“’67 Charger. Can’t beat American muscle.” A sly smile spread across my face, and he laughed openly, totally transforming his face.
“I’ll remember that.” He winked. “You race?”
I frowned and shook my head. “Good luck,” I whispered and moved out of his grip, but he stopped me.
“If I win, will you come for a ride with me?”
“I don’t think so,” I whispered. I was sorely tempted, but why would Max Morgan want to go for a ride with me. Not when he could have any girl here, and worst, he knew it.
“Please.” Uncertainty creased my brow because I didn’t think Max Morgan usually had to say ‘please.’ I chewed my lip as I struggled internally. I wanted to go, I really did, but the sane part of me was telling me no. He reached out to run a finger up my forearm. All the fine hairs stood on end as a tingle worked its way up my arm.
“Okay, if you win.” I shrugged, pretending it was no big deal. A cocky smile spread over his face, and he stepped closer.
“Don’t worry. I’ll win.” He gave me a quick kiss on the cheek before I could stop him and jogged back over to the group of people surrounding his car.
What the fuck was that? my brain screamed. Max Morgan wanted me to go for a ride with him. I must be out of my mind to have agreed, but that one kiss rocked me to my very core. I slammed down the hood of Aaron’s Mustang, startling him and Beth. They cut me a look, but I shrugged and sat on the hood of his car, ready to watch the race.
It was Max’s first race, and I watched as Causey gave him a few last-minute pointers. Max turned to get into his Subaru and met my eye over the roof of his car. He held my gaze, and I couldn’t turn away. The memory of his kiss was still imprinted on my brain and my lips. With a swift nod and a quick smile, he got into his car and lined it up.
“You know him?” Beth spoke up and I turned to the side to look at her.
“Nah, I’ve heard of him but I don’t know him.” I told a white lie.
“He’s new in town, dangerous, and hot, of course.”
I held my hand up to stop her. “Stop, I don’t want to know.” And she shut up and let me watch the race in peace.
Of course, Max won, and when he stepped out of his car, Josie Collins, the most popular girl in school, made a beeline for him. Her whole face lit up, like she’d won the fucking lottery as she sidled up to him. Not beating around the bush, she wrapped her arms around him, pressing her body against him, and kissed him full on his lips. It was a totally different kiss from the one I just shared with him. A wave of nausea washed over me and my stomach gave a painful twist as I stood rooted to the spot watching them. She had effectively erased my kiss from his lips, and I hated him for letting her do that. She leaned up and whispered something in his ear; a slow grin spread over his face, and he nodded his head. Josie pulled away, a look of satisfaction on her face, and I continued to watch in horror as he held open the passenger door and she climbed inside. So much for him wanting me to go for a ride with him.
He rounded the hood to open his door and caught my eye over the roof. I glared at him with narrowed eyes, and he paled before quickly looking away and climbing into the Subaru. Screw you, Max Morgan. Yeah, it was maybe just a kiss to him, but to me… well, a small part of my brain thought that maybe he might actually like me and see there was more to me than a tomboy who was more interested in cars than any of the guys there. I wouldn’t make that mistake again. He was just as superficial as the rest of them.
That was where my hatred was born, and it got worse. I didn’t know who I was more annoyed at. Him for being exactly what I thought he was, or me for thinking he might be different. I hated the way he made me feel, the way my body reacted whenever he was around, and how the mention of his name made me act a little crazy.
After that night, Max always had a girl or two with him, and I stayed out of his way. After a race, there was always a buzz about how he’d won a race and what girl had ridden in his car, until I was sick hearing about him. I successfully stayed off his radar until that night when he goaded me into racing. Ever since then, we’d gone out of our way to annoy each other—a mutual hatred of sorts. As much as I thought he was the bane of my life, I missed our mutual annoyance in some weird way…or maybe it was just Max who I missed.
After a long time wallowing and feeling sorry for myself, I pull my phone out of my pocket and select the name I’ve been putting off contacting for over a week. I stand, stretching out the kinks in my back, and move across the room to look out the window as it rings.