“I’ll take you home,” Causey offers quickly, looking at Meghan, who gives a terse nod in agreement. But I know she’s biding her time by the way she grits her teeth. I’m not looking forward to being left alone and wonder if I can convince Causey to stick around for a bit.
I climb in the back and let Meghan ride up front with Causey. She spends most of the journey staring out the window. This is a bad sign because it just gives her longer to stew and work herself into a fit of temper. Causey realizes the best thing to do is keep quiet because he doesn’t utter a word on the drive back. When we pull up outside out apartment, Meghan is out of the car like a shot, running up the stairs and into the apartment without saying good-bye.
With a deep sigh, I climb out and slowly start to follow her. Best to get this over with. I wouldn’t be surprised if she is already packing, or Meghan’s version of it, which consists of throwing everything we own into duffle bags.
“Should I leave you guys to it?” Causey asks nervously.
“Nah, I need your support. Maybe you can calm her down. Convince her not to move again.” I exhale loudly. Causey’s eyes widen as it dawns on him that he might not get his chance with her. Like I won’t get my chance with Leigh. Fuck this; I’m not leaving, not yet. I’m staying put. With or without my sister.
Both of us trudge up the stairs like condemned men. The apartment door is standing wide open but to my surprise, she hasn’t started packing yet. Instead, she is pacing the room chewing her nail but looks up when she hears us enter. If she wonders why Causey’s here, she doesn’t say. Maybe she realizes I’ve brought him as backup. Not that it will stop her.
“Did you know about the racing? Is that why we came here?” She cuts right to the chase.
“What?” I take a step back in shock. “No, I just drove. You’re the one who said ‘stop’ and decided to stay.”
“You know what trouble you can get into racing.”
“This is different.”
“How is it different?” Her eyes flash, challenging me to explain the difference.
“Look.” Causey takes a step forward, coming to my defense. “The quarter mile is just that. We race there, and as long as there’s not trouble, the sheriff doesn’t pay a visit up there.” It’s as if she’s only realized that Causey is still in the room. Meghan turns on him, her hazel eyes blazing with anger, and he visibly shrinks back.
“You race?” She is now apoplectic with rage.
“Of course.” I hear the pride in his voice, and her eyes widen with surprise before they narrow to slits.
“Have you taken Max with you?” she seethes.
“Meghan, I’m not a child,” I say in my defense, but she silences me with a sharp, “Shhh.” And I do, more taken aback than anything.
Causey sighs and straightens; pulling up to his full six-foot-two inches in height and is quite imposing. Something different flares in Meghan’s eyes, something that I don’t want to dwell on.
“Yeah, I’ve taken him.” He owns up to it and I groan inwardly, willing him to be quiet and make a run for it while he still has time. But he doesn’t. “And he’s got talent,” he continues.
“Excuse me,” she interrupts.
“He’s good at it, totally cleaned up.”
“For fuck’s sake, Max.” Her angry gaze swing in my direction and now, I’m in the line of fire. “That’s it. Start packing,” she snaps and turns toward her bedroom but stops in her tracks when Causey and I shout, “No,” at the same time. She spins around on her heel slowly, looking between the two of us.
“I’m not leaving again, Meghan. We just got here. I like this town.” She snorts, and I roll my eyes at her. “Not for that reason. For the first time, I’m making friends and I have work. We have somewhere nice to live. A girl I like.” A ghost of a smile plays over her lips at the last point.
“Who?” Causey turns to me, sounding interested.
“Some girl,” Meghan helpfully supplies, to which I stick my tongue out at her.
“Which one?” he asks with a smirk because he saw me with one girl on the quarter mile.
“Leigh Storm,” I mutter.
“Yeah, good luck with that one.” Causey laughs heartily.
“Fuck off,” I growl and turn my attention to my sister. “Thing is I want to stay in one place.”
Meghan bites her lip, eyebrows bunched as she mulls it over. “Fine.” She throws up her arms. “I like it here, but I’m not sure about you racing.”
I open my mouth, but Causey walks toward her, resting his hands on her shoulders and she looks up at him. “Don’t worry. I won’t let anything happen. I promise, Sugar.” Then he stills, realizing his mistake when she backs up and glares at him.