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)
“Yeah. Three scrambled eggs, a piece of wheat-protein toast, and some oatmeal should do it.”
She shook her head. “Oh, how lovely it must be to get to eat the way you do but still look like you do as well.”
“It’s because I work hard.” People didn’t always realize how hardcore motocross was. We had to stay in top shape. It wasn’t easy riding a 220-pound machine, holding on through the vibrations at the speed we did and for the length of time we rode. We cycled a lot, kept lean, and spent a whole hell of a lot of time in the gym.
“Oh, I know that.” Mom cracked the eggs and continued making breakfast as she spoke. “I’ve never seen someone work as hard for their dream as you did. You were out there on a bike at four years old. The older you got, the more you rode. Mowing lawns for money, trying for Loretta’s because it was the biggest race you could do at the time…failing but succeeding more. I’m so proud of you. You and your dad sacrificed a lot for this.”
My blood pressure skyrocketed and my body tensed at the mention of my father. He’d made more phone calls to me, but I had yet to answer one of them. “I don’t want to talk about him.”
“I know you don’t, but we need to. He said he’s tried to call you, but you won’t answer.”
“No, I won’t, and nothing you say will change my mind. Why do you answer? He hurt you.”
She didn’t reply, just kept her back to me while she cooked. “Yes, he did, and that’s between your father and me. I won’t deny he hurt me and he was wrong, and I know that hurts you too, but he’s still your dad. He loves you. He’s supported you through a lot. There’s nothing he wouldn’t do for you.”
“Actually, there is—not hurt you. That’s what I want. He can’t do that, so I can’t talk to him. I don’t want to talk about him either.” Christ, I couldn’t believe she was standing there asking me to forgive him, asking me to talk to him. If he gave a shit, he wouldn’t have done what he did.
She turned off the stove and faced me. “We’ve been together a long time. Things change. Your father isn’t in love with me anymore, and he hasn’t been for a long time.” Her voice cracked, but she squared her shoulders, held her head high. That was my mom. I had more respect for her than anyone I knew.
“That’s when you sit down with your wife. When you decide to seek help or separate. You don’t stay with someone and then cheat on them. Come on, Ma! This isn’t the first time. He’s been doing this your whole marriage!” My leg bounced up and down. My vision blurred. “I would never do that to someone I loved, or hell, even someone I used to love. I would never betray them that way.” I had friends with open marriages. I’d even been in an open relationship when I dated a guy a few years back. It wasn’t always easy to date someone like me, who traveled a lot, but there were rules decided on together in situations like that. There was a huge difference between that and betraying someone the way my father had. Hurting the woman who had sacrificed her whole life for us.
“And there’s no one in the world I respect more than you because of your conviction, loyalty, and honesty. You’re all heart, Rush, and there are no words for how proud that makes me, but the rest of us…sometimes we mess up. I’m not excusing your father. I’m angry at him too, and I see now that it’s time to move on. But I don’t want you to do something you’ll regret. No matter what, he’s your dad. He knows you’re hurting right now—more emotionally than physically. Losing eight weeks can’t be as easy on you as you’re making it seem. Not this season. He just wants to be there to support you.”
I closed my eyes. Took a couple of deep breaths. But it didn’t change anything. It couldn’t change how I felt about him. Still, I answered, “I’ll think about it,” even though I knew I wouldn’t. He’d screwed up one too many times for me.
“That’s all I ask. I’m sorry I brought it up. How is Lincoln? Is he coming over today?” She dished out the eggs and added the toast to the plate, then walked over and placed it in front of me.
“Thanks, Ma. You didn’t have to do this for me. And he’s good. He’s at work today.” Her eyes lit up a little. Mom loved medicine. She had been pre-med in college when she’d gotten pregnant with me. She dropped out to become a mom and wife. I would always feel guilty that I had my dream and she didn’t.