18-Julian
“You need to give the kid a promotion,” Jake says to Boone.
“He’s your age,” I point out.
“Yes, but I come with extra wisdom.”
Wisdom, my ass. Jake is a fantastic guy, don’t get me wrong. He’s also a team owner, a constant charmer, and incredibly talented. It’s also true that his wife, Sarah, is the brains behind their company. I would know because she’s why their father, Tom Rivers, gave me a ride with RMS a few years ago. My career would be done if it wasn’t for her.
Boone sits in the row above us, like how a self-appointed king might place himself above his subjects.
The three of us grow silent as Matteo approaches us. His steps falter after he notices Boone before his shoulders square up, and his pace quickens.
The track is only half-full like most weeknights, but Matteo’s evening ended with another win.
“We told him to come see you in person,” I explain before Matteo can say something stupid. “Good racing.”
“Thanks. I owe you credit for getting me here,” Matteo says while eyeing Boone.
Boone threatened Matteo’s career if he didn’t agree to race for Rivers Motorsports a couple of years ago, and Matteo has never forgiven him for it. I understand that, while also sharing Boone’s opinion, as painful as that admittance is.
“Julian has been talking you up for a while now, and I can see why,” Boone says. He thinks his flat smile is cheery. I’d call it glum. “You’re debuting in the truck series two weeks from now. Let’s see how you do.”
Matteo’s mouth drops. “Does this mean another contract?”
“If you prove yourself, then yes.” Boone leans back, his arms resting on the bench behind him. “Maybe you’ll get lucky, and another team will pluck you out from under me. If that happens, it’ll still be worth it because your talent isn’t going to waste.”
Where would Matteo go? I glance at Jake, who is strangely quiet. The man rarely knows how to shut up. “You never know what the future holds. After all, look at me,” is all he says.
Jake and Sarah formed their own company last year. He’s now one of the few owners and drivers within the Cup series. He can fucking have at it. I saw what ownership does, and I want no part of it.
“Let’s go. I promised Madelyn we would hurry,” Boone says.
“I did the same.” Jake flashes me a cocky grin.
“What is it?”
He only shakes his head. “Nothing,” he says, but the grin gets more prominent.
Their wives are coming. This isn’t a formal party or dinner. It’s some drinks at an outside patio, which is my way of acknowledging Matteo’s efforts. Frankly, I didn’t even expect Boone to show. Knowing he did and knowing others want to cheer Matteo on is almost enough to warm my cold, dead heart.
I could have asked Lily to join us, although, with Boone’s presence, that could be awkward. He won’t appreciate any threat to Pete Webb’s continued employment, and he’s made his opinion on my lifestyle known. Often and loudly.
Lily will be hurt if she learns I excluded her, especially after our recent complications. She put her trust in me, and I might have destroyed it.
“Who’s going to be there?” Matteo asks.
Yeah, not inviting her was the correct decision.
∞∞∞
She’s here. Lily has been engaged in deep conversation with Maddie or Sarah since my arrival and has not glanced in my direction even once.
Either she’s oblivious to my presence, which horrifies me, or she’s hurt. That’s worse.
The live band plays an 80s pop hit, and she gently sways, unaware she’s doing it. Lily’s white skirt swirls over her hips and thigh, and she presses a hand against one leg. She glances over at me, and her lips tilt up before she resumes her conversation with Maddie.
What is so damn important that she doesn’t have time for me?
“If your offer to act as his spotter is still there, we’re taking it,” Boone says, pulling me out of my trance. “He trusts you, and frankly, he’ll take guidance from you much easier than he will from me.”
“The offer is there, and I’m accepting.” I take a swig of my beer and set it down. It’s already warm despite being full. “He’s good, and he’ll get better.”
Most of my coaching skills come from my father, which bothers me. He can train a person to race; I owe him that much. My approach differs from his in two critical ways: I don’t threaten or intimidate.
“So are you,” Boone says, and my neck snaps. “He’s premiering in two weeks, and I want you to do the same. You want to get back into an Xfinity race; this is your chance.”
The cars are a different challenge than the Cup cars, but no less difficult. “I’m taking it.” Lily doesn’t notice our conversation. If she had, I’m sure she would demand we celebrate somehow.
“We’ll be competing in all three series for the first time.” The pride in his voice creeps into me. It’s been Boone’s goal since he took over from his father. “I promised Derek he’ll get his chance, too. If you want to engage with that, I’ll take you up on it.”
Derek once worked for Jake before Boone hired him.
I pinch my chin so my jaw closes back up. “You know I will.”
“Good,” he says, standing up. “It’s nice to see this professionalism in you. Keep it up.”
There it is, asshole Boone coming out. “Same guy I’ve always been.”
He doesn’t hear me, and now Matteo is talking to Lily.
Fanfuckingtastic.
I head to the restaurant entrance to make a phone call.
Alone in the quiet parking lot, I dial a familiar number. “Dad, it’s me…”
“We’re sorry, this message box is full.” The female robot’s voice taunts me.
I’ve often wondered if he ever listened to my messages, and now there’s an answer.
∞∞∞
Will someone please explain why I’m the odd man out here?
Boone is busy flirting with his wife, which is great. He isn’t speaking to me, and he makes Maddie happy for some damn reason I’ll never understand. Lily and Sarah are still busy discussing whatever the hell they need to talk about, while Jake and Matteo are engaged in another equally useless conversation.
Lily turns, like she senses me spying on her, and flashes a smile.
“Are you two fighting?” Jake asks. “Not like I’m spying, but you two haven’t spoken a single word to each other all night. My advice? Apologize. Own up, then find her favorite dessert and feed it to her.”
“We’re just friends,” I stammer out. Plus, there’s a ten-year age difference between us. For all Boone said tonight, he’ll take it back if Pete Webb insists. Pete is the man who will build out his garage, and Boone trusts him more than he ever will me. “I haven’t done anything wrong.”
Nothing except fantasizing about taking her virginity while she wears that white dress or jerking myself off at the idea of becoming her teacher with her legs wrapped around my hips.
“If that’s true, why do you sit here and sulk? You want my advice?”
“Not particularly, but you’re going to give it, anyway.”
Jake smiles. “You got to press down on the throttle to win the race.”
“Racing analogies? Really?”
“You need to block your competitor when he goes for a pass.” Jake nods towards Matteo, who deliberately moves towards Lily.
“I got it, thanks,” I say before standing.
“You need to thank your teammates when they bump you into the lead,” he says, copying my movements.
“Thank you, and please stop.”
Lily notices Matteo and glances my way again, but there’s no smile this time.
She believes I rejected her. How much courage did it take her to ask me? She probably practiced the question in her head, over and over, the entire way home. She put off asking the whole time while the butterflies took over her stomach. Lily’s bold request threw me off when I wanted to give her an immediate yes.
She trusted me, and I want her.
I reach her first. “Let’s go.”
“Where?”
“Home. With me.”