, Emmy.
It takes a few minutes to calm down. I’ve cried enough tears over Lucas the past year, and especially the last month, and I don’t have any left. But still, sometimes they threaten and I have to fight to keep them at bay.
With a deep breath, I try to turn on my phone again before throwing it on the worn passenger seat.
My mom is gonna freak when she can’t get a hold of me. Especially since I was supposed to be home an hour ago.
I’ve taken note of a few cars up here with mine, but Mom would murder me if I hitched a ride with someone I didn’t know. I’m contemplating walking home, which would take for-freaking-ever, when Cole pulls up in his truck.
Perfect. Just who I want to deal with today.
“Everything okay, Marty?”
I look up, surprised at the concerned look on Cole’s face. “Everything’s peachy.” Nice. I sound like Dad. Peachy? Really?
He looks at my car and back at me. “Car trouble?”
I sigh. “No.”
“Hanging out in the heat for no reason then? Sounds like fun.”
“It’s a blast.” I stare at the dirt again.
“Need a jump?”
“Someone already tried.” Which is true. They even offered me a ride home, but I had to tell them no and I was too big of a wimp to ask to use their cell phone.
He gets out and leans against his truck with his arms folded. “Is someone coming to help you?”
“Yes,” I mutter.
He raises an eyebrow. “Really?” He doesn’t look convinced.
“I …” I sigh. “No. No one’s coming. My phone died about two hours ago and I can’t get in a car with a stranger. As much as I really wanted to earlier.”
His eyes widen. “You’ve been sitting here that long?” He glances around before looking back at me.
I shrug. He’s quiet for a moment and that’s when I realize he’s alone. He’s never alone. “Where’s your girlfriend?”
He looks confused. “Who?”
“Whitney.”
He laughs. “She’s not my girlfriend.”
“Huh. Could have fooled me.” I don’t know why I even brought it up. It’s not like I care.
“So … you’re stranded up here.” It’s not a question.
I don’t answer.
He lets out a breath and opens his passenger door. “Get in.”
I glance up, surprised. “What? No!”
“I’m taking you home and we’ll call a tow truck to come get your car.” He moves toward me, his hand out. “Come on. I’m taking you home. I’m not a stranger, so you have no reason to refuse.”
“Yes I do, I’m fine. And you’re kind of a stranger.”
He folds his arms again. “Seriously?”
I try to hide my smile, but I can’t.
He doesn’t look amused. At all. “Come on, Marty.” He glances around and gestures to the setting sun. “It’s getting dark. You’re not staying out here by yourself.”
“It’s not that dark. And why are you up here anyway? You can’t bike in the dark.”
“Who said I was biking?”
I point to the bike in his truck. “Um … that?”
“That doesn’t mean anything.”
I let out a frustrated breath. “What are you talking about?”
“Sometimes I come up here to do a quick ride before the sun goes all the way down. I’m fine doing that. Because I’m a guy. Crazy stalker people won’t bother me since I’m not a girl.”
I sit up straighter. Who does he think he is? “You think just because I’m a girl, ‘crazy stalker people’ will bother me? I can handle myself.”
He glares at me and folds his arms again. “Get in the truck.”
“No.”
He stares at me for a second, his jaw working. I’ve never seen him worked up before. “Come on, Marty. Get in the truck. It’s not going to kill you.”
“It might. And I’m not leaving my bike up here.”
He throws his hands up. “Then unlock it and I’ll put it in the back of my truck!”
I frown at him and twist the ring my parents gave me for my sixteenth birthday. “Tempting, but I’ll pass.”
“You’re the most stubborn person I’ve ever met in my life,” he snaps.
“Thanks.”
His eyes narrow. “Not a compliment.”
I stare at the ground again, wishing I were anywhere but here.
He sighs and I glance up as he rubs his temples with one hand. “Emmy, please. Let me take you home. I can call a tow truck on the way and come back with your dad or something.”
My heart quickens as I realize he used my first name. He’s never called me that before.
I chew on my lip and glance around. He’s right. It is getting dark. And I’ve heard plenty of stories about the creepers that hang out in this area. I swallow my pride and take a deep breath. “Okay,” I whisper.
“What?”
“You can take me home. And I don’t need to call a tow truck. My dad and I can come back in the morning to get my car. This isn’t the first time it’s crapped out on me.” I stand and wipe some dirt from my shorts. “This doesn’t change anything, though.”
He rolls his eyes. “Of course it doesn’t.”
I turn around to unlock my bike and I freeze as he reaches around me and takes it off the rack, lifting it into his truck.
“I’ll lock it up if you want to climb in.”
I stare at him for a moment and my mind goes blank as his hazel eyes search mine. He smiles and I look away. Instead of protesting the fact that he’s man-handling my bike, I hurry and open my door to grab my purse before locking the car. I avoid his eyes as I get in his truck.
I’m flustered. And I don’t like it. I clutch my purse tight in my hands. I’m shaking. I can’t get a hold of myself.
Cole slides into the driver’s seat a few seconds later and starts up his truck. He pushes on the gas and revs it a few times.
I glance over and hope he sees my annoyed look. “Do you really need a truck this big?”
I’m not amused. “I shouldn’t have asked.”
He shrugs and pulls out of the dirt parking lot.
I stare out the window as we drive down the mountain and away from my poor car. I hope no one steals it. Even though they won’t, since it’s obviously dead. It still makes me nervous, though, leaving it up here all by itself. We’ve been through a lot, that car and I.
But my bike is more important and I’m relieved it’s in Cole’s truck. It’s worth more than my crappy car.
“Were you practicing for your race?”
“Of course.” My voice holds back my nervousness. I’m not going to give anything away.
“I’ll bet you were.” He pauses for a moment. “You racing the Back Country next month?”
“Yep.”
“Me too. There’s supposed to be some sponsors there. Cool, huh?”
I nod. All I want is for a sponsor to notice me. Then I can afford some nicer gear. Maybe I could get those shoes I’ve been wanting. Or some new gloves that aren’t so stiff.
We sit in silence. I pick at my nails; he taps on the steering wheel. I’ve never been good at starting conversations.
“Not a big talker?” I can hear the smile in his voice.
“Not really.”
He chuckles and thankfully stops asking questions.
Before I know it, Cole pulls into my driveway. And that’s when I realize something. “How do you know where I live?”
He reaches for the door handle. “Whitney lives around the corner. And I’ve seen you pull in here a few times.”
“Oh.” The thought of him knowing more details about my life is unnerving.
“I’ll get your bike.”
I nod and let myself out.
His muscles flex as he pulls my bike out of his truck. I can’t help but stare and mentally curse myself for looking at all. Cole is not my friend. He never has been. He’s my biking enemy. Nemesis. He took captain from me. I can’t let him distract me and I won’t fall for all of his charms like every other girl did our junior year of high school.
I’m sure he can’t even count how many girls he’s been with. I’ve heard so many rumors about him. Too many.
He holds onto the handlebars and pushes my bike toward me. “You sure you don’t need me to call a tow truck? I can go back up and wait for them.” He shoves his hand in his pocket and pulls out his cell.