5 comments/ 7567 views/ 14 favorites Rubber Meets The Road By: FNS269 I would like to thank findingmyvoice for all of her hard work making this story better. There is no explicit sex in this story. Please take the time to vote and comment. Feedback is always welcome. -------------------- The tires were disintegrating beneath me as I rolled through the gears coming out of the carousel. Hitting over two-hundred miles per hour on the straight away, the adrenaline pumped through my ice cold veins. I begged silently for my machine to hold together. This was the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy. If you have never watched this race, it's one hell of a ride. The first time I saw it, I knew I had to ride it. What a rush, to ride balls out on a street course that was over thirty-seven miles long. The one race that I loved to watch, but never tried was the sidecar race. These people were insane and knew exactly what they were doing. The person in the sidecar had to be perfectly positioned, going into the turns and coming out. Sometimes, because of the high speeds and tight corners, it looked like their bodies might be hurled off the little platform. The first race they held was on May 28th, 1907. What a difference a century makes. Charlie Collier had won the first race on a Matchless cycle with an average course speed of 38.21mph. At just over a hundred years later, the track record now sits at 132.298mph. I still couldn't believe I was riding this race. The machine I rode had never been pushed so hard. Memorizing every one of the 260 turns, noting each bump and pit in the road, and trying not to think about the other two-hundred souls lost on this very course, was nerve wracking. I was on a blistering pace and ahead of Bruce Anstey's record. I had not planned to push that hard, but obviously if I was on pace for the record, I was going after it. My front tire gave up at 160mph along a sweeping right curve. I was going down no matter what I did at this point. The real question was, would I make it out alive? The bike did a quick wobble and I knew I had to get off of it. Abandoning any moving vehicle at that speed, one would think was psychotic. At least I was able to make the choice rather than the bike making it for me. That alone would increase my chances for survival. I remember sliding and then everything went black. That wasn't supposed to happen! I should have slid until my inertia ran out, or hit something that stopped me. I'm betting the latter occurred. ********************************* My head was throbbing and noises were all around me as I opened my eyes. Nothing happened! I blinked my eyes yet darkness remained. I couldn't move. I was strapped down. I felt a warm rush in my arm and then consciousness escaped me. Pain and more pain is what my brain told me as I awoke from my induced slumber. Every breath I took shot sharp and jagged jabs throughout my body. My eyes, what happened to my eyes? I wondered as I recalled opening them without my sight. A voice rang through my head, stay still, you've been in an accident. I remember hearing this woman calling for the doctor. Thank God my head didn't feel like it had earlier. I put my hands on my head. Bandages. Thick bandages. I felt like a mummy. "Doctor Williams here, Son. Do you know your name?" Of course I know my name, I thought to myself. "Kyle Hobbs." "That's a great sign, Mr. Hobbs. We thought we lost you there for a little bit." "My eyes doctor, what happened to my eyes?" I said, trying not to sound scared. "Son, you are lucky to be alive. Your helmet cracked like an egg. We had to operate to relieve the pressure on your brain. You have a few broken ribs as well. Your eyesight should return within a few days." "We are going to keep you here for observation," he said. "Your eyesight should start to return by tomorrow. Just relax and let us do our jobs. You have some visitors, but we do not want to tire you out, so we will let one visitor in at a time." The doctor left the room after giving the nurse instructing the nurse to change my bandages.. I could hear her fumbling around. She instructured me to keep me eyes closed while she did her job. A few minutes later my crew chief, Bill Cross, came in the room. "Holy shit, Kyle, you had us worried man! That was a gnarly wreck. The bike is toast and so are you in the foreseeable future." "What the hell happened, Bill?" I asked, knowing I had blown the front tire. Bill explained what they saw on the video. "The front tire blew and the bike shimmied. You did the right thing by getting off of it. The bike went over off the cliff. You would have been toast too. You slid along the asphalt and hit your head on a tree. The helmet saved your life Kyle." "Well at least one investment did its job," I said, while I thought about how I could replace my bike. "Let's not worry about anything right now, Kyle. We need to get you fixed up, we will worry about the rest later," Bill said, trying to keep me calm. I told Bill I didn't want any visitors and I would have the hospital contact him if I needed anything. He said that he would take care of it. *********************** The pain meds had knocked me out shortly after Bill left the room. I yawned and winced in pain as my ribs didn't agree with me yawning. "Welcome back," came the sound of an angel. "You look like death warmed over." "What time is it?" I asked politely. She answered, "1:30 in the morning, Ricky Rocket." "The doctor gave me my own comedic nurse, huh?" I said with disdain. "No silly, I saved your ass after you wrapped your head around that tree. The ambulance was at least fifteen minutes away. You would have surely died waiting for them." She explained that I had crashed right in front of her. She told me she had been taking pictures of the riders as they went by and caught my entire crash. She and her partner had pulled her truck up to where my lifeless body laid, and dragged me on to her trailer. Not losing any time, her partner drove, maneuvering down the mountain, while she held me as still as possible. We arrived at the hospital just as the ambulance would have made it to the crash scene. "Too bad that tire didn't last. It would have been nice to see the record broken," she said softly. "I think the abuse my bike suffered was too much for the tire to handle," I said seriously and then added, "Who are you again?" "Katy Malloy. I ride sidecars," she stated as if I wouldn't recognize the family name. "Any relationship to Joe and Robert?" I inquired. "That would be my dad and my uncle," Katy whispered with sadness in her voice. Joe and Robert had both died racing. They were both top riders in the world and both had died doing what they love. I tried to convey my condolences. "I'm sorry for your losses Katy. They were both great men, and from what you have told me, it sounds like their legends live on with you." "I have to get going, I have a race in the morning." Katy was sounding rushed. I wished her well, and for a good and safe race. I knew of her family name but didn't put it together with sidecar racing. I wondered how I could ever repay her. The nurse was in shortly after Katy had left. I wondered who let her in to see me. I didn't wonder long as the nurse gave me a shot that knocked me out cold. *************************** I awoke to a nurse changing something next to me. I heard the liquid as it moved around in the bag. I hoped someone would take the bandages off my eyes. The nurse told me the doctor was on his way. "How are you feeling this morning, Mr. Hobbs?" The doctor said, in that clinical tone they all use. I replied truthfully, "My ribs are kicking my ass and I feel like I've been run over by a truck. Am I going to get to use my eyes today?" "I would like to wait a full twenty-four hours before we take off the bandages. We have another eight hours or so to go. I will check in with you later today." He gave the nurse some instructions about my pain meds and left again. The nurse made small talk while she did as the doctor ordered. I asked her who had let Katy in. "Nobody, she volunteers here. Just because she is as crazy as her dad, doesn't mean she can't work and help people." The nurse said defensively, as though she was protecting one of her kids. Evidently, Katy was a saint, and my own personal saint at that. I tried to picture what the daughter of the great Joe Malloy would look like. Remembering Joe, and his brother, I couldn't picture a daughter that resembled a woman. As the meds kicked in again, darkness closed around me. I thought of Katy and how she was doing in her race. I loved watching the sidecar races, but obviously, I could not today. ********************* When the meds wore off, I awoke to the sound of flurried activity nearby. The nurses were talking about how much they hated the annual race. Someone had gone down and now was in a fight for his life. Like a bolt of lightning, it hit me. I heard the name Katy. I didn't hear anything else, but there was no mistaking her name. I dreaded whatever news followed. A nurse came in and I heard her rustling around the room. "Who was in the accident?" "Don't you worry about anyone but yourself right now, Mr. Hobbs," she said, before scurrying out the door. I'm not sure how much time had passed, but the doctor showed up with a nurse in tow. "How are you feeling now, Mr. Hobbs?" The doctor's voice was distant, disconnected. "I'm guessing you upped my pain meds because I'm not feeling much pain at all." I replied truthfully and then asked, "Who crashed in today's race?" "Katy and Will had a bad go of it," he said sadly. I couldn't help but ask for more information. "Tell me she's all right doctor! What happened?" "I've already told you more than I should have, Son." His words seemed to catch in his throat as he continued. "Katy will be fine. Will didn't make it." He sounded as if one of his own had died. "Doctor, if there is any way I could talk with Katy, I would greatly appreciate it," I said, as desperate as I ever had. "Katy is relatively unharmed, Mr. Hobbs. I will let her know you would like to talk with her." The doctor was out the door after telling me he would be back in four hours to remove the bandages. Katy must be devastated. I felt the need to talk with her, even though we had only met a day ago. I begged God to give me my sight so I could see the angel who saved my life and comfort her. The nurse told me that Will and Katy were partners in racing, nothing more. She said they had grown up together and had never been an item; always treated each other more like brother and sister, playing and fighting like siblings. Why the nurse felt the need to tell me that, I had no idea. Maybe she wanted me to have at least some information if Katy did in fact come to talk with me. Either way, it was good to know some background about her, but still a terrible loss for our sport. ******************* Time dragged on as I lay in my hospital bed. I wished someone would come and talk with me. Sitting in darkness feels very lonely. All of my other senses seemed to heighten. I could distinguish the smells of food on meal trays rapidly every now and then. My hearing felt like I could hear the whispering gossip from the nurses station, wherever that was. I heard the door open with a light breeze and caught the succulent scent of a woman. "Mr. Hobbs, the doctor will be in shortly to remove your bandages." It was Katy! My ears would not deceive me. "I'm sorry for your loss Katy. I'm sure Will was a good man. Please extend my condolences to his family. Are you ok? What happened?" I rattled off my practiced monologue. A faint whimper was like the sound of thunder in my head. Katy was hurting for the loss of her life-long friend. "We can talk about it later if you are up to it," I said, feeling her pain. "It's just too surreal right now," Katy sobbed. "I promise we can talk later." I heard the door and felt the wind brush my face. The aroma Katy left behind tickled my nose and made me smile. Trying to keep myself grounded, I shook off any romantic notions I started having. It couldn't have been more than ten minutes later when the doctor came in with a nurse. He instructed the nurse to remove the sweaty gauze from my head and eyes. I heard a click and the doctor asked me to open my eyes. Steadying my nerves, I slowly opened them. The image of a person appeared before me, but was extremely blurry. "Give it a minute, Mr. Hobbs. I have turned off the light to help your eyes adjust." My eyelids fluttered as I tried to get them to focus. Slowly the outline of the doctor became clearer. The doctor held up his hand and asked, "How many fingers am I holding up?" "Three?" I asked, unsure of my answer. "Good Mr. Hobbs. The swelling on your brain caused the loss of your eyesight. It looks like the operation we performed was successful. I am ordering an image of your brain. According to the previous scan we did, your spine is not damaged. You may be able to go home in a day or two if everything checks out." "That's great news doctor! Thank you for everything. I can't express how good it feels to use my eyes again." Doctor Williams was quick to point out that I wasn't out of the woods yet and to let him know of anything out of the ordinary. He said he would check out the results of my scan and would see me shortly. The nurse stayed in the room as the doctor left. I could now see she was a motherly woman. "What else can you tell me about Katy"? I asked respectfully. She looked as if she was studying me, maybe deciding if she should divulge any information. "Katy and Will are part of our family here. Her father and uncle died up on that mountain. Her mother ran off with some twit when she was only three years old. Will never knew his father so Katy's dad became his. His mother became a drug addict and overdosed. We are the only real family either of them had left." "I had no idea," I said, realizing just how alone Katy must be feeling right now. I asked her if she could contact my crew chief and keep him updated on my condition. The nurse finished up her work and told me she would be sending me to complete my scan and would call my crew chief. As she was about to leave, she turned back and said, "Don't you dare hurt Katy." She didn't even wait for a response. I was brought some nasty stuff to drink in order to get a good image. As soon as it was done, my entire bed was wheeled down the hall to get my scan. My ribs still hurt, but I think I could have made it without being rolled around in my bed. Along the way, we passed the nurses station. A gorgeous brunette flashed a smile at me but I saw sadness in those icy blue eyes that looked as though they had been crying. The scent hit me like a Mack truck as we passed her, it was Katy. I never imagined the daughter of Joe Malloy would look like a goddess. I had to settle myself down. She had just lost her 'brother' and I had no intention of stopping her from grieving. Something inside of me needed to be there for her. I'm not sure if it was wanting to show my appreciation for saving me, her tantalizing aroma, or the gorgeous package she was wrapped in, but I wanted to comfort her. I had to get to know this woman. ********************* The images were so vivid, bright, and colorful, it made me smile. Thankful to have my eyesight was an understatement of immense proportions. The very real possibility of being permanently blind had crossed my mind more than a few times during the past two days. After being stuck in this hospital for two days, I was ready for some real food and an alcoholic beverage. My ribs were still sore and pain medication would be needed. I guess alcohol is out of the question, I thought to myself. What I wanted more than a drink, was to see Katy. I saw her for my first and only time on the way to my scan, but not on the way back. "Patience, Kyle," I repeated over and over. Doctor Williams, with his nurse right behind him, entered my room. "You will be discharged today, Son. You are a very lucky man. I don't see any long term problems, no swelling on the brain, or problems with your spine." He went on to tell me the meds he was prescribing and how long I would need to take them. He told me I would not be able to race for a while. With my bike in pieces over a cliff, it's not like I would be able to anyway. In fact, racing was about the last thing on my mind. Katy on the other hand was occupying most of it. I was being discharged and had no way of contacting her. "Katy will be in shortly, Mr. Hobbs. She is doing as well as can be expected," said Doctor Williams, surprising me in the process. "Thank you doctor. You and your staff have been better than I deserve. Someone told me Will was like family around here. I'm truly sorry for your loss. Is there anything I can do?" I asked, hoping I could help no matter how small the task. His reply was short and music to my ears. "Talk to Katy, she will be here in a few minutes." He walked out of my room as swiftly as he came in. My heart began to race, and a bead of sweat formed on my forehead. I forced myself to relax and did not form any pre-determined speech. I would talk with Katy as long as she would allow me. Oh the pain! No I wasn't in any physical pain, but it had been well over a few minutes and I was getting anxious. In an instant, the door swung open and she was there. My heart felt like it stopped. My lips parted, but no sound would come out. "How are you feeling, Mr. Hobbs?" Why did she have to sound so professional? "Please, call me Kyle. The doctor is releasing me. My ribs need some time to heal but otherwise, I'm in great shape, thanks to you." "Well, Kyle, I am happy to see your eyesight has returned and that you are feeling better. You took a nasty spill up there." "I know there is no way I can ever repay you Katy, but as God as my witness, I will be there whenever you need me. I know you are hurting right now and I'm so sorry for your loss. If you need a shoulder to cry on, or just a friendly ear to talk out what happened, I am here for you, Katy." Katy broke down and the floodgates opened up. I extended my hand to her from my hospital bed. Her trembling hand met mine and I pulled her slowly into me. "I can't believe he's gone," she whispered from her quivering lips. I put my arm around her shoulder and pulled her to my chest. I could tell she was trying to stifle her sobs but sometimes you just have to let it go. This was one of those times. A minute later, the door to my room swung open and a group of nurses stood at the ready. They took in the scene before them and then slowly retreated. I was happy to have Katy to myself. The circumstances although not ideal, felt good, natural somehow. I hugged Katy as best as I could and told her it would be all right. The light sheet covering my body became soaked with the tears of her sorrow. I stroked the waves of her silky auburn hair and shhh'd her over and over. Thank God my cock was under control. That would have been a seriously awkward moment if it had decided to peek its head up and look her in the face. I don't know how long she cried, but she cried until she could cry no more. She held on to my hand when she leaned back. Katy stared into my eyes with deep loss and said, "Thank you, Kyle, I really needed that. I have known Will my entire life. I can't believe he's gone. That mountain has claimed everyone I ever loved." "When you are ready, I would like to hear what happened out there. I should be out of here in a couple of hours. Have you been eating?" I wanted to spend more time with her, but I did not want it to feel like a date. Rubber Meets The Road "An actual meal? No, not since before the accident," she said, realizing she needed to eat. I invited her to come with me when my crew chief picked me up. Katy told me if she was not here when I was released, she would meet us at a place called HQ. Katy leaned down, kissed me on the cheek, and said she would see me soon. My cock twitched and I thanked it for not doing that sooner, as she walked out of my room. Bill walked in only a few minutes later with a pep in his step and a smile on his face. "What's got you in such a good mood, Bill?" "I just about ran over this beautiful woman with the saddest eyes I've ever seen," he said. "Don't worry, you will see her again in a little while," I retorted. "That's Katy Malloy. She will be meeting us for dinner and you will be on your best behavior." The nurse walked in with my discharge paperwork and my prescriptions. For some reason, I needed to assure the nurse that Katy would never be harmed when she was with me. She smiled a knowing smile and exited just as fast as she came in. I told Bill he needed to get me out of here. Bill looked a little confused but brushed off whatever was on his mind. On our way to the hotel I told Bill to tell me what happened with the sidecar race. "It was crazy, Kyle! This bike came up over the hill and caught major air. It looked like the passenger made a mistake and was repositioning when they hit it. The passenger didn't have a hold and lifted right out of the platform. There was a small left curve right there so when the bike caught the pavement it veered left, leaving him in the air at one-hundred-thirty. His inertia took him straight into the wall and slammed his body into it. The rider flipped the bike, probably not expecting the change in weight distribution. It was one of the craziest wrecks I have ever seen. The rider walked away with barely a scratch, but I heard the passenger died at the hospital." So there it was in a nutshell. A freak accident from one little mistake had caused the death of Will. Katy was probably feeling responsible for his death. "That was Katy," I said. "Who?" "The woman you tried to run over at the hospital. She is meeting us for dinner." "Oh, damn," was all Bill could sputter out. "Like I said, your best behavior Bill." ******************** I found out HQ was derived from its past use as a HQ during the Second World War. A set of historical prints gives it a hint of its past and the locals love it. Katy didn't strike me as someone who would not show up if she said she would. I watched the door like a kid waiting for Santa to come down the chimney. She may have been a half hour late but all was forgiven as she walked through the door. Incredible, stunning, glamorous, and a number of other adjectives could easily describe her. Most guys and even some of the ladies gave her the once over. Some never stopped gawking as Katy made her way to our table. Katy's knee length, silky black dress flowed freely as she floated her way to our table. I don't know the brand name of the pumps she was wearing, but they had these incredibly sexy wraparound ankle straps that only seemed to accentuate her toned calves. Bill and I stood up as she approached our table. I greeted her with a warm smile and reached out to hug her. Katy squeezed me tight and a small "ugh" escaped my lips when my ribs didn't agree. She gave me a light peck on the cheek and I introduced her to Bill. Bill extended his hand as did Katy. "You, my dear, look ravishing," Bill said as he kissed her hand. We all sat down and proceeded to look through the menu. Within a few seconds, Katy set her menu down. "What do you recommend, Katy?" I said. "All the fish is fresh and delicious. The steak is wonderful, and half of what it would cost at some of the other restaurants in town. I don't think I've ever had a bad meal here." "Steak it is!" I bellowed, trying to keep the evening light. Katy smiled but I could tell she was having a hard time. I'm sure she had many memories of eating here with Will. "Hi, Katy," the waitress said. "What can I get for you tonight?" Katy order the Halibut, Bill and I ordered the Manx Steak. All of our meals came with chips and fresh veggies. None of us ordered alcohol, but I was tempted to have a merlot with my steak. While we waited for our food, there was some uncomfortable silence. Bill didn't help by talking about how bad of shape my bike was in. I decided to address the elephant in the room and asked about the funeral arrangements. Katy had that withdrawn look people get when facing situations like this. "Katy, if you would like some help organizing the funeral, I would be honored ...." "I am sorry, Kyle, it's my duty to make all the arrangements. I killed him and now I have to bury him," she said, with the strength of ten men, making an obvious attempt to not cry. I reached for her hand and held it gently. "Katy, you did not kill him. It was a terrible accident that took his life. He made one small mistake at the wrong time. It's not anyone's fault, it just is." Bill chimed in with, "There was nothing you could have done. You were riding a great race! However, you did do something the previous day that was heroic. You saved Kyle's life!" Katy stared at me, and appeared to be trying to process our statements. I'm not sure if she was looking for a fault in my logic so she could continue to blame herself, or if she knew but didn't want to hear it. "I know you are right, Kyle," Katy said in a solemn voice. "I have nobody. I'm numb and so lost, I don't know what to do." "Let me help you, Katy, that's what you can do. I will be here for you no matter what happens. You became part of my family when you saved me, Katy." I was hoping she would let me help. Nobody should have to feel so alone when dealing with a death in the family. The resignation was written all over Katy's angelic face. She needed my help to get through this time in her life. "Kyle, whatever help you can provide, I will accept." "Let's try to enjoy our meal," I said. "I haven't had a real meal in three days and it has been two for you." I tried again to lighten the mood. "Excuse me gentlemen, I need the ladies' room." Bill and I both stood as Katy made a hasty retreat. We sat down and looked at each other as if to say, now what? I told Bill what I had in mind and he agreed to set it up. He asked me if I was going to consult Katy. I explained to him that she was in no frame of mind to set up a proper funeral. Katy returned just as our meals were being set down. We chit chatted while we ate, mostly about the town, places of interest, and people she and Will were close to. I couldn't help but think about what her life was going to be like without Will. I imagined Katy throwing herself into her work at the hospital while never really dealing with her feelings. I shook that off and formed another plan, one that I could live with. I know that sounds selfish but I would take it slow. I rushed into a relationship once before and vowed I would never do that again. I wasted a year of my life with a woman I never really knew, before our train wreck of a breakup. After dinner, I told Katy I would take her home. Her objections, I quickly overcame. I told Bill that we would meet up at the hotel. ******************** I drove Katy's truck to a modest home, only a few minutes away from HQ. The landscaping was well taken care of, but the paint was peeling and the roof definitely needed some work. If the outside was any indication of the condition of the house, I knew where I would be spending much of my time in the near future. The inside of the house was quaint and warm. There were pictures of her dad and uncle hanging on the wall as we entered. Above the fireplace hung a family portrait with her dad, uncle, Will, and herself at the podium when her dad won the race ten years ago. I asked Katy if I could see what she had caught of my crash. She had a serious camera that caught every frame perfectly in focus. A knock on the door startled Katy. She may not have been expecting anyone but people tend to just drop by when they know you are grieving. I sat on the couch and continued to go through the pictures. I heard what sounded like a loudmouth in a bar. I couldn't believe the guy was blatantly hitting on her and asking her out on a date. After a couple of minutes of Katy declining his generous offers, she said goodbye. Katy returned and sat next to me. I wasn't going to bring up the conversation unless she wanted to talk about it. "James is such an asshole! His supposed best friend just passed away, and here he is trying to get in my pants." "I could have stripped down and walked up behind you. Do you think that would have deterred him?" I asked playfully. Katy's lips curved upward at the image I presented her. It made me wonder what she thought of me romantically. I dismissed the thoughts going through my head and found a couple of pictures I wanted for myself. I asked her to email me the pictures, which she did within a couple of minutes of using her laptop. She poured us some tea and we sat in silence. The deafening sound could not have hurt my ears any worse. I broke the silence with a sore subject. "Katy, I'm not sure what you had in mind for Will's funeral, but I am working on having a procession over the entire track. I see your truck pulling a trailer, carrying his coffin and taking one final tribute lap. I know many of the riders will want to share their condolences and this is a good way to show it. What do you think?" I really didn't want to overstep my bounds and I already had Bill contacting people to get it setup. My hope was that she would see it as a great way to send Will off. Katy's eyes misted and I could see the fight in her, trying not to cry. "It's ok to cry Katy, in fact it's good for you. It's not good to keep your feelings bottled up. People grieve in their own ways, if crying is the way you express your feelings, it's a good thing." I scooted towards Katy on the comfy, over stuffed couch and took her hand. Looking into those expressive blue eyes, with a pool of tears at the ready, was like witnessing a dam ready to overflow. Being careful not to put pressure on my ribs, I wrapped my arms around her as if I would never let her go. Katy fell into my grasp as a wounded child would cling to her mother, and cried. I had no plans to mother Katy, but right now I would be whatever she needed me to be. She soaked my chest with what seemed like a gallon of tears, honestly, I wouldn't have cared if she had tried to drown me. I held on to her, even after she made several attempts to pull away. I wasn't sure if I was comforting her or myself. When Katy pulled away again, I reluctantly released my hold. I handed Katy her cup and a tissue. "You can send me the bill from your dry cleaner," she said as she dabbed her eyes. "I don't know if all that mascara is going to come out." Katy was trying to make a joke. I saw progress! The doorbell rang and startled us both. Katy wiped her delicate face and went to answer the door. A neighbor was stopping by with food and condolences. Katy accepted the platter. I knew there would be plenty more people stopping by. There was no way all the food being brought over would get consumed. I called Bill and told him to empty our coolers. They only had beer and water in them anyway, so it wouldn't be too much of a hassle. I told him to ask around to see if he could round up even more. We would need quite a few if we were going to save the food. I really hate wasting good food. Over the next few hours, people continued to show up at her door. Bill and a couple of other guys finally showed up with the coolers. Katy was getting a worried look about her as each person brought food and desserts. She saw the coolers being unloaded and you could literally see the stress evaporate. "I got this Katy, there's no need to worry about anything." I said, as I went to help with the coolers. Katy held the door as we delivered the coolers to her kitchen. A drunken James had returned by the sound coming from outside, and I knew it was about to get ugly. I acted as though I hadn't heard anything and made my way next to Katy, ignoring James completely. I kissed her on the cheek and hung my arm around her shoulder. "It's ok, my love, all the food will be saved for the funeral." Katy smirked, knowing what I was doing, and went along with it. "You just want to get naughty again, that's why you're helping! Admit it Kyle, you just want to take advantage of me in my vulnerable state." "Yes indeed, silly lady, nothing would please me more!" "Take me whenever you want, stud! You know I wouldn't deny myself the pleasure you give me." Katy sounded convincing, almost too convincing! "Oh, sorry, who is your friend?" I said casually, while watching James attempt to pick his jaw up from the floor. He was making that face that fish do when they are pulled out of the water. "This is James. He was Will's 'best' friend." I reached out to shake his hand and saw fire burn behind his eyes. Bill and the guys had just exited the front door when James telegraphed his intentions. Bill grabbed his arm in mid-swing, and I felt Katy tense up. "Whoa, Son, you're liable to get hurt like that," said Bill. James was about my size, but in his alcohol induced state, he must have thought he was Hercules. He tried to push past Bill while he started calling me all sorts of profane names. "I suggest you go sleep it off before you do something you are going to regret," Bill said, while twisting his arm around his back and escorting him to the edge of the property. "This isn't over!" James shouted as he staggered away from the house. "I've never seen James like that," Katy whispered in my ear. "Hopefully, we won't see him like that again." I asked Katy to make sure the food was put away properly. I didn't want it to spoil if the guys just tossed it all in there and it would give me a chance to talk with Bill. Bill had almost everything setup for the funeral and I thanked him. He told me that we could expect up to 300 or more guests. I expressed my concern to Bill about James's statement as he left. I asked him to get one of our guys to follow him and to let me know if James was up to no good. He told me he would put Marco on it so if I got a call from him, be ready to move. If shit was going to happen, I wanted a heads up. ****************** The bright yellows, oranges, and reds, danced in the sky through the swaying clouds as they signaled the day turning to night. Sitting on the porch with such an amazing woman, with the view before me, felt like utopia. I pulled out my cell phone and snapped off a few pics to remember the night by. Katy was quiet. The look in her eyes made me think she was replaying her accident in her head. I never did get an answer from Katy about the funeral arrangements. I broke our tranquil silence to bring her back to the present. "It will get easier Katy, I promise you. We were distracted earlier with all of your friends stopping by, and James too. What did you think of my idea for Will's funeral?" "I'm sure he would love nothing more than another lap around the track. Will loved racing, just like the rest of my family. I wish we would have thought of that for my dad and uncle." She switched gears abruptly and continued, "So, I guess our dog and pony show was pretty good, considering the rave review we received from James." "I was convinced! I wasn't sure you would play along but I figured if James thought you were spoken for, he might back off." "Who said I was playing? I haven't been attached to anyone in the past seven years." I was watching her facial expressions, body language, and listened to what she said. As much as I was enjoying our flirting, I wanted to be sure of her intentions. I explained to Katy that I was here first and foremost as her friend. I would never try to take advantage of her when she was so vulnerable. I think she knew that, but I wanted to hear it. "But don't you ever tell me I can take you whenever I want again, unless you mean it. You'd be surprised how much of your life might be spent enjoying each other's bodies, or the places we might spend some of that time." I was serious, but I ended my rant with a twist of my mustache and an evil laugh. Katy punched me lightly in my ribs. When I winced in pain, she apologized. She folded her arms around my body and thanked me. I suggested we wrap it up for the night. Katy looked unsure, or hesitant, as my phone began to ring. "Shit!" I mumbled. I instructed Katy to pack a bag quickly for the night. I didn't mean to scare her but the urgency in my voice had to have come across strongly. "What's going on Marco? Well, fuck! How much time do we have? Sure, we can be out of here in a few minutes. Setup a room on the North side. Yes, text me when it's set and let Bill know where we will be. Thanks Marco, I owe you!" By the end of my conversation with Marco, Katy was by my side with a small duffle bag in one hand and her purse in the other. Marco told me James had spent the last couple hours drinking hard at a local pub. He overheard James talking to anyone that would listen. Thank God Marco was one of those that did. "Let's go!" she said, without any hesitation, and a huge smile plastered across her face. It made me wonder if Katy might have thought I was going to leave her alone tonight. Maybe she was worried she would be alone. I was planning to ask her if I could sleep on that big fluffy couch but my plans changed rapidly. Katy and I jumped in her truck. She tossed her bag and purse in the back seat and we were rolling. Marco sent me the information on our room. We had a twenty minute drive ahead of us. "I hope you don't mind me snoring, Marco said it was the only room he could find on short notice," I mentioned nonchalantly, hoping it would lighten the situation. Katy countered, "You'll be lucky if I let you sleep at all!" I had a huge dilemma on my hands. My scruples were being challenged in my head. I had honestly developed feelings for Katy in a short period of time. Would I risk ruining what could possibly be a great relationship by satisfying my carnal urges? I had to stay strong and use my big head, ignoring the little one. Could she be testing me? Would having sex with her ruin what we have built so far? I gave Katy a look, trying to convey my apprehension about moving too fast. I doubt that came across as I intended with Katy keeping her eyes on the road. We pulled into our accommodations for the night after a short but quiet ride. I couldn't help glancing at Katy more times than I could count all the way there. Checking in was sort of comical when the clerk called us Mr. and Mrs. Hobbs. The shade of crimson Katy turned was more than entertaining. When I pulled her into me and kissed her on the lips to complete the image of husband and wife, she played her part, but I could tell she was nervous. We made our way to the elevator without a word. Once inside the elevator, I was half expecting Katy to rip into to me for kissing her like that. What Katy did was snuggle up to me. The lone king-sized bed stood menacingly in the room, as we both stared at it upon our entrance to our humble abode. I thanked technology as my phone began to ring. "What's up Bill? Yes, we just checked in. It only has one bed, I thought they always came with two. I know you always make the reservations. Marco did say it was the only room they had. I will figure it out. He did what? No shit, huh? Anything damaged? Yes, I will let her know. Are the arrangements set? Perfect! Thanks for your help Bill. I will call you by noon tomorrow. Ok. No. Shut up man! All right, cool, goodnight." Rubber Meets The Road Damn, Bill can be such an ass. But there is nobody I would rather have on my side. He's not just my crew chief, he has been my best friend for over fifteen years. I was watching Katy during my conversation with Bill. She was very interested but couldn't hear what Bill had told me. She busier herself unpacking her stuff for the night, not that there was much to unpack. "Sorry about the bed, Bill handles our rooms if we need one." I waited a second to see her reaction. She raised an eyebrow but didn't say a word. "Bill informed me that we got out just in time. James went by your place and made a scene. Evidently, your door was standing in the way so he fired a couple of shotgun rounds through it." Katy gasped, "What the hell was he thinking?" "I'm not sure, but Bill is having the door replaced right now. Marco had followed James and called the police when he saw him retrieve the gun from his truck. Apparently he was frustrated when no one opened the door. He's sitting in jail now." A look of relief spread across her face as she heard James was in jail. Katy asked about the funeral arrangements. I explained what we had been able to setup. A proper casket had been obtained and would carry Will the entire thirty-seven miles. We would start in Douglas and end at Nobles Park, right across from the cemetery. We planned to use the park for the service and setup food at the picnic tables. From there, we would take Will to Borough Cemetery and lay him to rest. I told Katy we can expect three-hundred or more to show up, and everyone at the hospital had been invited as well. Tears filled her eyes as I explained what was done. I handed Katy a tissue. She dabbed her eyes but didn't fall apart. She hugged me and said she was going to take a shower and get ready for bed. Katy emerged from the bathroom a half hour later wearing only a terry cloth towel. I realized she had put her clothes away and forgot to take them with her. "Get some sleep, Katy. I'm going to grab a shower." I set an extra blanket and a pillow on the floor. I brushed my teeth, showered, shaved... took my time and my medicine. I was hoping Katy would be asleep by the time I came out. Normally I sleep in the nude, but that was not an option. I left my boxer briefs on and exited the small bathroom. My blanket and pillow were on the bed. "Don't even think about sleeping on the floor. I will get up and leave right now if you do." Katy sounded serious. Without a word, I worked myself into the bed. There was plenty of room for both of us. I turned off the lights half expecting to get some sleep, the other half not sure what to expect. We chatted a bit in the dark, mostly about the life of racers. Katy rolled my way and put her head on my lightly hairy chest. My right arm draped down her bare skinned back and raven hair. My mind imagined what was below that, with the realization she was possibly naked beside me. "Please don't take this the wrong way, Katy, but you are causing my little head to out think my big head." "So you were doing all this stuff to get in my pants, huh?" Katy responded. I had so much on my mind, it all started pouring out of me. "Absolutely not, Katy! My intentions were completely innocent, well almost all innocent. If that happens sometime down the road, I won't say that I would mind. I would just like it to happen after you have had some time to grieve and heal. You are in a vulnerable place and I don't think starting a romantic relationship under those circumstances would be beneficial to either of us in the long term. Try to understand that you have had a profound effect on me. I wasn't looking to have someone like you walk into my life, let alone save mine. Make no mistake about it, despite the circumstances of the past three days, I believe we were brought together for a reason." I was an open book for Katy to read. My hope was that she would see my logic and know I was there for the long haul. At a couple of points in the past day I felt like she might have been testing the content of my character. "I have been in love once in my life, Kyle. Seven years ago, I found him screwing some bitch he picked up at a bar, right there in our bed. We had a good sex life, or at least I thought we did. I was always open to trying new things and we shared our fantasies. Maybe he thought if he had a woman in our bed, I would jump in and fulfill a fantasy we both had. That didn't work out so well. I threw his ass out and never looked back. It destroyed my faith in men. I haven't slept with anyone since then. You, my dear man, have restored my faith." The scent emanating from beneath the blankets felt like I was being lured into a trap. The proverbial cheese in the mouse trap, so to speak. Katy turned her back to me, pulling her knees up and pushing her ass against me. As she turned, my right hand ended up full of her breast. I tried to move my hand, but Katy trapped it and held it there. I could feel her heart beating a steady and powerful rhythm. I rolled to my side so I could hold her. My left arm wrapped around her like a python. Katy molded herself against my body perfectly. She shivered as I stroked my fingers around her ribs and over her bare hip. The heat radiating from her pussy warmed the cotton of my briefs and my solid, steel-like cock felt at home between her cheeks. "Not tonight," I whispered in her ear. The urge to take her was outweighed by what I wanted in life, for the both of us. "I know Kyle, just hold me." ******************** The gentle swaying of hips and sweet aroma that filled the room, is what I awoke to. If I hadn't of known better, I would swear I had a wet dream. The reality of it was much more pleasant. I glanced at the clock. It read 6:42am. "Good morning, sexy. What are you doing up so early?" "I had a hard time sleeping. Something kept poking at me all night. You should see a doctor about an erection lasting more than six hours!" "You are my all natural Viagra, Katy. They would want to do all sorts of clinical studies on you and I would never have you to myself." I played along. "I'm no doctor but I do help out. I do know the best way to relieve your condition too." "But, you nee—" I said, as Katy cut me off. "Need to grieve? Need to be sure of what I want? Need to take it slow? Need to trust you? What exactly do you think I need at this point, Mr. Hobbs?" Holy shit, Katy was a firecracker. She called me Mr. Hobbs. That was major step backwards, yet her hips continued their swaying. I did what any rational guy would do. "I'm not going to presume to know what you need, Katy. Would you mind telling me?" "Why would I tell you? I have given you every hint I can possibly give you, and you still haven't figured it out." Katy purposely thrust her ass against my groin "Some of us are a bit denser than others, Katy." Then it hit me like a ton of bricks. Katy had not been testing my character at all. She had been dropping hints. She already knew I wasn't the sort of person that would take advantage of her. At dinner, she told me she had nobody left. Katy was interested in me, and she dropped a very subtle hint that I missed. She wasn't playing along when James showed up, she was telling me what she needed as a woman. The look on her face when I said we should call it a night, she wasn't worried. Katy wanted to stay with me. When the hotel clerk called us Mr. and Mrs. Hobbs, she wasn't uncomfortable with the title. She wanted it and was embarrassed that she liked the sound of it. Katy had told me of her one previous love that ended seven years ago. She hadn't been with anyone ever since. She specifically said that I had restored her faith. Katy was grieving, but she certainly knew what she wanted. Yes, I wanted to take it slow and I wanted her to trust me... I would give her no reason not to. I knew what Katy needed. She needed sex, no she needed love, my love. An affirmation of that love would be the sex involved. I slid my briefs down my legs and kicked them off my ankles. A gentle sigh escaped Katy's mouth when she felt my exposed and bare helmet rub against her vulva and part her soaked lips. I am no porn star but I have never had a complaint about my seven inches. I am thicker than most and know to take it slow. My cock was coated with her free flowing juices in a matter of minutes. I held her tightly while I kissed her shoulder and moved upwards to her neck. I whispered the answer, "You need my love as much as I need yours." "Yes, Kyle," she said softly. ******************** The sheets were soaked and the scent of sex filled the air while our bodies sweated profusely. Katy was more than a firecracker, she was more like bundle of dynamite. Once the fuse was lit, it was like a series of non-stop explosions for almost two hours straight. I'm not sure how many orgasms she had, but after my third I was useless. It wasn't crazy, dirty porn sex. For two hours we expressed our feelings for each other by making love and exploring each other's tastes. Katy took control after my first orgasm. My ribs were still sore, so I was limited in some of the positions we were moving into and how aggressive I could be. She made up for my limitations, and then some. I have never witnessed a woman so passionate and so full of love, the only way to describe it would be true and utter bliss. "I told you, I knew the best way to relieve your condition!" Katy said, grinning like she was the cat that ate the canary. As much as I would have loved to stay locked in our room, we had too much to do. "We need a shower. We have a busy day ahead of us." After our shower, we packed up and checked out. I used my phone to take a couple of pictures for prosperity. Our first stop would be to see James. Something was off about his reaction to Will's passing. Katy did not want to see him but I assured her that no harm would come to her. James looked like hell and smelled even worse. I wouldn't have believed what came out of his mouth if I wasn't sitting right in front of him. "I have been in love with you for the past eight years. As soon as Will dies, you go and hook up with this clown? Will said I wasn't allowed anywhere near you while he was alive. In fact, his exact words were 'over my dead body.' Well he's dead, and now we can be together." James was psychotic! He was literally crazy. Did he really believe blowing a couple of holes in Katy's door was going to help him fulfill the fantasy he had in his head? I thought Katy was going to stay silent, but rage burned in those once sorrowful blue eyes. "Did you really think I was going to fall into your arms at my house? You were trying to pick me up like some drunk hooker at a bar. Then you come back, cause a scene like some drunk high school kid, and threaten my fiancé. But no, that wasn't bad enough was it? You came back with a shotgun and blew my door open. What were you going to do? Kill the only love in my life, then drag me to the alter, kicking and screaming? You need help James!" The look on James face was strange when she mentioned him dragging her to the alter. It was as if he was pondering the image as a good idea, one he hadn't considered. Nothing else Katy had said seemed to get a reaction out of him. I heard it but it still caught me off guard. I was now Katy's fiancé and I didn't even have a chance to get her a ring. I was so proud of her being able to articulate just how absurd his thought process was. I grabbed her hand as we stood up to leave. James tried to attack us, but being chained to a desk limited him to moving less than a foot. His menacing voice came through loud and clear. "I'm going to kill you and Katy will be mine!" The officer in the room heard every word. James would not be getting out of jail anytime soon. When we made it outside, I pulled Katy into my arms and let my kiss speak for how I felt. "Fiancé, huh? When did that happen?" Katy decided the truth would set her free. "When I held you in my arms on the way to the hospital, it just felt so right. Then something clicked inside of me when you spoke to me in the hospital room, before your bandages were removed, and again after they were removed. I knew you had no plans to take advantage of me. You always looked me in the eyes when you talked with me, and then offered to help me with the funeral at the restaurant. Those are the actions of a truly caring man. And what happened in the hotel room? We had one huge bed and you were going to try and sleep on the floor. I almost had to take what I already considered mine, at least until you figured out what I needed in my life. Yes, Kyle Hobbs, you are a keeper." So there it was, I was engaged without ever proposing and I couldn't have been happier. ******************** Epilogue* The funeral was a mixture of a party and somber event. Well over five-hundred people showed up and most contributed money, food, or their time. There was food for about a thousand people by the time it was over. We had plenty of volunteers to help clean up the park when everyone left. Katy and I drove the lap in just under two hours. The procession had stretched out to five miles. Katy had me drive while she snuggled up beside me. There were some tears, and even some laughs along the way. Katy told me story after story about growing up with Will. From what she described, they really were like brother and sister. Yes, he was going to be missed. We talked about racing and where we saw our love for the sport going. We had both stated our intentions going forward. We would be getting back in the saddle at some point. How soon depended on a few things, mostly getting through the mental healing, but a new bike would be needed for me. I reached in to the warm pocket of my jacket. I retrieved the little black box that my grandmother told me I should use one day. She knew I would find someone who I would want to spend the rest of my life with. Katy's tears began flowing down her cheeks, even before she opened it. "I wouldn't be a proper fiancé if the woman I love wasn't wearing my ring. I love you with all of my heart and soul, Katy. Will you marry me?" "YES, YES, YES, KYLE!" Katy opened the box to find a flawless, three carat, D colored, round cut diamond ring. Her hands were shaking so bad I thought the ring might fly out of its seat. I carefully pulled the ring out and slid it on her finger. Her entire body was vibrating. I wondered if she wasn't having and orgasm. When we pulled up at the park, both of our crews huddled up in a prayer. Katy hugged Bill, literally squeezed the air out of him. She kissed him on the cheek and thanked him for all of his help setting up the funeral. Bill told her that she was family and she could count on him being there for her in the future. Only Katy and I went to the cemetery after the service wrapped up. Katy draped a leather jacket and a pair of gloves on top of the casket before it was lowered into the darkness below. I held her while she wept for the loss of her brother. It is such a strange feeling not knowing the person being buried, but still being able to feel the heartache and loss anyway. ******************** The tires were screaming for mercy below. The engine was growling and there was exhaust humming a distinct melody. The blistering pace would undoubtedly break the record. I was so proud of Katy Hobbs. She had some difficulty getting back to how she used to ride before that fateful day. It had been two years of determination and hard work. We had plenty of heated conversations up to this point. Building her confidence was a challenge, but I assured her that nothing was going to happen to either of us, except being crowned winners. We were both racers and wanted what every competitor wanted, to win. I felt the sidecar shift and the bike wobbled. Katy had let off the gas on the last lap. As I shifted my weight, I put my hand on her back. She knew I would not settle for less than everything she had. Bill and the crew had put together an amazing machine for us to ride together. I was now her riding partner and husband. With a twist of her wrist, the throttle opened up wide. We were coming to the hill that claimed Will's life. There was no hesitation and no fear that I could feel. The bike launched in the air as photographers clicked away. One of those pictures made the front page of the morning paper. The headline read, "Rubber Meets the Road." It was a beautifully written story about a local racer breaking the track record, and about Katy's life of loss, love, and facing adversity. We were married six months after our impromptu engagement with a small ceremony consisting of our closest and dearest friends that we call family. As for James, well, he was locked up in a mental institution but we are keeping tabs on him.