Chapter 27
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Downstairs, Reed and Manuel stop what they’re doing and intercept us, Reed with his feet wide and his arms crossed while Manuel just looks worried.
“She okay?” Reed asks Keith.
He hums, nodding. “She will be. Just gonna take some time. I’ll come back and help at the shop while she’s recovering.”
That’s the first I’ve heard of that, and though it makes perfect sense, I’m a smart enough man to know that Erica’s gonna feel like Keith is stepping on her toes.
But I have to trust that they’ll work it out.
Fuck knows, she won’t sit idly by and make it easy on him though the man successfully ran the shop for thirty years.
Reed’s hands drop to his sides, fists curling before he points a greasy finger my way. “This is your fault,” he snarls.
“Mine? I wasn’t even here and sure don’t know a damn thing about cars for it to be my fault.”
“You knew what she was doing, and any idiot knows how dangerous it is! And still, you let her go out there and get hurt!” He points out the open garage door, like he means Erica could be hurt anywhere in the great, big world.
He cares about her, and the fear Reed must’ve felt when he heard what happened is starting to worm its way into his voice, though he’s fighting valiantly to stay hard and cold.
I chuckle, shaking my head. “Let her? Let her? Have you even met her, man?” I’m trying to keep it light because Reed is on the edge and I really don’t want to finish my first introduction to Keith Cole by beating the shit out of the guy he considers a son. But I will if I have to.
He growls, turning to Keith. “You told her no more racing, right?”
Errk, all stop. What the actual fuck? Does Reed think Keith would actually do that?
Hell, would he? I feel like he understood where Erica was coming from upstairs, but he forbade her once and it nearly destroyed her, taking away something she loved.
Now that it’s even more important to her, and all out on the table, I think it’d destroy both of them.
Slowly and carefully, Keith tells Reed, “I think it’s time to see what she can do if she can live her wildest dreams. I think it’s time for her to fly.”
Reed looks pissed, but he deflates while Manuel just continues on his stoic way. Keith therefore turns to me. “Come on, Brody. You’re taking me to the track to pick up Rix’s car. What’s she driving, anyway? I can’t wait to get behind the wheel of a racecar my little girl built.”
He sounds genuinely excited, and I know that I was right. Erica should’ve shared this with him a long time ago so that they could have this thing together. But I’ll never tell her that. It happened when it did, how it did, for a reason, even if Todd would probably beg to differ.
“I think I’ll leave that a surprise, mostly because I know I’ll fuck up all the horse-this and throttle-that she told me, and I don’t want to look like a dumbass in front of you. In my world, horses have four legs and help me herd cattle.”
Keith laughs even though I’m not kidding. But I’m taking the win.
We get in the truck, and Keith immediately runs a hand over the dash, then opens the console, rooting around inside. “What the fuck, man? That’s private,” I snap, glad that Mark didn’t have anything weird in there since I commandeered his truck to get to the hospital.
“No such thing now, Brody. Tell me everything I need to know about you, and don’t leave out the shitty stuff. I’m playing catch up here, and it pisses me off, especially when it’s about one of my girls.” He leans back sullenly in the cushioned comfort of the seat, waiting for me to spill my guts.
Shit, his daughter is a total mini-me version of his stubborn bluster. But I decide to use that to my advantage. What works on Erica will probably work on Keith.
“Cowboy. Oldest of four. Mostly raised my youngest sister but did a shitty job of it so she raised herself to spite me. Not as dumb as I look.”
Keith grins at that. “Didn’t think Rix would have you if you’re stupid.” It’s as close to a compliment as I can expect from him. “A cowboy, you say? You got land?”
Damn, he goes right for blood. The knife cuts through my heart, and I wish to hell I could say yes.
“Neighbors bought it and now we work for them. They’re like family, though.
That’s who invaded back there. Technically, Mama Louise is my boss.
Mostly, she’s a pain in my ass.” I scratch at my lip, grinning.
There’s no heat in the insult and I don’t mean a word of it.
“I’ve got a plan to get it back, though, just gonna take some time and a lot of hard work. ”
“You up for that?” Keith eyes me from the passenger seat, and I keep my eyes fixed on the road.
“Been working every day my whole life. Ain’t scared of it or anything.”
He chuckles. “You scared of Rix? Because you should be. She probably knows three different ways to slit your throat and hide the body.”
He’s joking, but she’s already told me this one.
“It’s five different ways. And I’m not scared of her because of that.
I’m scared because she’s got my heart in her hands and that’s a scary position for a man to be in.
” It’s a big confession and a gamble, but I’m laying it all out there because I don’t think there’s anything to be gained from holding back at this point when it’s blazingly apparent that Erica has me by the short hairs.
“Reckon you know what that’s like with Janice? ” I hedge, side-eyeing him.
From what Erica has told me, her parents are happily married and have given her and Emily a great example of what lifelong love should look like. The test is whether Keith will admit that he’s a big old softie for his wife.
“I guess I do,” he says.
I think we both just passed a test.
At the track, there’s a good-looking silver muscle car sitting by the gate. “I’ll be damned, he’s still got it,” Keith says incredulously.
“What?” I ask, not getting why he’s excited.
“Ed. I texted him that we were coming for Rix’s car. That’s his 1969 Chevy Camaro. It’s a top-notch drag car, and he’s got it modded up like nothing I’ve ever seen.”
“You still have his number?”
Keith’s eyes never leave the car. “Friends are friends even when they don’t talk for a while.”
I hum in agreement. “You didn’t do the work on his Camaro?”
Keith looks at me in confusion. “Nah, I’m good but not that good. He bought it already overhauled years ago and kept it pristine. Can’t officially race on your own track, but I’ve seen him run it. Thing of beauty.”
He goes quiet, and I imagine he’s thinking of his time at the track with his friends, and mostly, about walking away from it all.
I stop by the gate, and the three of us get out. Keith and Ed’s greeting is stilted and uncertain until Ed admits, “We missed you, and I wanted to tell you about Rix, but I wanted to respect her wishes and yours too.”
Keith takes a deep breath, his jaw clenched, and I wonder if we’ve come out here for Keith to lay into Ed. The thought had crossed my mind, but Keith seemed pretty resigned to Erica racing. But maybe not?
Finally, he offers Ed a hand. “Never should’ve let it go this long. John would be mad as hell at me.”
Ed takes Keith’s hand, shaking before pulling him into a hug. He pats him on the back hard and then pushes him away like it never happened. “John was one of the good ones. Your girl tell you what she did to my Camaro?”
Keith’s eyes nearly bug out of his head. “You let Rix work on your Camaro?”
Ed laughs. “You have no idea what she can do, do you? She’s amazing, Keith, really something. I let her loose with a blank check and she got me running in the 8s.”
“You’re full of shit!”
“Listen to her growl,” Ed says, already popping the hood.
I have no idea what they’re saying or what they’re talking about, but they point to various things under the hood and I can tell that this more than anything has made Keith a true believer in Erica’s talents.
Seeing it up close and personal, knowing exactly what she’s done to creatively pull as much out of the car as possible, is enough to put Keith solidly in Erica’s corner.
I knew he would be . . . eventually. I’m glad it’s not taking that long for him to support her.
After they’ve walked the whole car twice, with me standing by like a bump on a log, Ed says, “Come on, I’ll take you to Rix’s car.”
We get back in the truck and Keith is smiling like a kid in a candy store with instructions to buy anything he wants. “Damn, she’s good. I knew, but I didn’t know like that.”
There’s a new respect in his voice, one I hope Erica gets to hear for herself soon.
I stop the truck by Foxy and Keith blinks. “This is what she’s driving? It’s not the usual, but I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. I used to have one of these.” He already sounds nostalgic, and I wonder how many memories he’s got in his old Mustang.
“You fell in love with Janice in it. I know. Erica told me.” He pries his eyes away to look at me.
“She wanted to share this with you in the only way she thought she could.” I look back at the car, seeing Erica’s hard work, passion, and heart.
“That’s why she has this model. Her whole life is built around you. ”
“And you?” he asks directly.
“I fucking hope so, but who knows with that woman?” I can’t help the bark of laughter that comes out, but he doesn’t seem offended by me smack talking about his daughter. In fact, he laughs too. “She might kick me out tomorrow, but I think that’s part of the challenge.”
Keith wipes his eyes, which have teared up from seeing Foxy and from the laughter. “You’re not quite right, are you?
“You have no idea,” I say honestly. “But I love your daughter and that’s what matters.”
He nods, and I know I just passed another test. I might not know shit about engines, but I know people, and Keith Cole is a good man who wants to keep his family safe and happy.
It’s a good thing I want the same thing.
“Let me see what my girl’s car can do. I’ll meet you back at the shop?” He’s got the door open, one foot on the ground, ready to roll.
“You think you’re gonna beat me there?” I tease, knowing full well that this truck won’t beat Foxy, nor will I drive that fast. I’m not trained for those speeds the way Erica and Keith are.
“I damn well better or I’m gonna be disappointed in Rix.” We both know that’ll never happen.
“First one there has to hang out with all the women.”
He grins back. “Nah, first one there gets the first beer and first pick at that fried chicken your boss was promising when we left. Janice don’t let me have fried foods, says it’s bad for my cholesterol and feeds me grilled salmon.
Do you know what I would do for a meal that consists of fried batter, greasy chicken, and potatoes? ” He holds his chest dramatically.
“Then you go on and get first dibs. I eat like that every day.”
Keith’s smile, which had started to spread, falls. “I don’t think I like you.”
I hear the truth though.
He likes me a lot.
I like him too.