Page 25 of Send It

Lincoln

I never thought I’d hear those words come out of his mouth and when they do, my jaw drops. He pulls me by my arm into the empty dining room and lays out a plan that seems fool proof.

Now the only challenge would be to see that plan through without fail.

It involves lying and I hate that the most. I don’t want to lie to Reiss but there’s absolutely no way he will be on board with the whole thing. Colson also hates that we were lying to him and I don’t know why he decided to do it. It’s like something switched inside him after seeing his father.

“This doesn’t change anything,” he adds. “I still don’t think it’s a good idea to blur the lines anymore. It’s strictly business.”

I nod. As much as I want Colson, I can ride and take my feelings out of it for a couple of months. It will suck but I can do it.

I want to do it for him.

If anyone deserves to go pro, it’s Colson.

The insecure part of myself begins to instantly creep into my head.

“What if I can’t do it?” I blurt. “Oh my god, Colson. What if someone realizes it’s not you out there?”

He pushes his finger against my lips, “Stop worrying. I’ll be coming back from an injury, no one will expect my best riding.”

“What about Ryan?” I plead, “He will know something is up. He’s like a blood hound.”

Colson shrugs, “I’ll handle things with Ryan. You just train with him like you normally would so nothing is out of the ordinary.”

“And what about you?” I ask. “You are just going to let people think you are coming straight out of that boot and hit the track?”

“Would you expect anything less?” he smirks.

I stare at him before agreeing, “No, you’re right.”

His face fills with a devilish grin that I swear melts my panties right off me, “Say that one more time.”

“No way, dipshit.”

He steps closer to me, “Say it, baby Bane.”

“You’re right.” I mumble.

Instantly the tension is released like a rubber band flip to the neck when Reiss enters the room. Colson steps back like he might be burned by me.

“You two in here trying to think of a way to bust out of here?” He laughs. “If I have to hear Nana Raines talk about Lincoln anymore I might vomit. That woman adores you.”

I flip my long dark hair over my shoulder, “I am adorable.”

“Yeah,” Reiss agrees. “In a feral kitten skinwalker kind of way.”

Shoving his arm I push past him, leaving Colson to hash it out with his best friend and head into the kitchen.

Dad and Colson’s dad are in deep discussion about the bikes the boys are riding for Nationals and my mom is loading the dishwasher with the plates from dinner.

“Can I help?” I ask, clearing some dishes off the counter and setting them gently in the sink. She doesn’t immediately look up but when she does, I notice her watery eyes.

“Mom,” I whisper, trying not to draw attention to her. “What’s wrong?”

The moment I acknowledge she’s upset the floodgates open and she wipes a tear from her cheek, “Nothing. It’s just hard being in this house.”

I take the dishtowel from her hand and place it on the counter next to the sink, pulling her into the bathroom around the corner and handing her some tissues.

“Why is it hard? It never has been before.”

She plops down on the toilet lid and wipes her nose.

“Kim was my best friend. It’s like we don’t even talk anymore.

It didn’t really hit me until you said something the other day, but I’m really fucking pissed off, especially for Colson.

It’s like she’s abandoned us all.” My mom doesn’t normally cuss so I know she is really upset.

“When’s the last time you saw her?” I ask, trying to remember the last time she was here .

“I think at the hospital for Colson’s surgery,” she says. “I don’t remember and that’s sad. It’s pathetic for Colson, you were right.”

I shrug, “It would be different if she called, maybe come by from time to time to check on him. Or asked him about things. She doesn’t do any of that. She’s not the Aunt Kimmy I remember growing up because the second Colson was old enough to use the microwave, she left.”

Mom nods in agreement, “I’m proud she’s off saving the turtles but she should be here saving her son sometimes too.”

I take her into a big hug, “Colson loves you, Mom. I know he’s thankful he has you in his life.”

“I love him,” Mom adds. “It’s not that I don’t want to help Colson. I’d do anything for that boy.”

“I know that and he knows that too. Have you talked to Brian about this?”

She shakes her head.

“Maybe you should,” I say. “We’re all family. Tell him how you feel.”

She straightens herself, wiping her tears and dabbing the mascara away with a tissue in the mirror. “Maybe I will.”

“It will make you feel better to get things off your chest.”

Mom eyes me through the mirror, “Are there some things you’d like to get off yours?”

I feel my cheeks heat with embarrassment and wave her off, “Nope.”

Rushing out of the bathroom before she corners me and I tell her everything like a big blabber mouth, I run straight into Reiss on the way out .

“Where are you running off to?” He says. “We’re headed to Jackson’s for another bonfire, you in?”

I stare past him and watch as Colson’s jaw tightens, practically begging me to say no.

“Yeah, let me grab my bag. I’ll ride with you.”

Reiss smiles, “Hell yeah. I gotta grab Mira on the way.”

“Ugh,” I groan. “Why?”

“Because she’s my friend?” Reiss says hesitantly and before he can say another word, Colson is strutting past us.

“I’m coming too.”