“I cain’t see, Bax. People are gonna notice. The guys will notice. The press. I cain’t see.”
“Your eyes still track.” It kinda creeped him out, but they did. “If we’re careful, they won’t notice. We could have you on a machine by the end of the week.”
“I haven’t even figured out how to shave, yet.”
“So, we’re not asking you to go to the finals this year, Jase.” Coke still sounded so logical. “Train ‘til next season, do someVenture events to keep your status then. You can learn to do this.”
Bax held that hand, squeezing hard. “We got time. Plenty.”
“This is crazy.” Jason squeezed back. “Y’all are crazy.”
“Well, no shit. Look what we do for a living, Jase.” Coke rolled his eyes.
“He’s rolling his eyes at you, Jase. You gonna let him get away with that?” He wasn’t sure whether to bust out laughing or just cry. “We can start on the barrel, just to see what you think.”
“You’re serious, Andy?” Jason faced him, ignoring Coke altogether. “I don’t want to look like no fool.”
He reached up, tracing the lines etched next to Jason’s mouth. “I wouldn’t do this to you for nothin’, Mini. I think it’s crazy as Hell, but it’s so crazy it could work. You ride with your body, not your eyes.”
Coke cleared his throat, stood. “I’m going to take a shower, boys. Y’all talk on it, eat.” Coke met his eyes, the look knowing, sure.
“Thanks, Coke.” Nodding, Bax watched Coke go, then turned back to Jason. “You can do it.”
“Bax, I don’t know. Shit, I… I gotta sit down to pee, still. You’re talking about traveling, hotels, different arenas, all that noise.”
“No. I’m talking about going to AJ’s ranch, where we can work for a year. We can start small, work up. And I’m right here.” Goddamn, he needed Jason to believe. In himself, in Coke. In Bax.Something.
“I… You talked to AJ already?”
“No. Coke made some calls. Nate’s in. AJ’s supposed to call back when his wife gets a hold of him. She doesn’t know.” AJ wasn’t the be-all-end-all, though. They could get someone with a ranch.
“Nate, too? I… You think the sponsors’ll keep me?” Oh. Oh, hell yes. That was interest there.
“They never have to know. If it goes bad, they’ll drop you. You tell them now, though, they drop you anyway.” That was a Hell of a hook. He knew it was. Go him.
“I… You really think I could? You… You’d stand with me?”
“I’ll pull your rope, schlep your gear, and tell you what you’re seeing. I’m with you.” He didn’t know what else to say. He loved Jason beyond reason. But above all that, he believed Jason could win a title without seeing a bit.
“I… I’d try. I think. Yeah. Yeah, I’ll try.” Jason reached for his burger, fingers shaking.
“Then you’ll do it.” He moved the plate surreptitiously, putting it back where it had been, right where Jason needed it to be.
“I think so?” Shit, he hated that timidity.
“Mini. Eat your burger. You’re always a mess on an empty stomach. And Momma made lemon meringue.” Jason loved tart with his sweet.
“Oh, man. I do like that.” Jason found the burger, relaxed a little more. “This is hard, buddy. I thought about lots of things, lots of ways to get hurt, but never this.”
“I hear you.” Hell, it had never occurred to him. He’d known guys who had to learn to walk and talk again. But damn. Bax dug into his own burger, chuckling at how well done it was. It did his heart good to see Mini eat, to see Jason rest and just sort of be for a second. It was the first time that hard face had relaxed since the accident, and man, Bax reveled in it. Coke came in, smelling like Old Spice, and Bax grinned at him.
“You gonna eat with us, old man? We’re a go.”
“You know it.” Coke clapped Jason on the shoulder, grinning ear to ear. “That’s the Jason I know. Brave fucker.”
“Yes, sir.” He handed Jason a napkin, tapping his free hand with it. “Right side. Mustard.”
“Thanks.” Jason wiped his mouth, the whiskers there heavier than he’d ever seen. “Y’all are going to get tired of helping me.”
