A song comes on that makes my chest ache. I was listening to this same song the first time I saw Avery. I wasn’t sure who she was, all dressed up in that cute skirt like some kind of young lawyer. It was easy to see that she was beautiful back then, but I’d had no idea the effect she’d have on me. How she’d turn my entire world around, and make me care about something other than motocross. Other than myself.
It’s so much easier only caring about yourself.
I pull my phone from my pocket and change the song. Today is officially the day I need to get on with my life and stop thinking about Avery. My flight home is in a few hours, and I’ll finally be done with this stupid training camp crap that Marcus cooked up to make Team Loco look good. I’ll have the next week alone, just me and my surfboard and my small studio apartment on the coast of California.
Then, next Friday is Jett’s big Christmas party. I’ve gone every year since I met Jett, and it’s something of a tradition now. His dad, Jace Adams, is a former professional motocross racer who gave it all up to raise his son. They own one of the most badass tracks in the country, a dirt bike facility called The Track in Lawson, Texas. There’s three full-size motocross tracks out there, two supercross tracks, and several smaller ones for the little kids. They hold lessons and parties and all kinds of stuff.
Their Christmas parties are amazing. There’s tons of food that’s catered in and an amazing array of desserts that are all cute and Christmas-themed. Keanna and Jett’s mom always make the desserts every year from recipes they find online. It’s a blast hanging out at their place. I spent three days over there last Christmas season. The Adams have a way of making you feel like family, which is something I’ve never felt anywhere else.
But this year Avery will be there. Now that she’s a part of the team, Keanna and the rest of them have embraced her, so of course they’ll invite her to the party. It’s not a Team Loco sponsored event, but she’ll be going as a friend. Maybe I should just stay home this year and join up with the team in January when the new racing season starts.
Before long, I’ve jogged straight to the stadium that we held the training camp in yesterday. There’s still Team Loco information on the billboard outside of it. An arenacross race is happening this weekend and some of the arenacross people are here, getting ready for it.
I stop near a bench and catch my breath. I’ve been running for half an hour straight I’m covered in sweat, despite the chilly temperature.
“Clay Summers,” a voice says from beside me.
I pull out one earbud and turn around, internally groaning because I have no desire to sign autographs at six in the morning. But the man walking up to me is probably not a fan wanting an autograph. It’s more like the other way around, and if I were thirteen years old again I’d be asking for his autograph.
It’s Dylan Baker.TheDylan Baker, three-time motocross champion and six-time supercross champion from way back in the day. Man, this guy is my idol. He retired around the time Jett’s dad became famous, but he still shows up at races and does a lot of sponsorships with his own company he started that sells motocross gear. His son, Tony Baker, races professionally too.
“Mr. Baker,” I say, pulling out the other earbud and shoving them in my pocket. “It’s good to see you.”
I’ve met him a few times, but it’s not like we’re friends or anything. He smiles and shakes my hand. “I thought I recognized you. What are you doing out here so early?”
“I head back home in a few hours. Just thought I’d go for a run to combat the boredom.”
“I feel you,” he says with a nod. “I’m here for the arenacross races. They asked me to be an announcer.”
We chat a little bit, and I’ll admit, I’m a little starstruck. Dylan had the perfect motocross career. He never missed a race. He never got injured. Even now, when he’s nearing fifty years old and has been retired for a while, he’s still a big part of the motocross scene. Most old guys retire and are never seen again, but he found a way to keep motocross in his life forever. That’s exactly what I want to do.
“Hey, man,” I say wiping sweat off my brow. “I don’t mean to sound like some lunatic fan, you but are seriously my idol. You have a flawless racing record, and ever since I was a kid I’ve been determined to follow your footsteps.” I grin. “I haven’t missed a race, ever.”
Dylan smiles back, but there’s a pained look in his eyes. “Well son, I’ll tell you something. Motocross isn’t everything.”
I lift an eyebrow. “Surely it is. I mean, it’s everything that’s worth a damn. I spend every second of my life putting motocross first. Just like you. Seriously, man you’re my idol. Tony is so lucky to have a dad like you.” I know I’m laying it on thick and I’m a little embarrassed, but I can’t help myself. It’s Dylan freaking Baker.
He sighs and stares out at the stadium in front of us. The edges of a sunrise are peeking up over the large domed roof. “Let me give you some advice. You got a girlfriend?”
I shake my head, even as thoughts of Avery prickle at my heart. “No time for one.”
He looks disappointed in my answer. “I figured as much.”
“What’s that have to do with anything?”
Dylan focuses on the horizon. He takes a minute, like he’s trying to work out what he wants to say. Fear shoots up my spine. Does he think I don’t have what it takes to be a racer like him?
“Listen, Clay. You need a girlfriend. You need something else besides motocross, because when you get old like me, you’ll realize there really is more to life than the sport we love. I lost my wife, and my son to this sport.”
“Tony?” I ask, taken aback. Tony is a professional racer too—how could he have lost someone who followed in his footsteps?
Dylan nods. “I put motocross first. I got married because she was cute and she liked me, and then I left her at home for months at a time while I traveled the country. We had a kid that worshipped me until he got old enough to realize I didn’t care about him, or her. I mean, I wanted to—I love them—but I let motocross control my entire life.”
He drags a hand down his face and shakes his head slowly. “If I could do it all over again, I’d have taken time off. I’d have been there for her so she would have stayed. But she didn’t—she left me. Tony hates me. I think he only races motocross to spite me. He hasn’t talked to me in years. And my wife…” He takes a deep breath and looks over at me. “She didn’t want the house. She didn’t want half of my money or anything. She just wanted a man who would love her, and she found one. It wasn’t me.”
“I’m sorry,” I say. “But maybe your mistake was getting married in the first place. I’m single. I always will be.”
Dylan shakes his head. “Nah, man. You need to lose that way of thinking. There’s so much more to life than the sport. Motocross might not always be there for you. You need something more than that. I saw your interview the other day and you said you’ve been on your own since you were a teenager—Man, you need to change that.”
