Chapter Thirty
I walk at River’s side toward the track, and the Plymouth we’d driven down here in. It had been in the garage for maintenance so hadn’t been driven and I knew River was looking forward to getting behind the wheel. I knew I was excited too. I’ve been wanting to since he first took me around the track at the last race.
Zara and Jake are already waiting by Jake’s 1969 Camero. She hugs me when she sees me, her eyes bouncing between River and me. I see the concern, the way her brows lower as she thinks of what to say or ask but I don’t give her room to and say hello to Jake. I know she doesn’t like River all that much, but I don’t know why. Maybe I’ll ask her when we have a minute alone so we can figure it out.
“River,” I hear a girl call his name and turn to see Sadie walking up to us and she’s alone, no Rach in sight. I didn’t realize I was so nervous to see her until just now. “Hey,” She says when she makes it to us, “Logan Junior is with gramps, so I have a night off!” Her smile is bright, but I can’t help but notice the exhaustion under her eyes and remember she has a young child.
“He good?” River asks her, giving her a one-armed hug and frowning at the same shadows I noticed.
“Been a bit feverish last couple days,” She shrugs, “Over it now but phew, I feel like I haven’t slept in a week.”
“Why didn’t you call?” River demands.
I remain silent throughout their conversation though I am wondering who Sadie is to River. I like her, she’s nice and their relationship only appears friendly.
“Because you got shit to do yourself, River,” Sadie shakes her head and then turns her attention to me, “Hi, Marly.”
I give her a little awkward wave.
“You gonna race?” River asks her.
“You’re damn straight, I’m going to race. You know how long it’s been since I went round this track?” She grins.
“You race?” I ask, awed by that new piece of news.
“His brother taught me all that I know,” Her eyes get a little glazed as she says it, “I might even give this little shit a run for his money.” She boasts, referring to River. I vaguely remember someone mentioning River and his brother started this racing track, but I’ve never met him.
“Is he racing too?” I say, turning to River and looking between the two of them.
Silence falls, it’s like the whole crowd goes quiet with the question and I feel River’s eyes on the side of my face. Sadie looks toward her feet and then scuffs the toe into the dirt before she looks to River in a ‘you tell her’ motion.
“He died,” River answers quietly and then steps away from me, “I’ll be back in a minute.”
“It’s a sore subject,” Is what Sadie replies but she doesn’t stick around either and follows River as he pushes his way through the crowd and away from me.
I turn my wide eyes to Jake, “I didn’t know.”
“It’s alright, Marly,” He says softly, putting his arm around Zara, “He’ll be back, just give him a minute.”
It’s on the tip of my tongue to ask him how it happened but I know it’s not my place. River didn’t tell me about him which, sure, stings a little but I can’t blame him. We barely know each other, and his brother’s death is still eating him up. Grief works like that, some days it’s easy to manage and others it feels as if the whole world is falling apart, and you wonder how you’re supposed to keep going with your life when that person is no longer living theirs.
I’ve only lost my grandmother and that hurt enough, I can’t imagine the pain River feels every day with it being his brother.
I accept the can of coke that gets passed to me and take a seat on one of those fold out chairs while I wait for him to return. The crowd is partying all around me and Zara and Jake laugh at some inside joke, but I just sit there, watching the spot where he disappeared. It’s half an hour later when he returns. He spots me from the other side, eyes locking onto mine, and staying as the crowd literally parts for him. Sadie is at his side, barely keeping up with his long strides.
I tilt my head back when he stops in front of me, his hand coming up to cradle my chin while his thumb strokes a soft line across my bottom lip and then he leans down, and in front of everyone takes my mouth in a powerful, all-consuming kiss.
The world disappears all around me, the noise, the smells, the colors, it all becomes a muted buzz as my whole being zeroes in on where his lips move on mine. It feels different to every other kiss we’ve shared, different even to when his body is moving inside of mine.
It’s powerful and terrifying and dizzying but addictive. I want more of it, to drink from the well of him because only he makes me feel like this.
Like my soul might die if it can’t have this.
I don’t know when it happened, was it the late-night visits? The cocky remarks and heated looks? Was it the takeout or showing me how to check my oil?
At some point my heart stopped and started on a new line. One where it’s started to beat for him. I’ve no idea if that’s even normal, to start falling in love with someone this quickly but that’s what it feels like.
He slows the kiss down and then gently kisses the corner of my mouth before he pulls away and straightens to his full height.
“Let’s race, princess,” He grins, holding out his calloused palm. I slide mine into it, watching his fingers engulf mine and then he starts striding to the Plymouth, my legs only just able to keep up. I know people are watching but neither of us appears to care.
At the car, he opens the passenger door and reaches in to get the helmet stored on the backseat. He helps it onto my head and guides me into the car, closing my door behind him before he rounds the hood and gets in behind the wheel.
I push the visor up to get a better view of him, watching as he puts his own helmet on and turns to me. I can’t see his face behind the dark screen, but he reaches for me, grabbing the lower half of my helmet and pulls me forward. He then bumps his against mine lightly before he flips the visor down and turns to the wheel, switching on the engine and pulling the car towards the line.