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“No, you won’t. Recumbents are often prohibited from competing against regular bikes, so they have their own races around the world and they’ve become quite popular. You can see them all over the trails during the weekends. Besides, you’re not racing anyone. You’ve got two weeks until your next doctor’s appointment. I can build the bike in that amount of time, and you can give it a try. I can make an elevated stationary frame for it so you can ride it in the shop when you want. What do you think?”

I thought it would make me look like a douche, but I kept my mouth shut. “Have you ever made a recumbent bike before?” I had the idea in my head that only old people rode them, but I’d never say that to Bridges. I didn’t want him to think I was making a big deal out of our age difference.

“No, but I’ve made a few adaptive bikes and wheelchairs, a handcycle for a paraplegic who was competing in Special Olympics, and a basketball wheelchair for a wounded warrior. I donated that one to a charity. Are you in to giving it a try? If you don’t like it, I can always sell it.” He was so sweet to suggest something that could accommodate me until I could put pressure on my shoulder by riding the way I was used to that I couldn’t turn down his kindness.

“Yeah, uh, sure. Let’s see what you come up with.” I stood from the bed and held out my hand to him. Come help me in the shower?”

Bridges grinned. “Your wish is my command.”

I laughed. “You’re too cute.”

I was going stir crazy because I couldn’t work, and I was worried about what Mom was living on since she’d gone to Burlington to stay with an old friend of hers who I’d never met. She’d called me right after the accident and asked if I wanted her to come to New York, but I said no, that Bridges was taking care of me.

She seemed a little miffed, but I was still pissed that either she or Uncle Edmond had lied to me about the rent with the house. I hadn’t called him either, though Bridges had gone to pick up my bike from Uncle Edmond’s office earlier after breakfast.

When he brought it inside, I saw how badly the bike was banged up. The tangled mess reminded me how lucky I’d been that all I had was a broken clavicle and a floating shoulder. My wounds would heal, thank heaven. Just looking at the bike reminded me that I could have been severely injured or even died.

Bridges had the tires and rims off because the back one was bent to fuck. He had the bike on the workbench as he looked it over without saying anything.

Alexis was sitting at her drafting table, her sharp eyes steady on Bridges as he circled the bench looking at one thing or another and shaking his head. I couldn’t begin to figure out what he was thinking.

“What did the doctor say yesterday?” Alexis glanced at me and smiled.

“One more week in the sling, and then physical therapy for eight to twelve weeks, depending on my progress. The doctor did say I could train on the recumbent bike to keep my core strong and my legs in shape.” I left out that the doctor said I shouldn’t ride the bike for more than an hour a day because certain muscle groups were tied to each other and I could strain the muscles surrounding the breaks without even knowing it. I kind of tuned out his monotonous voice after he said I could ride. Bridges didn’t need to know the time limit detail. I had a ride to prepare for.

“That’s good,” Alexis said. “Maybe the four of us can get dinner on sometime soon? Steph enjoyed getting to know you better.”

I grinned. “She’s an amazing woman. I don’t know how she can do what she does. It would break my heart to see those tiny babies struggle to stay alive.”

Bridges picked up the bike frame and carried it to the corner of the shop, putting it on a hook. He left the room for a moment before returning with a different style of frame, though it was the same electric yellow-green color as my other bike.

“That looks great, Bridges. Is that what you’ve been working on?” Alexis asked.

Bridges turned to her and nodded. “It’s a recumbent frame made from carbon fiber. I made the mold a while back, but I’ve never actually used it because I got sidetracked with something else and put it aside. Taking into consideration West’s height and leg length, I modified it a bit and used it to make this frame for the practice bike.” He turned to me and smiled. “This isn’t the bike you’ll be riding across the country. This is just a bike for you to use right now.”

“Babe, you don’t have to go to all the trouble of—”

“Yes, Weston. Yes I do. I know for sure you could have died in that accident. I’m going to make certain you’re safe on this ride. I love you, and you love me, so please, let me help you.” His voice was full of pain, so I walked over to him and kissed his mouth, placing my uninjured arm around his neck.

I heard the door to the shop close as Bridges kissed me, wrapping me in his arms, ever so gently. Our tongues twirled together, and as Bridges held me and worried about me and loved me, I’d never felt so seen in my life. It was amazing. Never had I felt anything of the sort.

Bridges ended the delicious kiss with a sweet peck before taking a step away from me. “God, I’m so damn glad that you survived that fucking accident. I can’t say what I’d have done if you’d been seriously hurt. You need to understand that you mean the world to me, okay?”

It was wonderful to hear him say those things, and I appreciated hearing how much I meant to him. “You mean the same to me, Bridges. I’m asking myself how I got so lucky to have such a wonderful man want me back.”

He kissed my forehead before staring at me. “And what did the doctor say that you neglected to mention in front of Alexis. I’m like a human lie detector, sweetheart, and I know you left out something. I want to know what.”

My eyes grew wide at his perceptive nature. “The doctor said I’m not supposed to ride for more than an hour at a time. He didn’t understand what I’m trying to do, Bridges. It’s not just for me, okay? It’s for all the kids who don’t have anyone to support them. The Rainbow Equality Alliance does really good work, and I’m damn well going to provide all the financial support for them that I can. I need to train longer than an hour a day.”

Bridges raised an eyebrow at me before he stepped back. “Okay. I won’t stop you from doing what you believe is right, but I don’t want you to injure yourself. My priority is your well-being, but I know how much this means to you. I won’t say anything until I think its impeding your ability to heal. I don’t want to piss you off, but I will say something if I think you’re overdoing it. I love you, and this is what I do for the people I love.”

I stepped into his arms and we rocked back and forth to music that only we could hear. It was up there with the most beautiful moments I’ve ever experienced in my life. Having someone to stand beside me, and not in my way blocking me or behind me pushing me in a direction I didn’t want to go, was more than I ever thought I’d have. More than I ever thought I deserved, I guess.

My father and mother loved me, but I always thought I was a huge disappointment to both of them. Having my mother scold me not to embarrass Bridges at his parents’ house for Thanksgiving made me feel like a child again, and it brought back old feelings of insecurity that were a crushing blow to my self-esteem.

But as I stood in front of Bridges seeing that he believed I’d look out for myself because he loved me made me proud. Proud of myself for even trying to take on a daunting task like riding a weird bike across the country to give away a chunk of my trust fund to people who need it more than me.

Proud that I was willing to try to convince people who hate me that I can run my father’s investment firm as well as he did, even though I don’t want that life for myself.