Chapter 2
JACK
The reception is in full swing by the time I finally escape from photo duty. The DJ’s playing something upbeat that has half the wedding party on the makeshift dance floor, and the sun is starting to dip lower in the sky.
I grab a beer from the bar and find Calvin and Theo standing near the edge of the dance floor, both of them with drinks in hand, watching the chaos unfold.
“Married,” I say, clapping Calvin on the shoulder. “How’s it feel?”
“Surreal,” Calvin says, grinning. “Good surreal. Like I can’t believe I get to be with her forever.”
“You’re so married,” I tell him, shaking my head. “It’s almost embarrassing to witness.”
“Aware of that, thanks.” He takes a drink, eyes tracking Maren on the dance floor like she’s the only person here before turning back to me. “How’s the cabin? You settling in okay?”
Theo glances at me. “You’re staying in the cabin?”
“Yep. It’s perfect,” I say, taking a sip of my beer. “Has everything I need. Bed, shower, coffee maker. The essentials.”
“You know the offer still stands, right?” Calvin says. “The main house. I think it’s weird for you not to stay inside when you’re visiting. We set up your old room as a guest room, got a real bed in there now instead of that ancient thing in the cabin. I mean, it’s your childhood house too.”
“I’m good where I am,” I tell him. The thought of staying in the main house with the newlyweds makes me want to stab myself with a spoon. “Close enough to steal your food when I get desperate, far enough to maintain plausible deniability about hearing any newlywed activities.”
Calvin kicks at my shin, but he’s laughing. “Hey, jackass, that’s my wife you’re talking about.”
“I have nothing but respect for Maren,” I say, dodging his kick and holding my hands up in surrender. “If anything, she’s way too good for you. I’m just saying, thin walls, newly married couple, I can do the math.”
“You’re such a child,” Calvin says, but there’s no heat in it. “Just because you can’t maintain a relationship longer than an Formula One pit stop doesn’t mean the rest of us are animals.”
“Hey now, that’s unfair,” I protest, grinning. “Some pit stops are very thorough.”
He snorts, shaking his head. “Whatever helps you sleep at night. We’ll be in Greece for our honeymoon in a few weeks, so you’ll have the place completely to yourself.”
“Fantastic. I’ll throw the wildest parties. Trash the place. Really make you regret leaving me unsupervised.”
“I’m sure you will,” Calvin says dryly.
“Uncle Jack!” A small voice yells, and I turn just in time to see Chloe barreling toward me at full speed, still in her flower girl dress.
“What am I, chopped liver?” Calvin calls out as she runs right past him without so much as a glance. “Invisible? A ghost?”
“Hi Uncle Calvin!” she shouts over her shoulder, not slowing down even slightly.
I catch Chloe as she launches herself at me, swinging her up in the air, which makes her giggle.
“How are you always the favorite?” Calvin asks, shaking his head. “I’m the one who actually lives here year-round.”
“Natural charm,” I tell him, setting Chloe down but she keeps her arms wrapped around my legs.
Theo laughs. “That’s what you get, Cal, for being the boring writer uncle. Hard to trump race car driver. Though if it makes you feel any better, Alex put broccoli in her mac and cheese last week at the restaurant, so he’s officially dropped to last place.”
Calvin grins. “Ah well, at least I’m not the broccoli guy.”
“Will you dance with me?” Chloe’s bouncing now, pulling on my hand. “Please!”
“Okay, Monster,” I say. “Let’s show these people how it’s done.”
She squeals and drags me toward the dance floor. The DJ’s playing something fast, and Chloe immediately starts spinning in circles with her arms out, nearly taking out an elderly woman in the process. I grab her hand and spin her properly, and she giggles so hard she almost falls over.
“Do it again! Again!” she shouts, so I spin her again, then dip her dramatically. She shrieks with laughter.
We dance through two more songs before she demands I pick her up and spin her around, which I do until we’re both dizzy. When I finally set her down, she makes a monster face at me, complete with clawed hands and a growl that’s more cute than scary.
“Perfect monster,” I tell her, laughing. “Ten out of ten. Absolutely terrifying.”
We head back toward where my brothers are standing. Calvin’s gone now, back by Maren’s side looking like he can’t see anything but her, but Dominic and Theo are there with beers, mid-conversation about something that involves a lot of hand gestures.
“You’re actually a pretty good dancer,” Theo observes when we approach. “Would have never guessed that.”
“Full of surprises,” I say, grabbing my beer from where I left it on the table.
“Laila!” Chloe shouts suddenly, spotting the golden retriever across the lawn. She takes off running without so much as a goodbye, pigtails flying behind her.
“Full of shit, more like,” Dominic says, grinning at me.
I flip him off. “Sarcasm doesn’t suit you, Dom.”
Theo laughs, nudging Dominic, then looking back at me. “How are you doing being back home anyway? This is like the longest you’ve been in Dark River in who knows how long.”
“It’s good,” I say. And it is, in some ways.
I like being around my brothers, being here for this.
But it’s weird, too. Dark River has never really been home for me.
Not the way it is for them. It’s just where my family happens to live.
Where I visit between races, between seasons, between lives.
I left young, just barely fifteen, heading to Europe to chase my Formula One dreams. Been gone more than I’ve been here ever since.
Even now I feel that gap between my brothers and me.
That distance that never quite closes no matter how many years pass.
Mom and Dad were incredible people, truly good humans, but they already had their hands full with four boys when they adopted me at age six.
I was the add-on. The one who never quite fit into the existing family dynamics.
They loved me, I know that. But I also know I disrupted the balance.
“I give you one week before you start going stir crazy and causing mayhem,” Dominic says, taking a sip of his beer.
“Already am going fucking stir crazy,” I admit, grinning. “Not much to do around here. But I don’t have much choice.”
“We’re so touched you’re gracing us with your presence,” Dominic says, his voice dripping with fake sincerity.
“You’re welcome,” I say, matching his tone. “I know my company is a gift.”
Theo laughs, shaking his head. “You two are exhausting.”
Chloe and Laila dart past us, nearly knocking Theo over in their chaos. He stumbles back, beer sloshing. “Careful! I—oh and she’s gone.”
“She’s getting big,” I say, watching her barrel through the crowd with Laila at her heels. “Last time I was home she was still talking about unicorns. Is she still into unicorns?”
“Oh, unicorns are so last year,” Theo says, taking a sip of his beer. “Now it’s all race cars and speed machines. Which brings me to something I’ve been meaning to mention.” He narrows his eyes at me. “She’s been asking when you’re going to teach her to drive a go-kart.”
“Really?” I perk up at this. “She’s actually interested?”
“God help me, she really is,” Theo says, running his hand through his hair. “I shouldn’t have let her watch all your races with me these last few years. Now she thinks driving fast is a career option.”
“It is a career option,” I say immediately, nudging him with my elbow. “And a damn good one. Better money than running a restaurant.” I’m grinning now, enjoying the horrified look on his face. “Just think about it. Little Chloe Midnight, racing sensation.”
Dominic chuckles, shaking his head.
“Don’t even joke about this,” Theo starts, but he’s already smiling because he knows there’s no stopping me once I get going. “She already asked for racing posters for her room.”
“That’s because she’ll be my little racing protégé,” I say, really getting into it now.
“I could have her in a kart by next summer. By the time she’s ten, she’ll be faster than half the guys on the junior circuit.
” I’m laying it on thick, watching Theo’s expression shift between horror and amusement.
“You’re enjoying this way too much,” Theo says.
“Think about it,” I continue, my enthusiasm real now. “First woman Formula One world champion. Chloe Midnight. Has a nice ring to it, right? The sport needs more women anyway, and she’s already got natural athleticism. Did you see her running earlier?”
“You mean before she tripped?” Theo asks, pointing to where Chloe is wiping mud off her dress and giggling while Laila licks her face.
“That was just enthusiasm.” I wave it off dismissively. “All the greats fell on their face a few times. But she’s got the competitive spirit.”
“And the complete lack of fear,” Theo adds dryly. “Just like her uncle.”
Dominic grins. “To be fair, the lack of fear has served him well. The lack of impulse control, however…”
“Impulse control is overrated,” I say, waving Dominic off. “That’s what keeps things interesting. Chloe’s already got that spark. I can see it.”
Theo groans but he’s grinning now. “Oh no, you’re serious about this.”
“Completely serious,” I confirm. I grab his shoulder, give it a squeeze. “I started at six. Worked out pretty well for me.”
“That’s exactly what I’m afraid of,” Theo says, shaking his head but clearly fighting laughter.
“I’ve spent the last six years keeping her in one piece, and now you want to strap her into a miniature race car.
” He gestures vaguely at me. “You’re going to turn my sweet, innocent daughter into a speed demon who gives me heart attacks every weekend. ”
“Sounds like good preparation for her teenage years,” I say with a wink. “That’s the plan. Embrace it now, save yourself the stress later.”
“I hate you,” he says, but he’s definitely smiling.