8. Blake
Blake
“W hat are they talking about in there?” I ask as I sit across from my brother at the dining room table that’s large enough to seat a dozen people. I much prefer sharing a meal in the kitchen, where the much smaller table is a whole lot cozier. This entire house is nothing more than my father flaunting his wealth, and eighty percent of it is unnecessary since he lives by himself. Even when Teague and I were little or when I visited after our parents divorced, most of our time was spent playing outside or in our rooms.
Teague narrows his gaze and leans forward to rest his elbows on the table. “You, most likely. What was Ryder thinking by inviting you to our training session? What makes me even more confused is why you would come. I’ve been keeping your secret, but you are making it infinitely more difficult for me to do so.”
“Ryder invited me because I told him that racing has always been my passion, Teague. I thought it was very sweet of him to give me a chance to drive. It would have been rude to pass up on his thoughtful gesture.”
“You’re toying with him, and I don’t like it,” Teague says harshly. “You’re giving him hope when there is none.”
“As I told you this morning, you don’t get to control who I spend my time with. If I want to date Ryder, I will. I’m aware of his past and the risks that come with associating with him. I don’t need you to protect me.”
Teague pinches the bridge of his nose. “I know I can’t stop you from doing what you want, but that doesn’t mean that Dad can’t.”
I slap my hand on the table hard enough to shake the glassware. “What’s Dad going to do? Hang the company over my head? Been there. Done that. I’ll find a way around it like I always do. I’m prepared to walk away from the company if I need to. I like Ryder, and I want to spend more time getting to know him. I need to be in control of my own destiny, however that turns out.”
“You’re not the only one that Dad can threaten, Blake. Ryder’s career also hangs in the balance. Do you really think he would give that up for you? He’s known you for all of three days, and would you ask him to?”
“Teague, this has got to stop! Why do you get all the freedom? I’m just as good a driver as you are.” Time and time again, I’ve proven that I can hang with the big boys, but Dad has never given me a shot. I’ve had to resort to other measures to pursue my dreams.
His smile is wan and filled with sadness. “You’re better than me, and you always have been. But Dad gave me the same option he gave you: the company or racing. I wanted one more than I wanted the other, so the choice was clear for me. I honestly believe that if you had chosen to follow your dreams instead of our father’s, he would have supported you. It’s not too late to show Dad who you really are and what you’re made of. You don’t even want his company.”
He’s right; I don’t. “I don’t want it to be sold to the highest bidder, either. It was supposed to be you and me at the helm, not just me. When you walked away, I didn’t have much of a choice if Morrison Motors was going to stay in the family.”
Teague lets out an exasperated sigh. “You always have a choice, Sis. As long as Dad realizes he can manipulate you, he will. I’m certain he’s currently in his office doing the same thing to Ryder, offering him a choice between driving for Morrison Motors or dating you. Although Ryder is seen as the ‘bad boy’ of NASCAR, that image definitely doesn’t help in the corporate sphere. As the head of the company, you cannot risk your judgment being questioned. Trust me, investors would flee at the thought of you being involved with Ryder while in a position of power.”
“What should I do? I find Ryder has a certain charm and I felt an instant connection with him. I even got the tingles. He’s like a kindred spirit, and I want to pursue a relationship with him. You’re his best friend, and you know he’s genuinely a good person. And before you suggest I let this go, take his past and family background out of the equation when you offer your advice.”
The office door swings open and shut, the sound of footsteps growing louder as the two men approach. Teague leans in and whispers, “Ryder is like a brother to me, and as long as you understand the risks, I won’t interfere. I don’t like it, but if you choose to date him, keep it under wraps until you know he’s worth sacrificing your future for. You’re skilled at keeping secrets, Blake, and so am I. I’ll keep this one safe for you, too. However, I will tease you mercilessly about it.”
I’m tired of keeping secrets, but my father has left me little choice. I may as well add one more to the growing list.
“Dinner went well, don’t you think?” I mumble as Ryder drives me back to the Play It Forward Center. My dad wore a smug grin throughout the meal, as if he’d won some major victory. However, Ryder’s gaze was fiercely determined, as if he wasn’t going to go down without a fight. It left me very curious about what my father said. Other than the tension thick enough to cut with a knife, the food was excellent.
“I felt as welcome as a doormat made for wiping boots,” Ryder responds, his lips pressed into a thin line. He remained quiet during most of dinner, showing no reaction when my father mentioned that we have three new sponsors after they discovered Ryder was volunteering with youth.
“Do you want to tell me what you and my father discussed? Maybe I can help.”
Ryder initially shakes his head, yet he quickly reconsiders and says, “He basically threatened my career if I were to pursue you romantically.”
Picking at some imaginary lint on my pants, I whisper, “Do you want to pursue me romantically?”
“Yes,” he replies without hesitation. “However, I’ve worked my tail off to get where I’m at, Blake. I haven’t had a relationship last more than three weeks. It would be a lot to risk on a ‘what if.’”
“Did those women break up with you, or did you break up with them?”
“Does it matter?” he retorts, squeezing the gear stick until his knuckles turn white.
I rest my hand on his. “It does to me.”
Ryder relaxes his grip a fraction. “Do you know that none of the women I’ve been photographed with were ever my girlfriend? I didn’t date a single one of those ladies. They were all fans or someone looking to get a selfie with a race car driver. The women I dated were kept out of the limelight because my personal life is just that, personal. Our dates included romantic picnics at sunset, drives to the ocean where we could walk on the beach, or ordering pizza and binge-watching movies.”
“That sounds wonderful. What was the problem?” I imagine being one of those women, appreciating every second of alone time I could get with Ryder.
He snorts. “They all craved the spotlight. They were after their 15 minutes of fame. They weren’t interested in getting to know me, Blake. Those women only wanted what’s in my bank account. I may not be a billionaire, but I’m not poor by any means.”
“It’s a good thing I have my own bank account,” I tease. “I’ve encountered the same problem when dating men. They want my father’s legacy, not me.”
He reaches across the console to join our hands together. “How could any man resist you, Blake? We’ve only just met, yet I can already see your inner light. You prioritize others over yourself and invest wholeheartedly in everything you do. Your family and friends are always your top priority. It’s rare to see someone so selfless.”
I blush under the compliment and am secretly pleased that Ryder didn’t mention my looks when he was describing me. “You make me sound like a saint, and I’m far from it.” I’m keeping secrets from my father because I’m selfish. There’
He scoffs. “But you are a genuinely good person, even when no one is looking.”
A few moments later, Ryder pulls into the parking lot of Play It Forward, next to my Bugatti. “Good luck in your race this weekend. I hope you beat my brother.”
Ryder’s eyebrows furrow, and his lips turn downward. “It’s not Teague that I’m worried about. It’s Reggie. That guy really gets under my skin. He’s like a pimple you can’t pop.”
I can’t help but laugh at him. “Why? Reggie hasn’t done anything to you.”
“He caused the crash in the last race and didn’t even bother to apologize. He punched me in the jaw when I attempted to remove his helmet. For the record, he hits like a girl. He disregards his fans and the other drivers. I faced my past and still show my face, so why is he hiding his? He never speaks to anyone, treating the rest of us like we’re dirt beneath his shoe.”
“I’m sure there’s a very good reason for Reggie’s actions. Don’t you find it all a little mysterious and exciting?” I ask. “I know I do.”
“No. I find him annoying and irritating, like a fly that won’t leave you alone at a picnic. I could understand if he felt embarrassed about his appearance or something along those lines, but not shaking hands, saying kind words, or acting like a decent human being is excessive. It’s poor sportsmanship, plain and simple. It drives me bonkers,” Ryder rants.
“I’ll rephrase. I assure you there is a very good reason why Reggie hasn’t come forward, and I can promise you that all will be revealed by the end of the season—when the timing is right,” I tell him.
At this, Ryder raises an eyebrow. “How do you know?”
“Really? As tight as you and my brother are, I would have thought he would have told you what company I work for, albeit remotely most of the time.”
Ryder shakes his head adamantly. “No, he hasn’t. Why? What company do you work for?”
Smirking, I say, “Wheelie Good Tires. In order to prove myself capable of running Morrison Motors, I had to take a company from nothing and make it a household name.”
“What?! Does that mean you know who Reggie Buchanon is?” Ryder asks excitedly.
I nod. “Yes, but I can’t say anything due to a nondisclosure agreement. I can’t even tell my father, and he’s been begging me to find out.”
Ryder bounces in his seat. “Can you at least tell me why Reggie hides his face?”
“No can do. But what I can tell you is that it’s for a really good reason. Will you trust me and let it go for now? All will be revealed when the time is right.”
“I’ll let it go if you agree to go out with me next Wednesday. Normally, I visit my Aunt Mabel for dinner and then hang out with some friends before leaving on a race weekend. I’d like you to come,” he says.
I release my seatbelt and turn in my seat so that I’m facing him. “Are you asking me out on a date, Mr. Stone?”
“I suppose I am. I don’t like being told I can’t do something, especially when I really want to do it.”
I lean over and kiss his cheek. “I’d love to, but if we’re going to see each other, we’re going to have to keep it a secret for now. I’ll come up with an excuse to miss the family dinner next week.”
Ryder shakes his head. “I can ask Mabel if Tuesday would be all right. It would be suspicious if you suddenly changed your routine. Since my friends are always around, it shouldn’t be a problem.”
I open the car door and get out, then duck my head back inside. “I’ll text you my address.”
“Blake, are you going to be at the race on Saturday?”
“I can’t make any promises, but I’ll certainly try.”
I close the door and then get into my car, heading home to an empty house. As I drive along the two-lane highway, my thoughts turn to my father and the power he believes he has over me. Determined to take control of my life, I grumble, “No one puts Baby in the corner.”
I dial my mother, who picks up on the first ring. “Hey, Sweetie. How’s Texas treating you?”
“It’s much warmer than Maine, but not nearly as pretty in the fall.”
“True, but the winters are much more palatable. We’re forecasted to get snow next week, and I’m betting it’s still swimsuit weather down there,” she says, and I can hear the smile in her voice. “Have you met anyone special yet?”
“I have.” I spend the next few minutes telling her about finally meeting Ryder and the threat Dad is using to keep him in line. My mom, Deborah, has heard plenty of stories about Ryder from Teague over the years. “I’m tired of keeping secrets from Dad, but he’s forcing my hand.”
“Do you want my advice?” she asks.
“That’s why I called. I need my mommy,” I joke.
“You’ll always be my baby, even when you’re old and gray. I’m always here for you,” she retorts. “While I have never agreed with your decision to keep secrets from your father, he hasn’t exactly made it easy for you. Your father has always been either ‘this or that’ with nothing in between. I think you need to have a good heart-to-heart with him and come clean.”
I nod even though she can’t see me. “That’s kind of what I was thinking. I should tell him everything and let the chips fall where they may.”
“No! You need to inform him only about what concerns you specifically, Blake. Regarding Ryder, you’re still in the exploratory phase, and there’s nothing to tell your father. Once there is, then the two of you need to figure out if the relationship is worth the sacrifice, but the sacrifice is Ryder’s to make.”
“You’re right. I’m getting ahead of myself. I just don’t know how much longer I can bottle everything up inside, Mom. I feel like a soda can that’s been shaken up and ready to explode with the slightest release of pressure.”
She chuckles. “The secret to preventing a can from fizzing is to smack the top several times before opening it.”
“Are you suggesting I smack some sense into Dad?”
“No, Sweetie,” Mom chuckles. “I’m suggesting you defuse the situation by coming to your father with a well-informed defense. There are several roads that lead to the same destination. Explain to him the route you want to take.”
Now, where have I heard that before?