Series: Fever Falls Series by Riley Hart
Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 81272 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81272 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
We talked strategy, and my muscles were massaged as I waited for the 250 last-chance qualifier to finish. Only the top-four racers from the LCQ made it into the main race. My gate would be shitty, which meant my start would suck, but all that mattered was that I made it. If I made it, I’d take it. I just had to get there.
Before I knew it, the 450s were up. I rode hard, dirt and mud flung at me, and I went through all the tear-offs on my goggles…but I fucking made it. Third in the goddamn LCQ, but I was going to the main, and that was all that mattered.
There was nothing but the sound of moto engines in my ears, and I fucking loved it. The familiar braaap was like a jumpstart to my heart every time I heard it. The sound lulled me.
It was the main race, and I sat on my bike, waiting for the gates to drop.
My focus was laser sharp. The second the green metal hit the dirt, I twisted the throttle and was off. A few people wrecked, but I didn’t see who it was or who went down. I just kept going, fighting for the hole shot, needing to be that first person around the corner. I didn’t get it, but that didn’t stop me. I found my line, held it, fought for position, and rode my fucking heart out.
My body vibrated not only with the strength of the bike, but the ruttiness of the track. When I hit the first triple, I flew over it, landed, and passed another couple of riders. My eyes darted to the side, saw my trainer holding up a sign. Fifth. Faster.
Fifth place. I was lucky as shit with the gate I’d started at, but he was right. I wasn’t going fast enough, fifth wasn’t good enough, so I pushed harder.
My legs hurt, my arms too. Then dirt was clinging to my goggles, and I jerked at the tear-off so I could see clearly again.
Chambers was lagging in the corner, he lost his line, and I sped around him. Fourth. I was in fourth.
Travis fucked up on one of the jumps, and I passed him too. Third.
When I went around the track again, my trainer held up a sign: Inside.
So that’s what I did, fought for the inside line, passed lappers—those who were a lap or more behind the fastest riders. Focused. Rode my fucking ass off.
The twenty minutes were almost up. One lap. I had one fucking lap to go.
I passed O’Brien. Second. The only person between me and a first-place podium on my first ride back was Walker.
We were neck and neck. My body was weakened, but I went off desire and hunger alone. The finish line was there, one last jump, and Walker took it, only tenths of a second before me.
“What happened out there tonight, Rush? You were struggling in the qualifying races, but something changed in the main. How did you pull off second place?” they asked as I stood at the mic for my post-race interview.
“My body is still adjusting to being back. I couldn’t get it right in the qualifying races. I don’t know what it was, but I wanted the win. I missed being out here, and I wanted to make a statement when I came back. I think I did that by pulling second.”
“You certainly did. You don’t have a chance at the championship this year, but that was one hell of a ride.”
“Thanks,” I replied, then made my way down from the stage.
The rest of the night was a blur. Interviews, talking with my team, and then suddenly I was in the shower at my hotel, and then in bed, cell in hand.
Christ, I wished I were home with Linc. I wanted to race, but it would have been nice to go home to him in my bed. He answered on the first ring. “You wrecked again! Oh my God!”
I chuckled. “Gee, thanks, Red. It was a minor crash. Fucking ruts. Did you see I got second place, or did you stop watching?”
“Of course I saw. I wouldn’t stop watching you. I nearly had a damn heart attack. Beau and Ash will likely never let me live it down.”
“Aw, I’m sorry. But not too sorry since I didn’t even get a congrats. I was badass in the main tonight. Do you know how hard it is to pull off second place after where I started?”
“Ugh. I’m the worst boyfriend ever. I totally forgot to stroke your ego. You were amazing, Rush. I’ve never seen anything like it,” he teased. “Seriously, though…that was incredible. You really are amazing. I don’t know how you do it.”
“Thank you. That’s better.”
“It scared me to death when you crashed,” Linc admitted softly.