Page 4 of Send It

Colson

For the record, I would never physically hurt Lincoln intentionally. I didn’t know that she would react so slowly that she’d ram into my bike and send herself flying. I just wanted to slow her down, because I needed to help Reiss secure the win.

She’s a good rider, and could’ve probably beaten her brother, but I will never tell her that. Or Reiss for that matter.

All that this sport wants to do with her is chew her up and spit her out, that’s why most of the girls fizzle out before ever having the chance to go pro.

The guys are brutal and when you’re on the track, gender doesn’t matter.

The thought of someone hurting Lincoln and me and Reiss not being able to help her drives me insane.

It’s not happening.

I can tell you the exact moment that I fell in love with Lincoln Bane.

I remember it like it was yesterday. There are moments like that, moments that change everything.

I was sixteen and Lincoln was fourteen. I had just gotten my driver’s license, and basically thought I was king dick.

I walked around with that set of car keys like I was on top of the world.

For the first time in a long time, I felt free.

My parents were never the type to hang around with me.

Trust me, they make it known that they never wanted any kids.

I was an obvious accident, and the second I got those car keys I felt some freedom.

I didn’t need them as much, and my parents started taking trips.

It was the beginning of a lonely few years, I just didn’t know it at the time.

Anyway, Kate, Lincoln and Reiss’ mom, called me and said that their dad had been in an accident at the track.

I got in my car and drove to the hospital, where I found Reiss and Lincoln sitting in the waiting room.

I didn’t really know what to expect because this sport comes with risks.

It’s almost inevitable. It’s hard to know whether you’re walking into a broken collarbone or a traumatic brain injury.

The anxiety that Lincoln always felt watching her dad race was almost suffocating for her.

She would hold my hand the entire race, and sometimes even close her eyes, which is why her racing herself means she’s come a long way with the fear.

Or maybe she doesn’t feel it for herself, just the people she loves.

Either way, I walked into the hospital waiting room and the look on her face broke me. She needed me. I sat there with her until her dad was released. Luckily it was only a broken wrist and a concussion, but when the time came, she chose to ride home with me.

Reiss stayed to help his dad, and for the first time in a long time, I was alone with Lincoln.

I drove her home and we sat in her driveway.

She hesitated to get out, and I watched as she fidgeted her hands in her lap.

Her long dark hair was straight down her back, not her usual ponytail, and the jeans she was wearing hugged her hips like I wanted to.

I sat there staring at this girl that I’d known for most of my life and my whole world shifted. I wanted to kiss her goodnight.

The feeling was so foreign, I wasn’t sure what to do with it. If Reiss hadn’t pulled into the driveway seconds later, who knows what would’ve happened. He reminded me of something very important, that the beautiful girl sitting next to me was my best friend's baby sister.

Lincoln was off- limits. She’d always be off-limits.

That’s when Lincoln went from Linc to baby Bane.

The nickname reminded me that not only was she two years younger than me, but she was a Bane.

I needed that reminder nearly every day.

“Why did you tell my dad about my hip?” She asks, slamming the door of my truck, but instead of arguing, I just ignore her.

“Wow,” she scoffs. “Ignoring me. Real mature, Colson.”

I shoot her a death glare, and start the engine. “I just don’t want to fight with you right now.”

She laughs. “That’s funny, considering you always want to argue with me.”

I turn to her and smile, “My favorite past-time.”

She groans and crams her airpods in her ears, no doubt trying to block me out.

We pull into the parking lot of the orthopedic doctor’s office and she wastes no time getting out and heading inside, but if she thinks I’m just gonna sit out here she’s crazy.

I follow behind her and laugh when the receptionist sees her, “Oh no, Lincoln. I’m never happy to see you here.”

She sighs, “I’m fine, everyone is just overreacting.”

Raising a brow, she responds, “Let’s let Dr. Marlow be the judge of that, heh?”

“Good idea, Nikki. Good to see you.” I charm, sliding in.

“Colson! I haven’t seen you since last summer, how have you been? How’s the leg?”

“Like I never broke it. Besides, all the screws and plates attract the ladies.”

She giggles, and Lincoln rolls her dark eyes at me.

“If you keep rolling your eyes like that they’re gonna get stuck.”

She doesn’t even humor me, and takes a seat. After a few minutes, the nurse appears.

“Lincoln Bane,” she calls. “Good to see you, follow me.”

We make it to a room and the nurse takes Lincoln back for an x-ray, before Dr. Marlow comes in. Meanwhile, I sit in the room and wait.

I haven’t been here since I broke my leg last year. It was an entire season of no riding. It fucking sucked.

The surgery sucked, the rehab sucked. It all sucked.

Lincoln comes back into the room and we wait in complete awkward silence until Dr. Marlow finally comes in.

“Good news, Linc. It’s just a nasty bruise. ”

“Told you,” she spits in my direction. “It’s just a bruise.”

Dr. Marlow can sense the tension in the room. “You need to rest, no training for two weeks.”

She gasps, “What!”

“Good call, Doc.” I smile, ready to drag Lincoln out of the room before she gets hateful with the best ortho doctor in the city. If something does happen to her in the future, we don’t need him refusing to treat her because she hit him.

She starts to argue but I basically drag her out of the room before she gets the chance.

Dr. Marlow shouts in our direction, “Lincoln, tell your dad I said hi!”

Which makes her even more angry. She gets back in my truck and slams the door even harder than she did earlier.

“This is fucking ridiculous,” she spits. “I need to be on the track.”

I shake my head, “You need to give it a rest.”

“Easy for you to say, asshat.”

She turns and grabs her seatbelt, yanking it so hard it locks and won’t pull out. She yanks it again even harder and it locks again.

Finally I chuckle, causing her to turn around and elbow me in the shoulder. “Shut up.”

“I need to go back and meet Ryan at the track, but first I’m going by Willow Hills.”

Willow Hills is the nursing home where my Nana lives. She’s basically all I have in this town. The last time I saw her she wasn’t doing too well.

Lincoln doesn’t do anything but nod, and when we get there she doesn’t offer to get out.

“Just come in,” I say. “I don’t know how long she’ll want to talk. Plus, no one visits her but me, so it’ll be nice for her to see a new face.”

Surprisingly, for what might be the first time in three years, she doesn’t argue with me.

She’s met my Nana a couple other times when we were little, before she got to a place where she couldn’t take care of herself. What’s sad is that she probably won’t even recognize Lincoln.

I follow Lincoln in, trying my best to pry my eyes away from her swaying hips. Hips I should not be looking at.

“Colson, is that you?” My Nana asks as we walk into her room. “Forgive me dear, you know my eyes are bad.”

“Yeah, Nana it’s me. I brought a friend.”

She studies us for a second, before speaking. “I know who you are, young lady, you’re the Bane girl. Reiss’ sister.”

I’m actually a little shocked.

“Yep,” Lincoln says, sweetly leaning in to give her a hug. “I’m Lincoln.”

My Nana smiles, taking us both in before letting Lincoln’s hand go. “Colson talks about you sometimes. You are just as pretty as he said.”

My heart sinks down into the pit of my stomach when Lincoln’s head shoots my way.

Way to sell me out, Nana.