Page 25 of Tailwhip
Finally able to look at him, I say, “I missed you as well!”
Smirking at me, he says, “Just me or other parts of me!”
Shaking my head, I say, “You are being quite cocky! I would be lying if I said that I didn’t miss every part of you.”
“That’s what I thought. Phoenix, time to find a new home!”
This has me laughing at Anthony, not wanting me to use my dildo anymore! Kissing me again, we hear an “EWWWW” from our right side and notice it is Mateo and Noah, giving us a hard time.
“You guys need to get a room,” Noah says.
“Oh, we will if I can wait that long,” Anthony tells him!
Once we pull apart, I say hi to both Noah and Mateo. They are the only riders on the team that I know at this point. Anthony pulls me over to where the remaining riders are and introduces me to all of them. After that, they all spread out into the park and ride for about four hours. So far, I notice, none have even tried the vert ramp, which I don’t blame them. I would be terrified, dropping in on that thing. Neha starts her interview with Anthony, Jax, and Chase first. While watching them talking, Mateo comes over and hangs out with me for a bit. Turning toward him, I ask, “So, how are you liking the tour so far? I heard you are learning dirt.”
“Yeah, the tour has been awesome, and dirt was out of this world. It is so different from street riding.” I can see the excitement on Mateo’s face when he talks about dirt riding.
“Well, I would say you have one of the best teachers for it. Also, if I am not mistaken, Clay and Grady are both pretty good at dirt as well?”
“Yeah, they are all great, but, of course, Anthony is my favorite, and I am not saying that because he sponsors me. He has always been my favorite rider to watch.”
Mateo is quiet for a minute and Noah comes over to sit with us. At first, he’s quiet as well. Finally, he asks me a question, “Ashlynn, what is Gold Camp Road?”
Whipping my head over to him, I give him a confused look. “I heard Anthony tell Clay and Grady we are going to go up to Gold Camp Road once it gets darker out.”
I try not to freak him out, as to why I think Anthony wants to take them up there. So, I give them a little watered down version of what it is. “Gold Camp Road is a road up in the mountains that has tunnels you can drive through, and they are supposedly haunted.” “Haunted, are you kidding me? I don’t do good with scary shit.” Mateo tells Noah and I this. Thinking to myself, that’s exactly what is up Anthony’s sleeve. I try to tell him it’s not that bad, but he doesn’t look like he believes me.
After finishing up at the park, it is getting close to sundown. That means it’s time to make our way up into the mountains. Anthony comes up with his arms around my waist. “I am going to ride with you.”
As we walk toward my truck, he stops and looks over at me. “This is your truck? A lifted 4Runner?”
“You seemed shocked by this; I love 4Runners.”
Giving me that crooked smile, he says, “I have a lifted Tacoma at home!”
Neha walks by, saying, “Gag me, you two are perfect for each other!”
Putting his arm around Neha’s neck, Anthony tells her, “Same for you and Nick!”
Neha just rolls her eyes at his comment.
Once we make it to a spot to park at the tunnels, everyone gets out and looks confused for a minute until Grady and Clay look at their phones at what Anthony sent them to do to Noah and Mateo. I just think to myself, it better not completely freak Mateo out. Since it is not fully dark out yet, everyone just hangs out and opens a cooler full of beers. I am getting to know the riders a little more with Neha. I see Jax coming over to me. “So, ah, Neha is beautiful. Is she seeing anyone?”
I kind of don’t know what to say because I don’t know the situation with Nick now. Before I can even respond, Anthony tells him, “She is dating Nick Greene.”
Jax thinks for a minute, and then it hits him, “Nick Greene, the skateboarder? Your friend, right?”
I chime in, saying, “That would be the one.”
“Damn, he is a lucky dude!” With that, Jax turns and walks off.
Once Jax is gone, Anthony grabs a blanket I keep in my truck and tells me to follow him. I don’t know where we are heading, other than that we are going up the mountain. “So, you know how I never liked hiking at all? Well, one day, after a fight with my dad, I came up here and found a spot that was peaceful. It kind of became my favorite place to go to think.”
“Really, so you hiked a little to find it!” After a bit longer of going up, we come to this spot with a somewhat flat rock that I can see the city from, but cannot see where the cars are below. “This is beautiful up here–such a great view of the city!”
“It’s one of my favorite places here.” Anthony says while looking out at the city lights.
Anthony lays the blanket down so that we don’t get covered in dirt. Sitting down first with his legs straight, he pulls me onto his lap to straddle him. Hugging me to him, he whispers in my ear, “I missed you so much. How did you manage to weave yourself back into my life so fast?”