Chapter 6

At first, he didn’t know what had happened. But then, just a few seconds later, a green and stylish bicycle stopped on the sidewalk ahead of him. Its owner jumped off. Jax blinked a few times and realized that he had been accidentally hit by the biker and one of the bike’s handlebars. He saw the Bixby’s owner, who was thin, tall, and handsome with brown hair. The rider wore a pair of summertime shorts, a T-shirt, and Nike sneakers. He used the kickstand on the Bixby, temporarily abandoned it, and rushed to Jax’s side, standing over him.

“Are you all right?” the stranger asked.

Jax stared into the man’s young face and replied, “I’ve been better.”

The stranger helped Jax off the sidewalk, apologizing for hitting him with the Bixby’s right handlebar. Obviously nervous, out of breath, he said, “I’m sorry about that. I misjudged where you were.”

Jax let out a moan, bounced on his good foot, and said, “It feels twisted.”

“A little or a lot?”