Page 76 of Leading the Blind
Thank God. He’d made the right call. One more week to heal. They were gearing up for the finals, and he knew it. Post break, they always barreled through the events to the big show.
This time, it was different.
This time, it was literally winner take all.
Chapter Twenty-One
“Jason! Goddamn it, Jason Scott, we got to talk!” Ace was shouting at him.
Jason stopped, jaw set tight. “Go on, Bax. I got this.”
“Jase…”
“Go on.”
“I’ll walk him back out, Andy.” Dillon’s voice was sure in his ear.
Bax reluctantly left, because that was what he would do, and it would look weird as hell if he stayed to hold Jason’s hand just to talk to Ace.
He turned, his dark glasses pushed up. “What you need, man?”
“You’ve been avoiding me, son.” Ace was front and center, so he tried to ‘look’.
“Why? I got nothing to avoid. I just been trying to stay healthy.” That was the truth. Sorta. “What’s up?”
“Jason!Bom dia! That was a good ride, sim? So good?” Balta’s voice filled the tunnel, the sound of the man’s hand clapping on Ace’s shoulder like a shot.
“Balta and Raul are there. Raul’s right at your shoulder. Joao is still out, remember.” Thank God for the clown.
“Hey, guys. Ace was just about to dress me down.” He grinned, rolling his shoulders and bouncing on his toes.
“I wasn’t— I just wanted to make contact, dammit. I haven’t seen you since the accident.”
“Bah.” Raul’s voice was soft, but sure. “Always here. Jason rides always.”
Fuck yeah.
“Well, I ain’t seen him.” Ace’s drawl deepened. He and Balta loved each other, but man could they bump chests, and Ace always took Raul’s little insubordinations out on Balta. It was kinda great.
“Sorry, Boss,” Jason said. “Really. I’m doing right by the association, yeah?”
“Suck up,” Dillon whispered, and Jason fought to keep a straight face.
“You’re doing fine, Jason. I just wanted to put eyes on you. What does Doc say about your new injuries?”
Jason fought again, this time not to roll his eyes, which he knew he still did. Ace knew damn well what Doc thought. He met with the man daily.
“I’m right as rain. Leave it all in sport medicine, you know?”Fuck right off, boss. You don’t get to make that call.
“Well, all right then. You just keep your mind in the middle.”
He wondered if Ace knew. He really did. The man walked a fine line between cowboys and corporate, but he did try to have their backs.
Still, once it was out, he’d have to quit, so he was admitting nothing.
Raul and Balta moved Jason off down the hall, the huge Brazilians about as subtle as, well, Bax.
“Thanks, y’all. You were welcome as the rain in spring.”
