Chapter 27 Pete
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
PETE
“Wow, we’re going to drive those?” Wren asks as we watch the go-karts whip around the track.
“Yep, unless you don’t want to?” I ask, feeling a little nervous about my choice of date. I thought it would be something fun we could do together.
We’ve decided tomorrow is the day we storm Robert’s place, so I wanted to do something fun with Wren to help her not stress out about what’s to come. Also, I felt bad that I hadn’t taken her on a date yet.
“I do! I’ve never seen anything like this before. And you’re sure I don’t need a driver’s license?”
I shake my head. “Look, that kid has to be like thirteen, and he’s driving on his own.” She looks where I’m pointing and nods. “Let’s do it!”
Dex beckons us over to where he’s waiting with our tickets.
I’m not delusional enough to think I could take her out on my own; it’s too risky for that.
So I asked the others, and they all agreed to come, even Elias.
However, he, Jagger, and Sly choose not to participate and would instead stand guard so we could relax a bit without having to watch over our shoulders.
I actually really appreciated their help.
When Sly asked Dex and me for help setting up his backyard date, I was pleased that Wren would get to experience something special.
She deserves to be happy. I was starting to really appreciate the benefits of the four of us dating her.
Four times the protection, four times the help, four times the love for her.
“Let’s get this on you,” I tell her, taking the offered helmet and strapping it on her before I put on my own. Dex sits in the first available kart, and I help her get situated in the next one. I explain the pedals to her, and she nods excitedly before I get into the kart behind her.
Dex takes off fast, and she’s slow to follow, a little hesitant at first. That lasts about three minutes, then, as if she just found the gas pedal, she starts flying around the track. But she’s all over the place, and I have to slam on my brakes several times to avoid hitting her.
I watch with worry as she bounces off the tires lining a corner. Somehow, she goes so fast that I can no longer keep up with her, and she even overtakes Dex. She starts to take corners far too quickly, making my heart beat like crazy in my chest.
She needs to slow down.
I watch her moving ahead of me, taking a turn so fast that she spins out of control, her kart taking out a giant stack of haybales, finally pulling her to a stop.
An employee nearby runs over, switches off her kart, and makes her get out.
I pull over near them, planning to help, but the employee shows her a safe path back to the entrance.
I follow slowly, keeping her in my line of sight the whole time, and when I reach the start of the track, I pull in and park my kart, jumping out and running over to her.
“Are you okay?” I ask, my hands lightly running over her as I assess her for injury.
“Yeah, I’m fine, just embarrassed.”
I pull her in tightly, hugging her as I let out a relieved breath.
The employee pulls up in her kart, quickly jumping out as he moves over to use it. “Sorry, but you can’t drive anymore.”
“You’re banning her?” I ask in surprise. The crash wasn’t that bad.
“From driving, yes. You can take a two-person kart, as long as you’re driving, not her,” he tells me, pointing to a bigger kart nearby.
I look at her in question. “What do you think? Are you done with go-karting, or want to take a spin with me?”
She grins up at me and bites her lip. Ah, fuck. Now all I can picture is taking her for a spin in bed.
“I’d love to go for a spin with you,” she says, not too innocently.
My head tilts back as I groan and try to compose myself. “You’re trouble,” I tell her before grabbing her hand and leading her over to the kart. I help her sit in the passenger seat, then walk around and get settled on the driver's side.
“Alright, you ready to go, trouble?” I ask with a grin.
She nods, and I’m pleased to see that her crash and subsequent banishment haven’t affected her mood. I pull out, and before I can get up to speed, Dex wizzes past us with a long, excited, “Woooo!” as he goes.
“You have to pass him!” she yells as I speed up and follow close behind.
I’m not sure if Dex slows on purpose, but he moves to the side as I get closer, letting us pass without touching him.
Wren sticks out her tongue at him, and he narrows his eyes playfully at her, as he pretends to try harder not to let us pass.
The following laps are filled with Wren’s giggles as Dex and I take turns in the lead, pretending his solo car isn’t much faster than our two-person one. When we finally end, with us in the lead, Wren is grinning from ear to ear.
“You have fun?” I ask as I help her out and onto the platform.
“Yes! That was amazing!”
“I think you two cheated,” Dex says after exiting his own kart and coming to join us.
“We did not!” Wren exclaims. “How could you even cheat at go-karts?”
“Watching you was distracting. And I can’t see you if I’m in front.”
She gasps in mock horror. “Did you let us win?”
“Of course not,” he says easily. “But I would have won if you weren’t such good eye candy.”
He kisses the top of her head as I wrap my arm around her shoulders and we lead her to the picnic table where Jagger and Sly are seated.
“Where’s Elias?” Wren asks when we’re close enough to hear them over the roar of the go-kart engines.
Sly gestures to the side as Elias comes out of the building carrying two large trays full of drinks and food.
My eyebrows raise a little in surprise.
We all move to sit around the table as he sets the trays down. “Thank you, Elias,” Wren tells him with a smile.
“Of course. Root beer, right?” he asks, handing her a soft drink cup.
“Thanks,” she says with a nod, taking the cup and a small sip.
Everyone starts picking at the food: nachos, hot dogs, burgers, and fries, eating silently until Elias sighs. “Is no one going to mention the elephant in the room?”
My brows pinch in confusion, and I see my look is mirrored in the others.
“What elephant?” Dex asks before shoving a fry into his mouth.
“The fact that Wren can never be allowed to drive again.”
“Hey!” she says indignantly. “I wasn’t that bad.” Her eyes move to me as she asks. “Was I?”
“Uhhh…”
Her mouth drops open in surprise as Dex lets out a laugh. Out of the corner of my mouth, I see Elias trying not to laugh, and even Jagger and Sly look amused.
I consider how to answer without hurting her feelings. “Let’s just say that you’re going to need a few more lessons before we’ll let you back behind the wheel of any vehicle.”
“Hmm, fair enough,” she says, looking like she doesn’t love that but understands why.
“I’m sorry you never had the chance to learn,” Elias says, gaining her attention again.
“I wanted to teach you, and your brother said no. That you would always have someone to drive you.”
“Just another way to control me,” she says, frowning down at her hot dog. “If I couldn’t drive, I couldn’t get in a car and leave.”
“I’ll teach you,” I offer with a smile.
It’s immediately followed by two “No’s” from Sly and Elias. They glance at each other before Elias concedes, allowing Sly to speak. “Wren, if you wish to drive, I will teach you. But let’s save that for when we’re free of all the threats.”
“Thanks. Right now, I’m fine being a passenger anyway,” she says easily, her chipper tone returning.
“Our passenger princess,” I say with a grin.
We continue eating, talking about the go-karts, and avoiding the topic of tomorrow. We’re all in some sort of silent agreement, not to mention the upcoming battle, and it keeps the conversation light and Wren’s smiles frequent.
Watching her thumb wrestle Dex for the last fry, I smile in amusement.
She has this refreshing zest for life. I used to think of her as naive, but I don’t think that’s the right word to describe her anymore.
She’s optimistic, most of the time, and she’s eager to experience the world.
She’s incredibly intelligent, and the way she picks up new information and seems to adapt so easily makes my dick twitch in delight.
Who knew I had a thing for brainiacs?
My stomach clenches a little at the thought of everything she’s not getting to experience because we’re constantly having to look over our shoulders. That’s why we’re taking this fight to Robert tomorrow. We’re tired of sitting back and letting our enemies dictate the next move.
It’s time we start to settle the score and remove our enemies. Only then will Wren be safe.