“He’ll never love you like my Jamie did.”

“I’m not asking him to,” I said, reaching out to take her hand. When she didn’t jerk from my grasp I was relieved. “I’m not looking to replace him. I know that what we had was special and no one will ever take his place.” I blinked away the tears that were filling my eyes and watched hers do the same. “I’m grateful for the time I had with your son. And with you,” I added. “But I can’t keep hanging around here like he’s coming back.”

She nodded her head and I knew that she understood, even if the stubborn side of her didn’t want to.

“We know this, Georgia,” Jim said, walking out of the kitchen and over to his wife. He placed his hands on her shoulders and kissed her cheek. “We want you to be happy,” he added. “Don’t we, Iris?”

“We do.” She pulled my hand until I was standing close enough for her to hug me. “I’m sorry if I’ve made you feel that this—that coming over here—was an obligation.” She released me from her arms. “You were just such a big part of Jamie’s life. With you here I feel closer to him.”

“I know.” I nodded. “I feel closer to him when I’m around you too. It’s not like I’ll never come by again.”

“It’s really okay,” Jim said. “We knew this day would come.”

“I really do want you to live your life. Jamie would want you to be happy,” Iris confessed with a sniffle.

“I hope so.”

“He would,” Jim assured me, taking the opportunity to give me a hug of his own. “We love you like you were one of ours, sweet Georgia.” I felt like the weight of the world was being lifted off my shoulders. I’d put so much stock, so much effort, into being a part of their family that sometimes I forgot that I wasn’t. The pressure of not disappointing them—of needing their approval to move on—was something that I always worried about. Hearing them say that they knew I was going to move on with my life and that they understood filled me with hope that I was making the right decisions. Whether or not I ended up with Brett, I felt hopeful for the future. The future where the ghost of my fiancé wasn’t constantly looking over my shoulder. The future where my past didn’t haunt me.

“For what it’s worth, I would have loved being your daughter-in-law,” I told them as they walked me to the door. “Your family will always be very special to me.”

“And you to us.”

My thighs were burning as I extended my legs on my third rep on the leg press, but my knee felt strong. This was the best workout I’d had yet. I finally felt like my old self. That’s not true. I felt better than my old self. I felt stronger, faster, and more than ready to get back on my bike. I’d taken to using the PT facility as my own personal gym. The staff didn’t seem to mind. I couldn’t just work my legs. I conditioned my arms, core and back every day as well. Not to mention, the countless reps of sit-ups and pull-ups I did at the cabin.

I’d talked to Reid while he was home and hearing him talk about everything Throttled Energy had planned for us this season was overwhelming. I had months before the X-Games, which gave me plenty of time to work out all the kinks of riding with a knee replacement. They’d moved the host city to Austin a couple years back. It was like riding in my own backyard. I had to be in top shape by then at the very least. But, what I really wanted to do was get on the Throttled Energy High Flight tour, which was already underway. I’d only missed two events, but I knew I could make up the points. The High Flight tour was global. Riders from all over the world competed and tour stops went as far as Nepal and Abu Dahbi. Not a bad way for a small town Texas boy to see the world.

I wanted to tell Georgia about the tour. I wanted to ask her to go with me. I wanted to show her the world. She’d been in Halstead her entire life, surrounded by memories and people that were never going to let her forget that she was basically a widow. I knew she loved her hometown, but it was holding her back.

“Dude,” Will said locking the plate of the machine into place. “You’re killing it today.”

“Right?” I smirked. “I feel so good.”

“I can tell,” he agreed. “I’d ask if it was all workout and diet, but the goofy ass grin on your face says it’s more than that.”

I raised an eyebrow as I climbed off the machine, unsure of exactly what he meant. I really hoped the track gossip wasn’t suggesting I was using steroids or something stupid.

“Halstead’s hens are clucking about Georgia Bennett being involved with some big shot motocross racer. Sounds like she’s not just your personal nurse anymore, huh?”

“No, she definitely is not.” I felt the goofy ass grin he was talking about return to my face as he slapped me on the shoulder.

“Good for you. She’s a great girl.”

“I know. I’m feeling pretty lucky.” I shrugged. “My knee feels great. My girl is amazing. I really have no complaints in life at the moment.”

“Now to get Dr. Forlani to release you,” he said, pulling out a folder that had my name on the top of it. “I think you’re ready. I’m going to send her my recommendations and your latest progress chart. I’m betting another week and you’ll be good to go.”

“That’s great news,” I told him. It was better than great news. Every time I thought about riding again, I felt a surge of adrenaline. Being able to rev up my bike and actually take off, as opposed to just starting it up to run some juice through it had been on the top of my priorities list. A priorities list that had recently changed. A part of me was reluctant to bust through the door at home and tell Georgia the great news.

The past few days had been so good between us. We were happy. Things were easy. I knew that once she knew I was going to be going back to Texas, we’d have to have the long-distance-relationship talk. I didn’t know if I was ready for that pressure to be on either of us yet. I had no doubts that my feelings for her were real. I was willing to do whatever I had to do to make it work between us. I just hoped that she felt the same.

“Don’t forget about me when you’re back on the track,” Will teased as he signed off on the papers in the folder. “Don’t forget who whipped your broken ass back into shape.”

“I won’t,” I assured him with a laugh. I didn’t want to tell him that he wasn’t the only one who’d whipped me into shape. Georgia was as instrumental in my recovery as Will was. She made me want to take better care of myself. She made me want to be a better person. She made me want to be a guy worthy of having her. Will might have helped strengthen my knee, but Georgia was responsible for fixing my heart and soul.

* * *

After physical therapy, I had plenty of time to plan my night with Georgia. She had class until four and I knew she’d be ready to relax when she was finished. I’d invited her over to the cabin for dinner. Reid and Nora were on their way back to Texas. Not that I minded staying at Georgia’s house, but this place was perfect for a romantic evening in. I’d light a fire, pour some wine, maybe get her naked in front of the aforementioned fire. I had big plans for us.

Not only was I planning our night’s activities, I’d also offered to cook. I’m not sure why, considering that I had no idea how to. I wasn’t even sure I knew how to boil water, but cooking her a meal seemed like something a good boyfriend would do. Which was exactly what I wanted to be. Especially, considering that I was only a week or two away from my doctor’s release. I needed to show her that I was the kind of guy that could make a long-distance relationship work.

As I pushed my cart through the grocery store, I started to realize that I was in way over my head. I’d tossed some chicken in the cart and was wandering around the produce section while I scrolled through a recipe site I’d pulled up on my phone. The recipes might as well of been in a foreign language. How the hell was I supposed to know what blanch or brine meant?