I GLARED AT MY UNCLE Johnny from the passenger's seat, the fire behind my stare so intense he shifted. "What?"

"Nico didn't come home last night."

That permanent scowl remained, but the way he flicked his eyes to their corners made me wonder if he felt ashamed for driving my little brother away yesterday.

Johnny cleared his throat. "What did you tell your dad?"

"Nothing. But I should have said something."

His jaw clenched. My dad was pissed and went looking for him himself. I didn't tell him about Johnny or what he said. He was likely looking for an excuse to knock his wife's little brother on his ass after all the shit he said about him. 

"All he wanted to do was train with you, Johnny."

"Why do you do that?"

I blinked. "What?"

"Call me by my first name? I can deal with the condescending attitude, but the fact that you all call me Johnny pisses me off."

My face furrowed. "I didn't know it bothered you."

He raked a hand through his hair. "Well, it does. You used to call me uncle all the time. What changed?"

I shook my head, searching for an answer. "I don't know. Maybe 'cause you were so young when mom and dad had us."

"It's because your parents never taught you to respect me," he corrected. "It's the reason you talk back to me and not Nate. Why you politely offer to wash dishes at Luke's and snap at me when I leave a mess. Even Alyssa gets the title of Aunt. She's not even your blood."

My fists clenched. "I talk back to you because you're disrespecting papa's house. You should know better."

"I'm the only one there," he shot back.

"Which should make it easier for you. You don't have any kids, or a wife to take care of. Everyone else is helping out with the businesses."

"You're right. I don't have anyone, Nadine. I don't have a wife to confide in when the quiet settles in and threatens to drown me. I don't have kids I can send to papa's when it's too hard for me to get out of bed. I devoted my entire life to my team, to racing—to the family, but when I needed them—"

The muscles in Johnny's neck tightened, but he wasn't finished. "Why do you think they jumped at the opportunity to take over the businesses? Huh? I'll tell you. Distraction. It's easier to deal with spreadsheets and numbers. To negotiate court agreements and legal documents rather than beg your dad to open his door and eat because you can't lose him too." A tear fell, one he wiped quickly. "When did money become more important than the well-being of a family member?"

Hot tears lined my eyes. "We need money to live."

"Bullshit. If your dad sells the business tomorrow, Papa has more than enough to live out the rest of his life and yours. Your mom is taken care of. So are your uncles. It has nothing to do with money and everything to do with pride."

He was quiet—his bottom lip quivering. "Papa did what he did because we had nothing. He built an empire to ensure we were all taken care of. He worked his ass off and now look at him. He's living alone. No one comes over to visit. They're all busy."

His shoulders fell inward, his sorrow cracking my heart. "He couldn't always be there," he said, gentler now, "but when he was, he made time for his family." A pause. "He did his best."

I couldn't shake the feeling that Johnny's sentiment was a shovel unearthing a box of resentment he'd buried long ago. Maybe he was trying to come to terms with the fact that papa was gone a lot during his childhood. Perhaps that's why he was so mad at my dad because dad filled in when papa couldn't be there. Nick Baker trained him, after all, and taught him how to drive like Johnny taught me when dad was busy. What if he was angry at dad for neglecting Nico and I and ripping the team from him was the frosting on the cake? 

"You don't think I feel bad about Nico?" he asked. "I went to all his races. And yours. I cheered you on. I've been there for both of you since you were born. For all of you. Yet I'm the one who gets shit on. I'm the one you disrespect."

His bottom lip quivered, causing my already splintered heart to shatter.

"I lost everything when Hama died. I lost my job, my team, my family... my respect."

He dipped his chin, wiping his eyes with his sleeve. "I don't hate Nico, Nadine. I love him just as much as I love you, Logan, and Lilly. But I see the road he's on, and I don't want any of you to have to feel the pain of waking up one day and realizing what a loser you are because you rode on your family's success. Because you trusted that everything would be alright."

The cab was quiet for a moment before I said, "You're not a loser, Johnny—" I clenched my teeth. "—uncle."

His knuckles went bone white.

I went on, "You're the most sought-after trainer. Everyone wants to work with you."

"Not everyone."

My heart dimmed. Everyone, as in my dad. The one he sought validation from. The one he stood next to during races and made bets on whose riders would win the season. I missed those days. When Bell Racing and Team Baker would feast after a race season at Hama's bar, dad and Johnny would laugh over their burgers and basket of fries at a secluded table.

I swallowed through the lump in my throat. "I want to work with you. So does Nico."

His gaze slid to me, the hurt gleaming behind that hard stare. Johnny believed dad took everything from him, that because he wasn't trusted to run his father's team, he wasn't good enough, period. But he was to my brother and me.

"Or are Hadley and Nick's spawns not worthy of the great Just About Johnny's time?" I teased after a moment of silence.

The slightest smile curved at the edge of his mouth—his attention reverting to the road. "You'd be better if you stopped riding your break."

My grin split my face.

We pulled into papa's driveway, finding Hunt's truck parked next to papa's. My brows furrowed, and Johnny said, "I thought your boyfriend was picking you up later."

So did I.

We went inside through the garage door. Well almost.

I halted immediately, utterly shocked to find—not only Hunt but papa, Nico and Logan hovering over my brother's mangled bike.

Hunt through his head back in laughter—his hand gripped around a wrench as my grandfather pointed to the bent wheel he was taking off. It was contagious, sparking Logan's— who stood at his side with another wheel he grabbed off the wall—and my brother's, whose back was facing us.

Their joy warmed my chest. I hadn't seen Papa's garage so alive since Hama got sick, and it caused my eyes to water.

Hunt's gaze landed on me, curving the warmest smile, but when his eyes found Johnny, they darkened.

Their laughing ceased, causing Nico to twist in his lawn chair.

Johnny slipped his hands into his pockets. "What happened?"

Quiet flooded the garage before Nico spoke. "I flew over a berm."

I readied for Johnny's interrogation. To ask him how he crashed and where it happened. It wasn't hard to guess. Nico likely endangered himself by doing another dumb stunt.

Johnny assessed him before scratching the side of his nose and called him with two fingers. "Let's take a walk."

Nico's brown eyes flicked to mine before rising out of his chair.

They disappeared around the house, my heart warming when I caught the lowly murmured I'm sorry.

Papa rose to full height, his mischievous eyes glinting. "Logan, let's go make some coffee."

He turned to leave, an arm outstretched as my little cousin rested the wheel against Hunt's chair and grinned. "I didn't realize it took two people to make coffee."

I sagged. Papa's hand clasped his shoulder, guiding him up the stairs. Logan closed the door behind him, leaving me to prop a hand on my hip. "Does everyone know about us?"

Hunt's smile was far too wide for my liking—his well-muscled arms flexing through his long sleeve as he leaned back in his seat and clasped his hands behind his head. "I didn't say anything."

Wonderful.

I made my way over, stepping around Nico's KTM before settling onto Hunt's lap. "When did you get here?" I asked, taking a side seat and resting my head against his shoulder.

He yawned. "About an hour ago."

Hunt's arms wrapped around my waist. He told me where he found Nico, how Bear and Morin kept an eye at the after-party. "And where were you?" I teased, lifting my chin.

"Sleeping in the truck."

We chuckled before another thought came to mind. "Did you go home?"

"Not yet."

He kissed my temple, but it did nothing to alleviate my worry. I sat up, setting my gaze in his. "Won't your dad be mad?"

Hunt shrugged. "He's not even home. And the season's over."

"Still."

Hunt cupped my jaw, running a thumb alongside it. "It'll be fine."

I wasn't so sure. I didn't know much about their relationship, but from what I saw, Hunt's father wasn't as forgiving as mine.

Hunt kissed me, changing the subject. "Are you hungry?"

I arched a brow. "Why? Are you going to cook?"

"I can if you want me to."

I wrapped my arms around his shoulders, nodding and biting my lip. Hunt spoiled me... and Olivia, Joy, Rhett and Fischer. They'd mooch my food whenever they'd barge in on dates.

"What do you want?"

I melted. Whatever I wanted, I got, so long as the food coincided with Hunt's training regimen. "Protein pancakes."

"And?"

My nose grazed his, my kiss nothing more than a peck. "Bacon."

His fingers combed through my hair, his mouth parting. Hunt's kiss was slow, his tongue lazily sweeping mine. "What time do you want to leave?" I asked between breaths.

"Later. I promised Nico I'd work with him for a bit."

I didn't think I could admire Levi Hunt any more than at this moment.

I helped Hunt in the kitchen while Papa, Johnny, Logan and Nico discussed a training plan for the Snocross season at the kitchen table, which required sneaking around behind my dad's back.

Guilt haunted me all afternoon. Not only was I lying about Hunt, but I'd dragged my little brother into it too.

After a few hours on the track, a much-needed shower, and a well-deserved dinner with papa and the boys, Hunt and I packed our bags in the truck and journeyed back to the city.

A/N (December 2022): This chapter took me a little longer than expected. I spent all last week preparing for a writers panel I'm spoke at this Saturday and am so grateful I did. I'm not so great at public speaking. I apologize for the delay and appreciate your patience so much!! 🥰🖤

Also, can wee talk about how cute this photo of Hunt and Nadine is!! And how he spoils her with food! I can't!