“Let’s go see Mom.” Rick led the way into the hospital. Infantry leads the way.
Chapter Twenty-Six - Coop
Race Day
Nate qualified without an issue. He actually did really well. Coop threw his arm over Nate’s shoulder when he joined them with their mechanic in the pit. “Great job, Nate. Just remember, next time you get on the track, it’s going to be a little different. Heavier ruts and you know…” Coop waved his other hand toward the track they’d just left.“But you didn’t have to go through LCQ, so that’s a bonus.” LCQ was the acronym for Last Chance Qualifier. If you didn’t finish in the top qualifying spots, you got one more shot at getting into the mains. Thankfully, Nate finished fast enough to get an automatic pass through. “The two mains are going to be tough, though. The track will keep changing and you have to adapt. Finding alternate lines on the track isn’t something I can teach, but maybe I can help you remember to think about it more.”
“Got it.” They talked about how the ruts would continue to get bigger throughout the day. At the outside track, built on natural terrain, there wasn’t a ton the crew could do about it either, but it was part of the sport.
After their conversation, Nate went to grab some food and to hydrate. He also needed to get on the stationary bike to keep warmed up. The bigger 450 bikes were finishing up qualifying, and then it would be Nate’s turn again. It was strange to Coop how he was so interested and focused when he wasn’t even racing.
He took a moment to text Rick.
You’re on my mind. How you doin? Love you.
He got a thumbs up before a written reply.Julia is keeping me together right now. But it’s good. Can’t wait to see you tomorrow. Love you too.
Coop wondered if Rick would actually tell him how bad it was before he got there. Rick was probably holding back, not wanting to upset Coop’s day. He loved the man for it, but he also wished Rick would tell him everything. Nothing he could do now. He’d find out tomorrow.
In the meantime, it was nearly race time, and he needed to find Johnny or Gavin to find the best spot to watch from. As he looked toward the big semi-truck parked behind the pit, where they kept all their equipment and extra parts, Johnny came around the corner with two tablets in hand. “Just who I was looking for. Here.” He handed one to Coop.
“What’s this?”
“No matter where you are on the track, you’re going to miss something. I figured that one out a couple of years ago.” He sounded proud of it, and knowing his history, Coop could understand. It would be like Rick following him around a moto circuit, not understanding any of it, and trying hard to follow along. “So…” Johnny shook his tablet. “This will let you see what you would otherwise miss. There are a few good spots to see a lot of the track. Gavin will take you there, but when they’re in blind spots, drone coverage will show you what you would have missed.”
“Gotta love technology.”
“Yep.”
Gavin walked up and kissed the side of Johnny’s head. They were good together. Gavin had the typical small but fit build of a moto-racer. In fact, he had raced years ago until a bad wreck took him out. Now he managed this team with Johnnyby his side. Johnny was an accountant and looked the part. He wore glasses, and out here in the heat, prescription sunglasses. He had a goofy smile and seemed quite endearing. Though not Coop’s type.
“Come on, Coop. Let’s go see how your boy does.” Gavin gestured toward where they were prepping the bike for him. Nate swung his leg over the seat and one of the mechanics got on the back.
“Give ‘em hell, Nate. You got this.” Coop jogged over and gave Nate a fist bump before they rode off toward the starting gates. Meanwhile, Gavin walked him out to the viewing spot on the track.
Nate did not get the holeshot, but no one had expected him to be first off the gate. The next few laps, he ran in sixth before falling to seventh. Then eighth. But that was actually fantastic as far as expectations for a new racer went. If he finished in the top ten, it would be better than expected. But somewhere a little over halfway through the race, he shifted into gear. Coop didn’t know if Nate had caught a second wind or simply figured out the track, but he passed a few guys, getting back up to sixth.
Everyone met back at the pit, and Coop handed Johnny his tablet before rushing over to Nate and giving him a huge hug. “Fantastic, man.”
“Thanks, Coop. Everything you told me finally sank in. Think I’ll have a better finish in the second moto.” At these outdoor events, you raced twice, adding up your placement with the lowest score winning the day.
“That would be awesome, but sixth for your first race is fucking unreal, dude.”
Nate shrugged it off a little, but Cooper could tell he was proud, his confidence boosted. And it showed on the track. He finished fourth in the second race.
On the way back to the pit, Gavin took the tablet from Coop and looked at it. “He did really well, Coop. I could not be more pleased. And a lot of that is due to you.”
“I don’t know about—”
“No, seriously. I’d like you to continue coaching Nate. I’m not sure about logistics or your race season, but we could work out something.”
“Yeah? Maybe.”
“Can you come to the practice track Tuesday to help?”
“No. Probably not. My partner, Rick, is having a family emergency right now. That’s why my flight is so early tomorrow. I have to go be with him.” Coop felt desperate, his heart pounding and hands sweating. He needed to be there for Rick. After everything they’d been through, and how much Rick had supported him, there was no way he wasn’t going to be there for his man.
“I understand. There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for Johnny.” Gavin gave me a wink. “Call Johnny when you get home. You have his number, right?”
