Going Full Throttle

Chapter 44

"Ty, I can't do this," I groaned as I hid my face behind my hands.

"What's stopping you?" he asked with a blend of exasperation and humour in his voice. He'd had his phone trained on me for half an hour now, but every time he hit record, I froze up.

I flopped back on the bed and shrugged. "I don't know, it just doesn't feel right. I keep thinking that people are going to see this then I can't relax."

"Bambi quit being a baby," he laughed. "You agreed that this was a good idea."

"Temporary insanity?" I offered unconvincingly.

"Or you're just a big ol' chicken," Tyler sassed as he perched on the end of my bed, putting his phone down on the comforter.

"This isn't something I'm used to doing while I'm on display." I flopped against my pillow and let my arms bounce softly on the mattress. Tyler climbed over top of me, popping into my vision as I stared up at the roof.

"Hi," he smirked down at me.

"Go away," I pouted.

Tyler leaned down and kissed my pout. "Not a chance. If you really don't want to do it, we don't have to. I just thought you wanted to."

"I do," I insisted even though my voice didn't sound sure. "It's just... normally when I sing, it's not to put on a show. I feel like I can't remember the words, or I'm going to do something weird with my hands."

"I know the feeling," Tyler nodded understandingly. I raised my brows curiously and he added. "Do I look like I naturally do interviews well? Plus, I know it's different, but when we go on tour, it is kind of a show. We have to amp the crowd up. Sometimes I feel like a goof."

"So, how do you push through?"

"The money is worth the embarrassment," Tyler grinned. I shot him a withering look and he added more seriously, "I remind myself that there is a world of talented people out there. So why did I end up where I am and they didn't?"

"I don't know," I shrugged, "Why?"

Tyler leaned down and kissed my nose then said, "Because Bambi, they didn't try."

I sighed, knowing he'd gotten me. "Fine," I groaned. "But I can't do it here. It doesn't feel natural."

Tyler thought over my request then nodded. He stood from the bed and held out his hand to help me up behind him.

"Where are we going," I asked as he pulled me out of the cabin.

"You'll see."

We went to the break in the bushes between my cabin and the Thompsons. Twyla and Beau sat together on the wicker couch as they watched Finn and Petey play catch.

"Hey Twy," Tyler called. "Do you mind if we run away for like an hour or so?"

"No problem," Twyla waved us away.

"Seriously," I laughed, "What are we doing?"

Tyler pulled me out of view then leaned his shoulder into my hips and flipped me up. I shrieked as the world turned upside down and I draped helplessly over Tyler's back. I jolted when a large firm hand landed on my bum.

"Shhh or Finn is going to think we're having fun for five seconds without him," Tyler chuckled as he walked into the front yard.

Tyler dropped me on my feet in front of our shed and I wavered on my feet. He gripped my hips until the world stopped spinning, then opened the shed.

I raised a brow at him when he walked out a moment later pushing his dirt bike. He shot me a playful grin then beamed, "Let's go for a ride."

I carried the helmets while Tyler pushed the bike out onto the road. There was no way Finn would hear the engine and not come running. That kid was straight up obsessed with dirt biking these days.