I pulled off my helmet and threw it as I yelled out in pure excitement.
Hank, one of the bullfighters, came up and slapped me on the back. “Best ride I’ve seen from you in a long time, dude!”
Smiling, I nodded and replied, “Thanks, man.”
When I glanced up and saw my score, I let out a loud-as-hell “Yee-haw!”
Ninety.
Making my way through the gate, I got the usual pats on the back, the handshakes, and the “You kicked ass” comments from the other riders.
Dirk stood there, a huge smile on his face. “Looks like you showed him.”
I winked. “Now it’s your turn, dickhead.”
“We’re going to celebrate tonight.”
I nodded, seeing the sports reporter and camera crew headed my way. “Later,” I said as Dirk looked and laughed while he slapped my back.
After a quick interview, I made my way to the lockers to call Blayze. I didn’t normally do that, but I had the urge to talk to him after my conversation with Ty.
“Daddy! You won! You won!”
Laughing, I replied, “I just got the eight seconds, buddy. I haven’t won yet.”
“But you will,” he declared.
I loved how he thought I could do anything. In his eyes, I could never fail.
I hated that, someday, he’d learn the truth about what I had done to his mother. He’d never forgive me then, never think of me as the superhero who always saved the day.
“From your lips, buddy.”
“Uncle Ty said you got lucky.”
I rolled my eyes. “You tell Uncle Ty to go eat some soap because he tells lies.”
Blayze laughed. “Daddy! I met a pwetty lady!”
My stomach dropped. Since when had my son started noticing women as pretty? He was five. They should still be gross, shouldn’t they? “You met a what?”
“Grams says she’s our new neighbor. She’s pwetty!”
“Blayze, darlin’, let me talk to your daddy now.”
“But, Grams, Daddy called to talk to me.”
My heart started to beat a little faster. He’s growing up quicker than I realized.
“Buddy, let me talk to Grams real quick, and then we’ll finish talking.” I started pacing. I knew I needed to be back at the chutes to help Dirk.
“Hey, honey. Good ride.”
“Mama, since when does he notice girls are pretty? I didn’t think that shit happened for another few years.”
She chuckled. “Calm down, Brock. He’s a little boy, and he’s bound to notice a pretty girl.”
I sighed and ran my fingers through my hair. “Yeah. It just feels like he’s growing up so fast.”
“He is.”
There was no doubt I could hear the sadness in her voice. It mirrored the sadness I felt in the middle of my chest. I don’t know what in the hell I’m doing anymore.
Mom went on talking. “Lincoln stopped by to drop something off that she’d found in one of the closets. She said it was in a hidden compartment that she’d stumbled on. It’s a box, and I think it belonged to Kaci.”
My breath caught in my throat. “What?”
“Lincoln said it was in the largest bedroom. I guess she’s making it into a master and taking the wall out to expand it for a bathroom.”
Irrational anger ripped through me. “She’s knocking down walls? What in the hell?”
“Brock, you sold the house. You didn’t want it . . . remember?”
I sighed.
“Anyway, Blayze was out playing in the tree when I ran into the house to move the laundry, and he got excited when he saw her. He fell from the tree, but he’s okay. We thought maybe he sprained his wrist, but the doctor said he’s fine. Nothing a bit of ice and rest won’t fix.”
“What was she doing talking to a kid all alone, anyway?”
“Brock Shaw, you do not talk like that. You don’t even know this woman. Don’t be so mean.”
Glancing at the clock, I said, “Let me talk to Blayze. I’ve got to get going.”
Without another word, she put my son back on the line.
“Daddy! I took a picture with the pwetty new neighbor. I’ll send it to you!”
I smiled. Good Lord, he had Shaw blood running through him, that was for sure. “Now, don’t be going and falling in love, buddy. You’ve got to keep your options open for kindergarten.”
“Gwoss!” Blayze shouted.
A little sense of relief washed over me that he still thought girls were gross. “Listen, I’ve got to go help Uncle Dirk get ready to ride. I love you, buddy. I’ll see you soon, okay?”
“Okay, Daddy! I wove you too!”
I hit end and made my way out of the lockers and back to the chutes. A few people stopped me along the way to congratulate me on the ride; then my phone buzzed in my pocket.
Shit. I’d forgotten to leave it in my locker. I pulled it out, came to a stop, and stared down at the picture I knew for a fact my boy hadn’t sent. If he had learned how to send pictures in a text message, I was in trouble.