“You’re right. I'll try, promise,” I said as I reached for my ax, looking over the blade. Running my fingers over it, I felt a small chip and flipped it to look at the other side, making a mental note to sharpen it later.
“Are we gonna chip some wood, or are you gonna love on that blade a little more?” Ryan raised an eyebrow looking over at me.
I grumbled under my breath and took a step toward him.
“Watch that blade. Ya look like you want to hit me with it,” he grinned.
“Ya think?” I sat it on the log I would be working on and reached back to pull my shirt over my head. Dropping it to the ground, I hopped on the log and waited for Ryan to tell me to go. I stood there waiting, but he didn't say anything. I looked up to find him looking over my shoulder. When I turned, Emmy was standing there watching us, cup of coffee in her hand, hip against the railing.
“Mornin,’” Ryan waved at her. I wanted to punch him in the chest.
I nodded my head at her before turning back around. I watched Ryan walk around me and then over to her. They started to chat, and I just stood there. I knew I should walk over and say hi, but I felt like after she ripped me apart this morning, maybe that wasn't the best idea. Rocking back and forth, I went through my movements and practiced in my head. I thought about where my mistakes were and mentally tried to fix them. I was so deep in thought that I didn't hear them when they walked over. Ryan was saying something to her, but I was so lost in thought, I couldn't have told you what he was saying if my life had depended on it.
“Luke,” he said.
I kind of heard him, but I was in a daze.
“LUKE!” he shouted less than a foot from my face.
“WHAT?” I barked back.
He nodded in Emmy’s direction, and I pulled back when I saw her take a step away, clearly thinking I was barking at her.
“I'm sorry I yelled at you this morning. I deserved that.” She said quietly.
“No, that wasn't meant for you. It was meant for numbnuts,” I pointed at Ryan who had the nerve to smirk at me. I still wanted to hit him. That must be a record for the first twenty minutes of our day.
“It's okay.” She shrugged.
“It really isn't. I should be the one apologizing. I’ll try to pay more attention to your schedule. I forget that everyone doesn’t sleep like Ryan. He sleeps like a log.”
“It's fine. I'll get used to it. But right now, I’m going to get some breakfast. I’ll just take a nap when you two are finished out here.” She smiled and then looked to Ryan. “I'll see you later, Ryan.” She turned and walked away. I watched her as she made her way over to the railing, picked up her coffee cup, and walked into her house. I whipped my body around, laser-focused on Ryan.
“You just can't help yourself, can you?”
“I have no idea what you are talking about nor what you may be implying.” Ryan squinted up at me.
“Why would you bring her over here?”
“Dude, I just went to say hi, and she asked if I thought she should apologize for yelling at you. I told her to do what she felt she needed to do.”
“I didn't need an apology. I just wanted to get a workout in before you have to be at work, and now we’ve lost twenty minutes.”
“What crawled up your ass and died? Don't be an asshat. We’re just going through the motions at this point, chill.”
“I need to have a good showing, as do you,” I pointed out.
“Look, I know this is important, and you want to win it all, but the title isn't as important to me. Me? I’ve found what I need in that wood shop in town. I want to compete cause you're my man, but I'm not doing it to follow in my father's footsteps like you.”
“So you're saying you don't want to compete anymore?”
“No, I'm saying that win or lose, I do it for the competition of it and to have fun. If we win awesome, but if not, that's okay too.”
“I know, and you also know that this will probably be the last year I do this. My furniture is taking off, and I have to have time to make real money. The competition money is good, but we spend most of it traveling. It doesn't pay the bills. This is my last chance.”
“I know. That’s why I’m here. But you don’t need to worry about the bills, dude. You'll always have a job at the mill. Dad has already talked about retiring, and I'll need your help.”
“If you need me, you know I’m there. No questions asked. Now, stop screwin’ around and help me practice.” I shoved him out of the way, and we set up to get a few runs in.