Page 50 of Broken
“Syd does it too, he’s been riding since he was a baby. Kris took him out all the time. I told you, they do everything together, this is what they love.”
“Is that Syd, holding her hand.” Katherine turns to look over there.
“Yes. Come meet them.” She nods for me to follow her. We still haven’t told McKenna that I’m her father yet, right now, I’m just West, an old friend of Momma’s. Which is fine, but I want more. I haven’t even kissed Katherine since that first day. I’ve been here three days and I feel like I’m being held at a distance.
“Kris, this is West.” She announces as we step up to the group. “West, this is Kris.”
He holds out a hand and I shake it. We exchange nice to meet yous and then my attention moves to McKenna who pulls on my shorts. “This is Syd!” She nearly shouts at me.
I squat down, “Hi Syd.” I say holding my hand out for him to take. He does and bows his head respectfully. “Nice to meet you.”
“You too sir.” Syd says, turning his attention back to McKenna. I stand up and look at Kris and Katherine as they carry on a conversation.
“Yeah, I figured you’d want to train her at the house first, so she’ll know what to do out here.” Katherine says.
“For sure. She’s gotta get better control over her balance before I’ll let her off the Strider.” Kris says. “You guys gonna watch me race?” He asks.
“Heckya!” McKenna shouts.
“My tent is down over there, they’ll let you in, they always do. Take Syd back with you.” Kris grabs his helmet and takes off running down the side of the track.
“Come on kiddos.” Katherine holds her hand out and McKenna takes it, then grabs Syd’s hand with her other one.
I follow them, watching everything around us. There are people dancing to music, crowds watching different events, and people lined up for beer. We make our way to a tent, really it’s just four poles with a top next to an enclosed trailer, which I’m assuming is what he stores his bikes in.
“Kat!” A woman shouts, and comes over to hug her. McKenna and Syd move over to their little chairs that are already set up to watch the race.
After their hug, the woman looks at me, I probably look like a sore thumb, sticking out to everyone around here. “This is him?” She asks.
“Yes.” Katherine laughs. “This is West.”
“Well, hello West. I’m Kindra, Kris’ girlfriend. Welcome to the sand dunes!” She bends over and pulls a can out of the white cooler. She cracks it open and takes a drink. “We’ve got beers in there. You’re welcome to some.”
“You guys staying all day and night?” Kindra asks Katherine.
“We’ll stay for a while. Depends on if McKenna gets cranky or not.” She laughs.
“Girl, you know she lives for this life.”
“Yes, I’m aware.” Kat states, bending over to grab a beer from the cooler. She pulls a black sleeve out of her pocket and pushes the beer into it, cracking it open. “We’re here all day, West, enjoy yourself.” She puts the beer to her lips and fuck it. I guess I’m drinking beer.
After a few minutes, there’s some loud announcement and everyone moves to line up at the edge of the track. I look down the track to see several people lined up on bikes, helmets on and they look like they’re about to race.
When the race starts the crowd goes fucking nuts. I watch the only person I know up there take off and get the lead first. They fly by us, the dirt or sand flicking everywhere as they hit the turn. My heart is thundering watching them. This is exciting and so very different from my life.
When the race ends Katherine, Kindra, Syd, and McKenna all scream for Kris, who just won. They all run down, and I’m on their heels to keep up making our way to him. Kindra jumps into his arms placing a kiss on his lips.
The night continues on, the sun has gone down and now there’s a huge bonfire we’re all gathered around. Half of us are wasted, and Bailey has found her way back. I can’t lie and say that I didn’t have fun, because if I’m honest, I haven’t had this much fun since the summer Katherine and I traveled. I’ve been mister stick in the mud since then. Only focusing on my school work, until Hilary gave me something to try to find happiness in.
But in this moment, as Katherine sits in my lap, laughing with her friends, I realize that there’s no fucking way I could ever go back to the life I lived before. I want all of this, the insanity of the sand dunes, the crazy woman who owns a tattoo shop, and the dangerous little girl who wants to race dirt bikes.
Chapter Twenty One
Katherine
Memorial Weekend has ended and it’s time to go back to reality. Back to facing the truths that I’ve hidden from all weekend keeping us busy so we didn’t have to talk about any of it.
Westley sleeps soundly on the bed next to me, it’s like four in the morning, so I’m not surprised he’s asleep. I stare down at him, the moonlight hitting his face perfectly. The small hairs growing on his jaw, I’ve never seen him unshaven. He’s always kept it clean cut, and if I’m honest, I'd love to climb on top of him and ride his face, feeling the beard against my skin.