7. Bay
SEVEN
bay
I flex my hands around the wheel of my dad’s Chevy Nova. My fingers are on the trans brake as I wait for my best girlfriend, Nessa, to pull me up to the line.
Every worry, thought, fear, or problem I’m going through at the moment is getting shoved aside because I’ve already made two grand tonight, and won a fox-body Mustang.
Mortgage paid, plus late fees from two months ago—check.
Groceries that are actually paid for—check.
Utilities red notices can kiss most of my ass because I’ll have a few paid—check and check.
Travis is in the hospital with two bullet wounds to the leg…I’m working on a resolution to that. Especially since Levi is so beyond pissed that Torin Wildes was within a hundred-yard radius of us.
I literally had to throw myself in front of him to not go after Pretty Boy Wildes, not because of what I was afraid Torin would do, but Levi.
The last thing we need is Sheriff Muncy on our tail after the little stunt I pulled on one of his police officer’s cars meeting the ditch. And Levi was beyond livid that I was thankful Juice and Hot Rod were there to help me talk some sense into him.
But, tonight, is our space.
Our sanctuary where everything around us can’t get inside the cloud of exhaust smoke because we’re so deep in it.
Sitting in the rumbling noise that drones out the rest of the world, I know I belong here. I grew up on the streets with the characters currently surrounding me.
Grease and oil are in my veins.
And with Dad’s hospital bills starting to faithfully roll in, along with his physical therapy, I’m going to need every opportunity and dollar available to me to make sure he gets the best care possible.
It’s not an option.
I might not have many of them, because minimum wage isn’t going to cut it, but I have this.
And this is enough.
“Hey, girl,” Nessa coos, showing up at the side of my car and slithering through the driver's side window. “Just comin’ by to wish you luck.”
I hit her with an exasperated stare, brow lifted. “You’ve already done that twice.”
“And look what you’ve won already.” She winks at me under winged eyeliner and through bedroom brown eyes. The last good luck she gave me was when I won the Mustang and, of course, she took full credit for it. “Plus, the guy you’re racing is super hot, and I wanted him to check out my ass before you took off.”
I chuckle and shoo her away with my fingers. “C’mon, dude, you’re runnin’ the temp up on my car by just sitting here waiting while you wiggle your fat ass around.”
She smiles wider at me, tucking a long piece of blonde hair behind her pierced ears. “How’s Trav?”
“Good.” I give her a once-over. “Why don’t you go visit him?”
She shifts her weight, and I’m fully aware of why. “I hate hospitals.”
“So does everyone else.”
Her cheek is pushed out by her tongue, and she allows a moment to go by before saying, “I’ll think about it, okay?”
We stare at each other because we both know I’m going to make her go. Just, obviously, not right now. “Alright, dude”—I swat her away from my car again—“get your ass out of the way, and let’s go.”
Nessa steps back and waves her hand over her face like she got a hot flash. “Damn, girl. When you talk to me like that. Ooowww!” she whoops out loud, double strutting her curves in booty shorts and a loose hoodie for my competitor’s benefit as she gets in position.
Pulling us into the line, she lifts her flashlight as I rev the engine, getting my RPMs up before she clicks it on to start the race.
Mindlessly, I push the trans brake button to release it, and my car automatically goes into gear as I tear off down the cracked pavement of the street.
My heart leaps from the exhilaration of the chase pumping through my blood. It’s so hard that my body begins to numb, and the exhaust of my car is the only thing I hear roaring in my ears.
I never see the other guy as I wind down to the end of the road in the next few seconds, finally letting off the gas when I’ve crossed the finish line.
The Nova slows on its own while I settle back into my seat, allowing the calm darkness to seep inside my ride and my breathing to catch up with itself.
Turning my car around, I make it back to the start line and find all my friends cheering there as I high-five a few on my way to my parking spot. I’m not sure how much I made on this race, I’m just happy that I won it in front of Dad.
He’s here tonight with my sisters for some fresh air and to get out of the house for a little while. I know that he’s been going stir-crazy, so it was perfect to bring him here to something he loved to do, too.
Parking the car, I pop the hood to cool it off and immediately head over to where the audience is watching everything go down. Dad is settled in the front seat of Juice’s truck while the girls are sitting in the back of the bed, watching the cars zoom by after each kickoff.
Getting to the passenger door, Dad’s already intently observing the next set of sprints set up with Nessa’s instruction. “Hey, Pops, whatcha think?”
His crystal blue eyes against his tan skin flick to me, and he gives me a weak smile. “Y-y-y-y-e di-d-d gooo-d-d, hon-e-e-e.”
“Bay!” Mae shouts, jumping up and down from the back of the truck. “I saw a pink car!”
I widen my eyes in surprise, even though I’ve already seen it. “Really? Should I go win it for you?”
“Yassss!!!” She claps her hands in tandem, little brown curls bouncing along with her. “I want it, please!”
Shit, I have literally no place to put it.
“Well, let me go see if it’s doing any more racing tonight and it’s yours.” And Levi is just going to need to find me a spot for the damn thing for the next ten years before she can drive.
“Bay,” Ellie says over the dark bundle of curls at her side. “Can I go to the bathroom?”
“Yeah.” I reach out for her to latch onto my hand so I can help her down off the bed of the truck. “Let’s?—”
“Wait!” Mae shrieks out like a mini pterodactyl, reaching out to seize our sister’s arm. “The blue car is gonna race, El.”
“But I gotta pee,” she retorts with narrowed eyes. “And I’ve been holding it until Bay was done racing, Mae.”
“Report back,” I tell our youngest sister, so she’ll release her death grip. “Take good mental notes so you can tell us everything when we get back.”
Ellie takes my palm and jumps over the side, while I break her fall by catching her underneath her arms.
And that’s when a heavy, thick one wraps around my shoulder, and the smell of turbo blue fills my nostrils. “Hey, winner, you gonna let me have that Mustang?”
I don’t have to look over at Juice when I say, “No.”
“I’ll trade you.”
With my interest piqued, I steal a glance over my shoulder at him. Bright blond hair slicked back from him constantly running his fingers through them. “For what?”
“’92 Ford Bronco.”
My focus promptly flicks to Dad, who just gives me a curt nod, and it’s not even something I have to question. “Sure.”
Juice smiles victoriously. “Really?”
“Absolutely.”
He’s quick to wrap his arms around me, lifting me in the air and twirling me around like a rag doll. “That’s my girl.” I’m smiling, but I still roll my eyes because he’s just extra. “I’m tellin’ you, girl, you should’ve dated me.”
I pat his strong chest as he places me down. “I did it for your own good, Juice. Levi would’ve killed you.”
He scoffs. “I could’ve taken Lev. Shit, Bay, give me some credit.”
I don’t warn him, and I kinda don’t have a chance to, because Levi’s palm slaps the back of Juice’s head. Of course, he heard that comment. “Yeah right, dumbass.”
Juice doesn’t even flinch, still staring at me when he says, “Just because you beat me in cards last night, doesn’t mean you’re unstoppable.”
Levi stands at my side and ruffles my hair like he used to do when we were kids and because he’s still an asshole. “Says who? I’m pretty fuckin’ baller when I’m still alive.”
My brows knit in confusion. “Alive from what?”
Levi’s green eyes fall to me, already narrowed. “Did you already forget what we did the other night?”
No.
“Wanna not mention shit like that around my dad,” I mutter back, giving his love handles—and I’m using that term loosely, because he doesn’t have them—a pinch. “I’m not explaining that .”
“From the last time I remembered, you were good at sneaking back in the house through the front door.”
“Well, now I’m climbing in the window because Pops falls asleep in front of the damn TV all the time.”
“ Bay …” Ellie whines behind Juice, reminding me that she has to go to the bathroom.
“Shit.” I move around Juice, who mom-arms me to stay put.
“I got it.”
Levi’s right-hand man is quick to spin around and pull my sister into his body, keeping her safe, even though we’re in the mutual territory of East Riverside.
The place is literally heaven.
Sheriff Muncy has no jurisdiction over here, and it’s where we all do our illegal street racing.
Well, the planned shit. Sometimes I can grab a few bucks on the road with some asshole who decided to joyride around.
“You doin’ good, Roger?” Levi asks Dad. “I got a beer coming for you.”
“No, you don’t,” I snap back. “He’s not—” Dad smiles and, yep…two assholes.
Two peas in a pod.
Dad is on a very strict diet after his stroke and he’s not happy about it. However, that’s how the cookie crumbled and how it’s going to continue until he’s healthy again.
“We better stop,” Levi quips. “Or she’s going to have a heart attack.”
Yeah, we don’t need the additional hospital bills.
“Are you thirsty, Dad?” I solicit. “I have water in the back.”
“D-d-d-d-do-o-oo-n’t f-f-f-r-r-et o-o-ov-v-er m-m-m, B-b-b-bay.”
I’m not trying to.
I’m serious, I’m not.
What grown-ass man with three daughters wants to be coddled when he’s been the breadwinner the whole time?
Dad is independent, a hard worker, and he’s busted his entire ass for as long as I can remember and always made sure to make time for my sisters and me. His pride is crushed, being laid up for weeks without being able to help me pay the bills, and I’m attempting not to show him how hard of a time I’m having.
Nonetheless, it’s my issue now, and I’m doing the best I can.
“You think we can get some money from the Bronco?”
Dad rocks his head slowly back and forth. His green eyes are still crystal clear under the slight slag of his left from the stroke and the wrinkles that have formed over time. “I-I-I w-w-w-a-a-a-nt it.”
My lips curl into a smile because, fuck me, man.
I was supposed to sell the Mustang for bills and shit, while Dad over here is trying to gain a new ride.
“Stop slacking on your physical therapy,” I negotiate. “And I’ll give it to you.”
His eyes narrow, when Levi adds in, “He doesn’t like the chick who comes in to do it. Says she’s fucking cranky and bossy.”
“She’s not bossy,” I retort, propping a hand on my hip. “Dad just doesn’t like people tellin’ him what to do.” My father actually fucking scoffs at me. “Am I wrong?”
Pops looks heavenward and doesn’t respond, which makes me smile.
He will get better. I’ll run every ounce of weed, and glip every single car worth shit to make it happen. My family isn’t going to fail.
I’ll go into full-mode war on that shit.