Gambling It All

Chapter Thirty

"Normally, that activity we just did together would put someone in a nice, restful, happy mood," Dixie said, pushing her sweaty hair from her eyes as she rolled up on one elbow to look at Nicky, laying in bed beside her, catching his own breath. "But I swear to God I can feel the tension radiating off of you despite that."

Nicky sighed. "I know, I'm sorry... it's not you..."

"It's me?" Dixie ventured, making Nicky smile.

"But it's me," Nicky confirmed. "Race days I'm usually in my bed, calm, focused, but here..." he paused, considering. "This place psyches me out."

"Your coach, or Laguna?"

"Laguna. Well, both American races, really," Nicky replied.

"Because it's home?" Dixie asked, laying a hand on his chest, feeling the steady thump of his heart under her palm.

He nodded, his eyes on the ceiling. "And now with De Costa riding today..."

"Thanks entirely to you," Dixie interrupted.

"Thanks to me, and a fairly skilled team of doctors and nurses," Nicky agreed, "the pressure is on just as much – hell, more – than before. Only a couple more races and this championship will be decided. After my finish last year, and this year with it being my first year on Honda... god, Dix, I want to win so damn bad."

"So get out of your own way," Dixie advised. "Get your head on straight and it will come to you. I've seen you ride like that – like you're outside yourself, like nothing can touch you. That's what you need today."

"And a fast start. And good tires. And a twelve bike pile up right behind me," Nicky grumbled and Dixie laughed.

"You don't want to win like that. If you did, you would have let Javier ride injured and pose little to no threat."

"Yeah, but then my girlfriend would either be mad at me for letting that happen, or ditching me to go do physical therapy on her ex lover."

"Yeah. That's got to suck for you," Dixie said with a wry grin.

"Thanks, sweetheart," Nicky said wryly.

"Listen to me," Dixie said, her voice serious now. "Are you listening?"

"I always listen to you, sweetheart," Nicky said, and Dixie barked out a laugh.

"Okay, let's pretend for a second like that's true. Listen... you just need to go out there today and remember why you love racing bikes. Forget the points race," Dixie said, and Nicky snorted, but motioned for her to continue. "Forget the points race, and just go out there and race for you. Race for yourself, and race for me. Pretend you're just on a back road in Germany, not racing in front of your entire country with the championship about to be decided. Just don't. Just race because you love it. Race as though it could all be taken away tomorrow."

Nicky looked at her, twining his fingers in hers and giving them a squeeze. "Does it still... hurt?"

Dixie shrugged. "I got over the hurt and disappointment at not racing a long time ago, and I'm happy in my life now. But that's doesn't mean I don't still ache for it. Long for it. You have it – so go get it."

"But the pressure..."

"Fuck the pressure," Dixie said, her tone stern now. "You've ridden under worse pressure than this. Just go out and do it. Show 'em how it's done, because I know you can. You are absolutely the strongest and fittest I've ever seen you – even with your injury from last year. You are stronger, leaner, fitter and more agile than last year, thanks in no small part to the ass kicking given to you by your personal trainer. So go show those riders how we do it in the States."