Chapter 8
Hadley
“Un-fuckin’-believable.” I rip my hat from my head. It hits the rail and falls into the dirt. How the hell do I end up on a shit bull, a left spinner, on the one night the scouts are back?
Iliterallycan’t catch a break.
“Dammit!”
A throat clears behind me. A soft, elegant sound that doesn’t belong back here in the dirt, shit, and chaos. I spin back to find Maggie, camera in hand.
“I said no photos,” I snap.
She takes a step forward. “Well, actually. I thought about that. In light of the scouts being here, maybe you should?”
She looks . . . genuinely concerned?
“What do you mean?”
“Knox was saying?—”
“Yeah, that’s all I need to know. So, no thanks.”
I turn back to the rail to restart my wrist. Looks like I’ll be needing all the reinforcement I can get.
“Hadley. How are you going to make it onto a team if nobody knows you’re here? You need to remind them.”
I let my arms hang by my side and turn back to her. “What are you talking about?”
“Knox”—she holds up a hand, insisting I hear her out—“said the more coverage you have, the bigger the sponsors.”
“I don’t have sponsors.”
She tilts her head, pinching the bridge of her nose as she closes her eyes like she’s trying to explain the meaning of life to a toddler.
“No, but the more you are photographed, the more exposure, the more on the radar you are. You getting it?”
She’s trying to help me?
“I get it.” It’s a deadpan response. “Why would you want to help me?” I rest my hands on my hips, dipping my head so our eyes meet.
“I—I... To repay you for stopping for me?”
“You don’t sound real sure.”
She sighs. “Forget it.”
As she turns to walk away, I snap out a hand and grab her wrist. Her tiny fucking wrist with skin so soft, hand so fine, I feel like my grip might snap her. Something like a buzzing current travels through my hand when my touch meets her skin.
I drop it and she cradles her wrist to her chest. Shit, did I actually hurt her?
“I could use your help,” I grind out.
She frowns, shifting on her feet. “I don’t understand.”
“Sorry, I thought you were offering.”
“No, I am. I’ll help you, but what I can’t piece together is why Kade made the cut and you didn’t.”
