Easy. Right?
I yell my good-bye on the way out the door but don’t wait for a response before I bound down the stairs to my GTO. I’ve to pick up the Subaru and meet Ryder at Causey’s. I also need to see about getting my own car for racing. Now that I’m working at Hank’s, I should be able to save enough money. I can’t keep using Causey’s car, even if we are going to be family.
Ryder is already waiting for me at Causey’s. Leaning against his Chevelle, he pushes off the side, a wide grin spreading across his face when he sees me pull up.
“Ready?” he calls over the roof of the Subaru.
I nod, affirmative. “You racing?”
“Nope. Not this baby. Now that Leigh’s gone, who’ll fix any damage?” he asks in all seriousness.
“Eh, dickhead, hello. I can.”
He laughs. “Sorry, forgot about you working at Hank’s. How’s it going?”
“It’s good. Hank’s pretty cool and Aaron’s crazy.”
“Pity, she’s gone.” His brow furrows as he frowns.
“Yeah, thanks for reminding me,” I growl, and he jerks back, watching me for a long beat before clicking his tongue.
“You need to get over her,” he states as if I’ve not thought of that.
“That’s the plan tonight.” I force a smile on my face, not feeling it, but I’m good at hiding behind my manwhore front.
“For real?” His eyebrows climb higher
“Yeah, she’s gone, and I need to take my mind off her.” I try not to sound as defeated as I feel, but I really need to work on sounding more convincing.
“Plenty of girls tonight can help you do that.” He winks and I flash him a weak smile.
“Exactly.”
“What are we waiting for?” Ryder yanks open his door and climbs in. I follow suit, and soon, we are both driving down Causey’s driveway, heading for the quarter mile.
There’s quite a crowd by the time we arrive, and I spot Aaron and Beth together. The three other racers are already gathered, Kyle—a young guy I recognize from the garage, Mason—the guy I saw chatting with Leigh one day, and an older guy Travis, who I don’t know so well but I’ve seen him around. Kyle drives an older model Camaro, Mason a Nova, and Travis drives a souped up Jetta with a huge spoiler and neon lights on the underside.
Ryder holds the ball cap and we all throw our money in. Looking around, he asks, “Where’s Sugar?” Confused at her absence.
“Dunno.” I shrug, I never gave it a thought when I raced out the door, I assumed she was coming here.
“But she starts the race.” His lips purse and he looks ridiculous pouting like a girl.
“Someone else will have to do it.” I shrug because I don’t care who starts the race, as long as someone does and soon.
“Who?” Already, he’s searching around to see who could do it.
“I don’t care, anyone.” What is the big fuss? You just have to drop the fucking cap; it’s not launching a rocket ship. If I had a girlfriend, it would automatically be her who starts the race, but I don’t so …
“You can’t ask just anyone.”
“Watch me,” I growl, knowing I could ask any number of the girls here, but I don’t want them thinking it means something.
“Beth,” I shout over, and she looks up in surprise. “Start the race?” I hold the ball cap out to her. She gives Aaron a quick look who nods and she climbs off the hood of his Mustang and takes the cap.
“Where’s Sugar?” she asks, taking the bills out the cap and stuffing them into her pocket.
“Dunno. With Causey somewhere, no doubt wedding planning,” I grumble. I came here to race not play twenty questions over my sister’s whereabouts.
A few of the girls throw a dirty look in Beth’s direction, but she ignores them, pulls her shoulders back, and walks to the starting line. Of course, I picked Beth because everyone knows she’s with Aaron. No doubt in anyone’s mind about it meaning anything else.
As I make my way to where my Subaru sits at the start line, I pass a pretty blonde who’s been eye fucking me since I got here. Stopping in front of her, I wrap an arm around her waist, drawing her flush with me.
“What’s your name?” I ask and cut straight to the chase.
“Carly,” she breathes out.
“After I win, it’s you and me.” I barely wait for her response before I claim her lips in a hard kiss. Pulling back, I release her and climb into my car, flashing her a well-practiced Max Morgan smile as I go. She wets her lips and gives me a coy smile. Yup, she’s the one for tonight, I think before I focus my attention on the road in front of me.