Free A Sprint To His Heart by Lyla Bardan

thin. “I believe that is the intention.”
    Piran and his friend strode away, while I stood frozen, my mind reeling. He thought I cheated . Finally, my brain kicked in, and I ran after them. “Piran, stop! You have to believe me. I had nothing to do with their doping.”
    Without slowing, he spoke over his shoulder. “You left your bike with them.”
    “I don’t care.” Tears welled in my eyes. I really didn’t care if they jacked my bike. Not when my honor was on the line. Not when Piran believed I would even consider injecting myself with the blood of dark Fae just to win a race.
    He whirled on me, and I jerked back and stumbled, falling hard on my butt. No longer could I hold back the tears. Not only was I embarrassed, my damn tailbone hurt. Tolmin reached me first and helped me to my feet. With a sniffle, I managed to shut off the waterworks.
    “Do you have any idea how angry I am about your behavior?” Piran demanded.
    His eyes flashed like fireworks on the Fourth of July, so yeah, I had a good idea.
    “You were in no shape to race today,” he fumed. “When your head hurt, I felt you scream inside. And still, you planned to race. You would risk your health? For what, Bailey?”
    Damn it. He was acting all “Guardian” again. Rubbing my backside, I sighed. If only he understood. “I really want to go to nationals and be on a pro team.”
    “And Jose?”
    “He said he had a training regimen. Honestly, I thought it was like vitamins and protein supplements or something.” I wiped the dampness from my cheeks with the backs of my hands. “You can read my mind. Can’t you tell I’m not lying?”
    His eyes narrowed as he regarded me. “I cannot tell if your thoughts are designed to deceive. Truthful thoughts are unguarded thoughts.”
    “I wouldn’t deceive you, Piran. My mom, yes. Even Kelsi, sometimes.” Blowing out a breath, I finally met his gaze. “But not you.”
    His mouth tightened. He didn’t believe me.
    I squeezed my eyes shut. How could I convince him I’d never sell my soul to win a bike race? What did I need to show him in my mind to prove I was telling the truth?
    “Stop thinking so hard!”
    My eyes flew open, stunned by the gruffness in his voice. For a long moment, we simply stared at each other. Then his stance relaxed.
    “Good. I believe you.” He nodded in Mia’s direction. “But not everyone does.”
    “I don’t give a crap what she believes. Not anymore.”
    Huddled with Jose by his team van, Mia was screaming at him.
    I turned back to Piran. “So what will you do with the dark Fae blood?”
    “Turn it in to the authorities and the World Federation of Cycling.” He took my hand in his and caressed my skin with his thumb. His expression softened. “I have been most worried about you.”
    “He talks of nothing other than you!” Tolmin interjected. “On the drive here, I cannot make him shut down.”
    “Shut up,” Piran said with a faint smile.
    Tolmin folded his arms over his barrel chest. “No, I mean shut down. Your mind is Bailey, Bailey, Bailey. Enough!”
    Piran’s smile grew into a sheepish grin, and I laughed. His fingers entwined with mine, the softness in his eyes filling me with hope. Maybe I hadn’t lost him after all.
    But my heart sank when Coach Vinson’s team van rode past. How could I possibly tell Piran I couldn’t date him?

Chapter 7
    At my appointment with the doctor the next day, he laid down the law. No racing for two weeks, which meant I’d miss the rest of the Grand Prix Tour. Damn stupid cleat. My next chance to prove myself wouldn’t be until the Indiana Cycling Classic at the end of the month.
    My cell phone chimed with a text message from Shannon asking me to call her. Curious. Why would she want to talk now after avoiding me for weeks? I tapped on her name.
    “Bailey,” she said, upon answering. “I am so sorry for what’s been happening.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “I had no idea it was all lies! Mia and her…goddamn,