𝑺𝒖𝒏𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒆

𝑪𝑯𝑨𝑷𝑻𝑬𝑹 𝟕

-𝑴𝑶𝑹𝑮𝑨𝑵-

I had already talked to James yesterday. It was now Sunday and race day. James told me it was okay for me to feel this way and he said that if I wanted to quit I could stop whenever I wanted. If it was right away or 2 more races or anything. I thanked him afterwards. I would go home tomorrow morning and think about what to do. I think it's best to just quit directly. Hadley doesn't have to do a lot of extra work because most of the hard things she did herself already. I only had to tell George and Alex before they would find out. The race had finished by now. Alex had ended the race in a DNF and he wasn't happy with it. I could understand that though. I knocked on his door and a soft mumble came from inside. I opened the door and looked at him trying to give him a soft comforting smile.

"Hey. Can I talk to you for a sec? It's uhm... important."

"Sure what is it?"

He looked up from his phone and into my eyes. I closed the door and leaned against it as I sighed a little bit.

"I decided to quit Alex."

"Quit?"

"Quit being a PR agent. It's not for me. I need to be on a farm surrounded with animals. That's my happy place. Not on some different circuit every week. I don't even like traveling with a plane that much. I'm barley home and well... I just miss home. It's peaceful there."

"So you're leaving me after this season huh."

"After today..."

"Sorry what? This is your last day as well?!"

"Yes I'm sorry but James and I only talked yesterday about it but I don't want to continue it I just... I'm losing my spark slowly."

"I understand what you mean..."

He nodded softly as he looked away.

"It's not because of you alright. I thing you're great but this world... not for me. I have to stay true to myself... I can't stay just because of George, Hadley and you."

"That wouldn't be fair to you sunshine."

"No hard feelings?"

"I could never have hard feelings with you. You're sunshine remember."

He smiled at me with his teeth for the first time as he walked into my direction. We hugged each other gently.

"Hi I am gonna miss you."

"Same Albon."

"Surname? Really?"

"Yes."

We both laughed a little before we went to the media pen together for one last time. Alex had been noticeably happy lately and even the media had noticed it. I smiled at myself softly. He started to enjoy the little things again. I was happy that he did. After media duties and packing our stuff everybody left the hospitality and went to the hotel. I changed into a pair of sweatpants with a sports bra before I went to the gym in the hotel. I had a leg day planned for the day. I started with a 7 minute jog to warm my legs up a little. I had started with some lighter exercises before I went to the squat reck. I placed the weights on and started light so I could just focus on the technique. After a few sets I was squatting heavy. I counted the plates on each side and added the bar. 100 kg. This would be my new PR. I sighed as I climbed underneath the bar. If I was failing this it would be embarrassing because I have no safety racks besides me. I unracked the bar with weights and stepped back. I sighed deeply before I kneeled down into the squat position. My god this is heavy. I was pushing up but felt myself failing. Going deeper and deeper before someone lifted the bar off my shoulders making me fall back against the persons legs. I groaned in frustration. I cleared out the 95 kg. Why can't I do the 100 kg. I stood up again and stood to the side as the person who saved me from my second hand embarrassment racked the bar. I looked up to see Alex.

"Alex? What are you doing here?"

"Was going for a little jog but you looked like you needed some help."

"Thanks."

"Come on let's try again sunshine."

"No no more."

"Come on. Just do 1 I'll help you okay?"

"Fine."

I unracked the bar again and looked in the mirror. Alex towered over me. How did I never notice our height difference? His chin is where my head ends. My god I feel small right now. Wait short queen pop off! I refocused again and went down squatting. I was stuck once again and Alex lightly held the bar so I could still push up mostly by myself. I racked the bar and high fived Alex. I was a little out of breath by this one squat.

"Thanks for helping me."

"No problem."

We gave each other a fist bump before Alex went to the threat mill. I finished my work out on my own before going to my hotel room. I took a shower and changed. I grabbed some take out food and sat down on the sand on the beach. The sun was setting and the orange colors made me think of home. How the sun would set behind the mountains leaving this golden glow behind before the dark would come around and the bright stars would light up the sky. I sighed contently as I took a bite of my pizza. Country music playing through my AirPods. Tomorrow I would be home and I would stay home. I belong there I don't have any doubt of that. I belong in that saddle on top of a horse. That's my home. I was still eating while thinking about my niece. That tiny girl looked like me. The freckles, the blonde hair, the dimples and those blue eyes. She had her mother's features but the looks of my brother's and I. We all looked like twins. God I miss those 3 muppets. Callum was the oldest and the gentlest with me. I was his little sister and he was a real gentleman to me. Dalton was the kind of brother to tackle me whenever he has the chance and then there's Mason... that muppet just decides what how he wants to act to me every minute. One minute he's all nice and the next I'm running for my life. I love my crazy little family. What I live even more is seeing them everyday. Those 50 acres I call home contains 5 houses, one big stable for the horses, one for the cows and one for the cows. And I can't forget the hay shed and the shed for the tractors ect. Can't wait to be back... god I miss it.

(1148 words)