Crashing Into You ✅

Chapter 14: The Mid-Week Visit

Kyle's POV

You'd think considering he was supposed to be relaxing and not doing anything but taking care of him that he'd be home right now. You'd think he'd be chilling out, doing as little movement as possible to not cause the pains in his back to increase.

But yet I go by the house as planned, and there is no one in sight. No truck in the driveway. No answer to my knock at the door. Instead, I send him a text message to hear he is at the ABR Shop right now. 

Alex, what are you doing? Aren't you supposed to be taking care of yourself? Aren't you supposed to be doing what is necessary to make a comeback? Don't you want to get back in the car sooner than later?

So instead of visiting him at his house as I planned, I found myself walking into Alex Bowman Racing, down a short hallway and into the doorway of one of the first offices. 

Even though I've been here in the past for quick visits, I will admit it once again - this place makes me jealous. He has everything laid out perfectly. He has enough space to do everything you'd want on a sprint car.  He has all the parts and pieces to put together the success. The floors could be eaten off with how shiny and white he keeps them. I wonder just how much he spends on the Zamboni to do that. Alex enjoys his toys, and it's damn clear with how well he takes care of everything. 

"Aren't you supposed to be at home relaxing and taking care of yourself?" I question, causing the eyes to lift off the series of papers that laid on the desk before him. 

I was there when Rick said to take the time to do everything you need to take care of yourself so you can come back when you're ready. He better not be working on stuff or else I won't tell Rick, but rather give him a slap of reality myself. I know how much pain he was in the night it happened. I know how much pain followed in the days afterwards. He needs to be taking care of himself. 

"Just because I am not allowed to race, drive, or do any heavy lifting doesn't mean I can't do anything at all," he answers, which I had to admit he was right. Besides, it was actually nice to see he wasn't totally down about what happened and letting it eat at him. The depression of something happening in that moment can be worse than the injury itself, and I already knew from our previous conversations how mental health was at times. Just look at the late night talks we had after his concussion last year. However, that didn't mean I was ready to be comfortable with him being here working when he should be resting. 

"You should be taking care of yourself," I begin as I walk up to the desk he was sitting at. "You should be relaxing and doing whatever you can to heal. You should be chilling as much as possible. You should not be doing anything that causes pain or a possible setback." Am I wrong in my advice for him right now? Isn't that what is most important? "Everybody told you to take care of yourself. Whatever you're looking at on those papers can wait until you're feeling better, Alex. Can you please take care of yourself?" 

"Going through a bunch of schedules and planning the future couple months for ABR is not causing me anymore pain. I am fine, Kyle." I take a deep breath, knowing I didn't want to come here and fight with him. That wasn't the reason for this meeting. We had other things that we were supposed to be handling right now. Instead, here I am trying to babysit him because he can't do the right thing to take care of himself. "The team isn't going to run by itself. I also can't leave the guys sitting on their asses with no direction or anything to do because I am hurt as that doesn't pay the bills or accomplish the goals. So I came in today to go through the schedules and figure out what we're doing moving forward, especially considering I am not getting back in a sprint car this year. I can't do it." 

"Because of the wreck? Alex, that was a freak incident that happened. That isn't something that happens all the time. You can't let that stop you from chasing dreams here." We both know his passion for sprint car racing and dirt. We both know just how much he wanted to get better and find ways to run up front weekly. We both know how much he had improved since when he started, and the smiles of success. That's what started our conversations. That's what built our friendship? Please tell me that's going away right now, especially when things were getting ready to heat up. "Can we talk about it first, at least?" 

"I spent a month out of the car last year due to a concussion. I am spending at least a month out of the car right now because of this injury. Is that really a look that you want to have? That's not a reputation that I want Rick to think is the case, or Ally for that matter. I need to focus on the main goal of Sundays so that way I can do everything else. I need to start winning races. I need to start putting those guys where they need to first." I watch as he takes a deep breath, looking back towards at the series of papers on his desk. "That's why Jake Swanson is running the rest of the High Limit Series in the Sprint Car. He deserves a chance at a wing sprint car with everything that he's accomplished. I also talked to Daryn Pittman about running the Eldora Million."  

"Both are those are decisions that I cannot argue with as you're right about Jake, and it'd be great to see Daryn back." I am actually surprised it has taken this long for either of those to happen. Both of those guys are madly talented. This is where Alex and I always see things on the same page. I also understood the decision and reason behind it. However, I couldn't help but let my mind wander. "But is there something else that you're not telling me, Alex? What else is going on through your mind?" 

"I don't think you want to know the half of it since you walked out after I kissed you...."