The Player Penalty (SteelTrack Racing #3)

31-Lily

Rivers Motorsports Headquarters, North Carolina

It’s summer, and this day gave us a soft breeze and a mild sun. I step off the bus and find Maddie waiting for me. As we’d discussed, she’s wearing jeans and a black-collared shirt.

“There are two buses. Are there more kids than planned?” she asks.

“No, there are 32 total. We have more than twice the typical number of parent volunteers. When the permission slips were sent home, and they saw the destination, several were suddenly available to volunteer,” I say.

“Got it. Well, they might enjoy the museum at least. We can get some autographs for anyone that wants it, too.”

Ms. Terry exits the bus while Boone and Julian exit the front door.

I offer quick introductions, and Ms. Terry says, “You’re the gentleman who gave us tickets to Charlottesville a couple of weeks ago.”

“Yes, m’am. Did you enjoy the race?” Julian’s flirty smile comes out before he bites down on his lower lip. On me, the gesture would be a nervous tic. On him, it’s just sexy.

“Oh, my husband was cheering you on the entire time.”

Julian took home another win at Charlottesville and took first in points. Afterward, Ms. Terry shared that her husband placed a bet on one of those betting websites that Julian would win the regular-season championship.

Behind us, children step off the bus, many towing a parent. The ones without are assigned a camp counselor.

Julian takes advantage of Ms. Terry checking in on a group of kids. “You look hot,” he whispers in my ear.

“You saw me this morning.” I’m also wearing a pair of faded jeans and a camp tshirt. It’s the standard uniform for all of our field trips. “Are you still in my group?”

Today’s field trip is organized into multiple zones to keep our children occupied and the adults sane. Large groups of children can be like herding cats, after all.

“Liam, are you ready to be my field trip buddy today?” He brings up the smiling face card before I take his offered hand. “Do you want to meet Julian? He’s one of my best friends and will be with us today.” I silently apologize to Julian over the ‘best friends’ reference, but it’s better than the hot guy who I’m in love with and get to have ridiculous amounts of sex with.

“Hi, are you ready to build a car?” he asks.

Liam points to a car image.

“Let’s go,” I say.

∞∞∞

“Okay, wait, wait. Let me steady the wheel first.” Julian makes another attempt at placing the front wheel on its axle. He finally manages and backs off as his laugh dies. “You’re doing great. Here’s the impact wrench.”

Liam gets busy attaching one lug nut after another.

“He loves this,” I say. It’s a great surprise.

Car tires have kept Liam engaged for the past hour. Julian places them on, and Liam uses the impact wrench. Once that’s done, they repeat the same steps in the opposite direction.

“These are old tires,” Julian tells me. “The new ones only have one nut.”

I politely nod. NASCAR tire logistics aren’t interesting, while Liam’s fascination is.

“The air compressor here works similar to one in any garage, but it’s filled with nitrogen instead. The gas doesn’t react to humidity or temperature compared to regular air,” he continues.

I nod, still bored, and then notice who has Julian’s attention. Behind me, one of the dads listens with rapt attention. Julian pauses while Liam uses the impact wrench. He nods towards the tool in Liam’s hands. “Stressful conditions at the tracks can make them quickly wear down. Our pit crews regularly do a complete rebuild because of it.”

“Do they do that with everything?”

“Everything, even the cars.” Liam yanks his shirt sleeve, drawing Julian’s attention back. “You want to do it again?” He laughs again, letting his shoulders shake. “Would you want to do this when you grow up? We have people here whose job is changing tires as quickly as possible. You’re almost as good as them. Keep it up, and you’ll be even better.”

Liam moves on to the next tire.

“We need to move on. Are you ready for a car ride?” Guilt pricks because of Liam’s obvious joy. He’s fascinated with the engineering toys back at school, so working on an old race car shouldn’t be surprising.

I reach out, knowing Liam often holds hands when he’s somewhere new. To my surprise and secret joy, he grabs Julian’s hands instead.

Julian’s eyes meet mine with a silent question. I shrug.

Outside, RMS drivers, including Boone’s spotter Derek, take the children on short rides around the practice track.

Liam puts on his headphones.

“You ready? I will pick you up so you can get in through the window. Are you ready?” Liam raises his arms. “Let’s get inside and strap the seat belts. Safety first, always.”

Julian slides through his open window and starts his engine. I wave, and they take off.

The arrangement was for only two short laps, so the wait should be brief.

“This turned out fantastic,” says Sarah as she comes up beside me. “Jake has loved every part.”

Jake is enthusiastic about everything, so much so it’s infectious.

“Thanks. I guess there was nothing to be nervous about, after all.”

“You were nervous? Dang, girl, this day is a success because of you.”

“Because of me? I mostly issued instructions and guidance to Maddie.”

She chuckles. “You organized the entire thing. It’s all you.”

“I suppose so.”

Julian loops around the track one more time. I follow the car as it returns to his spot, but he keeps going.

“The drivers know they’re only supposed to do two laps, right?” I ask.

“They know, trust me. Some children were begging for earlier. Some of the drivers, too.”

She probably means Jake.

Julian completes another lap and keeps going.

“I suppose this means Liam is having a good time.”

“Who is Liam?” Sarah asks.

“One of my students. We’re not supposed to have favorites; at least, that’s what they teach in school, but it’s not always possible. He’s such a great kid.”

Several more laps go by, and Julian returns to his stop. He climbs out and then helps Liam do the same.

“That was awesome,” says Julian

“Did you enjoy yourself?” I ask Liam.

He gives me a thumbs up.

∞∞∞

“Speaking for myself,” Jake starts.

“Speaking for everyone,” Sarah objects.

“Yes, speaking for everyone, that was a fantastic day. Did everyone see me? I am fucking great with kids.”

“Yeah, that mouth of yours is great with kids,” Boone grumbles.

Maddie interrupts. “We should celebrate the person who put this together. To Lily, you created a day for all of us to enjoy.”

Everyone raises their glasses in my honor, and I somehow manage a stammered thanks. I’m not sure whose idea of a post-field trip dinner it was, but we all somehow ended up at a steak house to celebrate and relax.

She continues. “Do you plan to teach after graduation?”

“I’m not sure. There are times when I’m in the classroom, and there’s nowhere else I’d rather be. Then, after today, I wonder how else I can help the school. We’re always looking for funding, so there may be an opportunity there. It’s mostly a question to answer later.”

Solve one problem, and when it’s done, you solve the next one. That’s been a tough lesson for me, but it’s a good one.

Sarah and Maddie share a look.

“Let’s revisit this once you’re closer to graduation. We might have some ideas you’ll be interested in, more than an internship with this guy,” Sarah says. Julian begins to protest, and she interrupts him. “We both know that was a ruse so that you could keep her around.”

My cheeks burn.

“Nope,” Julian says. “I needed the extra help.”

“Admit that I’m right, and thank me.”

“Not going to happen.”

“Oh, look, our server is here to take the orders,” Maddie says, interpreting. “Does everyone know what they would like?”

Julian, naked in bed. Absolutely delicious. I order a small steak, baked potato, and a side salad instead.

Later, after dinner is finished and we’re walking back to Julian’s car, he takes my hand.

“I also owe you a personal thanks today,” he says quietly.

“For what? I didn’t do anything.”

“Yes, you did.” We stop, and he spins me so I’m up against his car. “I felt needed today. Liam liked me, you know that? I have a younger brother, and it was like that with him sometimes, too, when we were little.”

The little brother who his father always preferred. Sarah told me the entire story; I’ve never brought it up. The whole thing is a painful memory, and nothing can be gained other than satisfying my curiosity.

“He’s a sweet kid. He took to you so quickly, it even surprised me.”

“He did. I also want to thank you for tonight.”

I laugh. “You paid for it, so it should be the opposite.”

“We went out with a group of friends, and we both belonged. All of us.”

I know what he means. A year ago, every interaction was excruciating. I secretly accused Sarah of false friendship and was convinced Boone Rivers was determined to hurt everyone around him. None of that’s true. She cares about everyone, and he wants to create a place where dreams come true.

Julian’s dreams are coming true, and I think mine are as well, even if they take longer than they should.

“You always have, Julian. It took a little while, and trust me, that happens.”