[18+]
College student Hadley Bell is eager to return home for the holidays, but there's a problem. Her ex-no. 44 Nick Baker, Professional Snocross Racer and member of the Bell Race Team, still resides under her parent's roof.
Tensions run high, and...
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Two days passed since I last saw Hadley, and I was no closer to talking to her than when she arrived.
I blamed myself. When Austin told me her boyfriend was pissed, that wasn't even half of it. According to Janelle, who I cornered just this morning when she tried avoiding me, Hadley told him everything. Not about all the shit we'd endured, but that I was her ex, and I lived in her parents' guest house. It didn't go well.
I sighed, digging fingers against the incessant throbbing in my head as I drove home.
It was never my intention to hurt her. Or ruin her holiday. As bitter as I was, I wanted Hadley to enjoy herself, her time with her family, and our friends. And I knew she was never going to be able to do that unless I was gone, but that didn't exactly work out.
I watched the highway lines speed past as I made my way home in Paul's brand new Chevy. The matching tattoo we foolishly got together glared back at me.
I promised Hadley a life. One involving both our dreams: she as a freelance photographer and videographer specializing in extreme sports and me as a Snocross racer who'd eventually retire and maybe open up a mechanic shop with the money I'd been saving, I wasn't sure at the time. And I didn't care as long as she was there.
I smirked. We discussed our future often, including where we wanted to live, and as long as we had a place of our own, Hadley didn't care. The thought of living with her parents for the rest of her life was not in the cards.
Before the news of my mother, Hadley had already made headway on YouTube and Instagram, building a portfolio while simultaneously promoting Bell racing.
According to her mother, she was a marketing major, minoring in art.
To say I was proud would be an understatement. I was ecstatic. Hadley hadn't given up on her dream. She knew what she wanted and was determined but me–
My chest weighed heavy. I'd fucking failed her. I broke my promise by not upholding my end of the bargain. I'd given up by letting my anger swallow me whole.
The stars winked to life the further from town I drove, and I wondered for a minute how we might have been if things were different.
We might have brought Janelle out to the cabin. God knew Hadley loved those trips, especially at night when the world had gone quiet, and thousands of countless stars glittered above the lake. I used to watch the excitement dance in her eyes under full moon nights when she'd make us stop in the middle of the lake, turn off the sled and listen to the cracks in the ice.
She was a fearless adventure wrapped in a small package. A glowing ember on teeth-chattering nights. My north star.
