𝗠𝘆 𝗘𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗲 ⇉ 𝗝𝗝 𝗠𝗮𝘆𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗸

𝘦 𝘯 𝘥 𝘶 𝘳 𝘰

THE ENDURO IS the one event that brings the Pogues and Kooks together like nothing else. It's a rare moment when the lines blur, and everyone is just focused on a race.

The Pogues, with their scrappy determination, and the Kooks, with their polished confidence, all gather at the starting line.

And by the time they reach the finish line, whoever it is, they're no longer just Pogues or Kooks—they're racers who have faced the same challenges and celebrated the same victories.

In some cases.

The Enduro becomes a bridge, connecting two worlds that usually stay apart, if only for a day.

It's also the one event that gets the Pogues and Kooks together in the same vicinity and not want to kill each other.

So, a win is a win.

Every year, Ari has come to support John B and JJ, but she thought this year would be different...especially after everything.

She was wrong.

They both still wanted to race, at least JJ did. Ari was tempted to stay home and just sleep with Cora Lynn, but even the little girl wanted to see her father race.

The two even came together, and with their gorgeous blue eyes and doe eyed look, she couldn't resist. She was his good luck charm, and that was all the convincing Ari needed.

The only bad part about the Enduro is knowing that she could run into Rafe at any given moment, and that was the last thing she wanted to do, especially with Cora Lynn.

They haven't seen each other since Cora was two months old, and she had to meet Rafe on the tarmac to get her daughter before going on the plane to help John B and Sarah.

Cora Lynn knew of him. He wasn't a secret.

Ariella always told her stories about the good times of her childhood, and Rafe was in every one. She knew that he was her uncle, and that was it.

Ariella's heart raced with anxiety as she navigated through the crowd, always with one eye scanning for Rafe. The memories of their last encounter haunted her, the tension still fresh in her mind.

Holding Cora Lynn close, she tried to focus on helping Cleo fix her husband's bike, but the fear of running into Rafe lingered, a shadow over the day's events.

Despite the camaraderie and the rare unity of Pogues and Kooks, the past was never far behind. Especially when it involved two siblings whose problem's ran deeper than what was on the surface for everyone else to see.

The motorcycle JJ brought to the race was a sight to behold, though not in the way most would expect. It was a beaten-down old beast, with scratches and dents telling tales of countless past battles on the track.

The paint was chipped, and the engine sputtered as if it was coughing up its last breath. Cleo, ever the miracle worker, was hunched over it, her hands a blur as she performed last-minute touch-ups and fixes. She tightened bolts, adjusted the chain, and coaxed the engine back to life.

Meanwhile, Ariella held little Cora Lynn on her hip, the toddler's head nestled against her chest. Cora Lynn giggles, her laughter music to their ears, as JJ tickled her sides.

The family of three wore matching black bandannas over their noses, protecting them from the swirling sand and dust.

JJ gently pinches Cora Lynn's cheek, his eyes twinkling with love and determination. "You ready to see Daddy win?"

Cora Lynn lifts her head, her eyes wide with excitement as she claps her hands. "Dada, win!"

Ariella chuckles, her gaze shifting from JJ to the bike, her voice in a teasing tone. "If it can even get out from here."