Seven
I have an owners’ meeting at the arena, so once I got back to my place and showered, I came down here.
Several league supervisors are standing at the front of the suite going over some minor changes to the rules for the upcoming season.
Nothing that will change the way the Powell Racing team does things, though.
We’ve had a winning team for the past several years.
We don’t always come in first, but my drivers always place in the top ten.
I’m only half paying attention because I still can’t get the memory of what that asshole said to Sawyer out of my head. I should have knocked his teeth out, but I know better than to think that would solve anything.
Before my thoughts about that piece of shit drag me deeper into the dark, my attention is pulled out onto the speedway by the sound of a pair of engines roaring around the track. I lock eyes on a car that I haven’t seen speeding across the asphalt in quite some time.
Charlie Wheeler.
A smile immediately breaks out on my face.
Charlie has been a good friend of mine for a few years now.
Seeing each other around the track often, we’ve gotten to know one another well.
With both of us having multi-billion-dollar companies to run outside of the racing circuit, we found we had a lot in common.
Charlie’s been busy building a family over the past several years, and we haven’t spoken in a while. I’ve seen him around the track a few times, but he’s usually in the middle of coaching his oldest son, Scotty. The timing never felt right for me to butt in and say hi.
Though, if I’m honest with myself, I struggled with the idea that he was building a family while I was dealing with the fallout of losing one. It’s not that I’m not happy for him. He’s been through hell and back. If anyone deserves love in his life, it’s Charlie.
I take a quick glance back to the supervisor, still droning on at the front of the room. Deciding to make a break for it, I stand and nod my apologies to him. Then I hurry to the door and exit the suite.
I make the quick trip down the stairs outside of the row of suites. Just as I am about to pass the entrance to the grandstands, a flash of wild black curls takes hold of my attention.
Sawyer.
My heart beats faster, and I stop dead in my tracks, immediately forgetting about Charlie. Her profile is visible from here, and the forlorn look on her face eats away at me as I pivot my body toward her.
Did that bastard say anything else after they got on that elevator to break her down even further? Did he hurt her in another way?
I watch as she descends the stands, slowly making her way to the first row.
I abandon the stairs leading to the track below and follow her path down the steps.
A gust of wind slams into my body, but it doesn’t affect me.
My focus is solely on her. She takes a seat in the first row, and I choose one a few rows behind her.
I want to watch her for a while, unseen.
It’s none of my business, but I have to know why she’s with him. Why would someone as strong, smart, and successful as her let a pathetic man talk to her that way? Why does she stay with him?
You know it’s not always as simple as that.
Cheering from the next section over captures her attention.
Sawyer turns toward the noise, and a soft smile graces her lips.
My eyes search for the source of her happiness, and that’s when I notice Rachel Wheeler is watching from the stands to our left with their youngest son, Teddy.
He’s grown so much since the last time I saw him. He is the spitting image of his father.
He’s going to break hearts just like Charlie, I can see it already.
SAWYER
I’m struck with awe as I watch one of racing’s greatest drivers take the turns around the track. I’ve seen Charlie Wheeler compete in person before, but this feels more like a behind-the-scenes look. The track is empty except for him and his oldest son, Scotty, who is a few years younger than me.
My eyes follow his car as he speeds into Pit Road, decelerating quickly.
When his car comes to a stop, he gets out with that killer smile of his spread wide, eyes locked on his family, watching him from the stands to the left of me.
He greets Scotty with a high-five, and I watch as they talk to one another.
I feel like a voyeur. Like I am watching a private moment unfold, when suddenly, Charlie turns his attention to me and waves. My eyes go wide with disbelief.
Oh, my God, why is he waving to me?
I lift my arm to wave back, but a woman’s voice stops me before I make myself look like a complete idiot.
“Jackson Powell.”
I look to my left and realize that the voice belongs to Charlie’s wife, and she’s turned her attention to the stands behind me. My head snaps around so quickly I’ll be surprised if I don’t end up with whiplash. When my eyes reach his, I find they’re staring directly back at me.
What is he doing here?
“Rachel, wonderful to see you as always,” Jackson says, breaking eye contact with me and standing up.
Of course Charlie wasn’t waving to me. I can’t believe I actually thought that. I watch Jackson as he walks down the steps and into the row where Rachel is sitting. They greet one another with a hug. Of course he knows the Wheelers. A pang of jealousy hits me in the gut.
I stand to leave, but I stop when Jackson calls after me.
“Sawyer, hold on a minute.”
Taking a deep breath, I turn around, seeing the group of them walking up the steps to meet me. I’ve never been more nervous before in my life.
“Sawyer Stone, this is Rachel Wheeler. Rachel, I am honored to introduce you to my newest driver.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Sawyer.” Rachel’s curly hair rustles in the breeze like mine.
“Same here,” is all I can get out.
I’m struck by her gorgeous violet eyes. Rachel is one of the most beautiful women I’ve ever seen. Immediately, I feel self-conscious.
“I can get used to the idea of female drivers,” Rachel continues. “This league could use a little more girl power around here.”
“Thank you. It’s been a dream of mine for quite a while. I still don’t believe it.”
I stop talking before I lose control and start spewing words out like an idiot.
“Should we come down there?” Rachel calls to Charlie.
“No, we’ll come to you. One sec.” Charlie responds from the track as he and Scotty cross over Victory Lane.
Rachel and Jackson walk to the flagger’s stand to greet them as they climb the fence and enter the stands.
I take another deep breath, determined not to make a fool out of myself in front of a racing legend.
He greets his wife by dipping down and pulling her in for a kiss. Then he ruffles the hair of his youngest son, Teddy. Finally, he turns his attention to Jackson.
“Jackson Powell, long time no see, man. How’ve you been?”
They shake hands and embrace each other in what can only be described as a dude hug. I smile slightly at the two of them. Daniel would never greet anyone so casually. It’s beneath him. I try to keep my eyeroll to a minimum so no one would think I mean it toward Jackson and Charlie.
“Not too much. Just crept out of the owner’s meeting. Listen, I want to introduce you to someone.”
Jackson turns around and waves me forward as I fight to keep my eyes from bugging out of my head.
“This is my newest driver, Sawyer Stone.”
“So you’re the chick driver that all the guys are talking smack about.”
I feel blood flood my face as mortification roots me to the spot. It’s one thing for the guys on my team to voice their opinions about me, but it’s a whole different feeling to realize I’m the talk of the entire league.
My eyes shift between Charlie and Scotty, my colleagues in this industry, and Jackson. Silently, I pray for a sinkhole to open beneath me and swallow me whole.
I see Rachel attempt to subtly elbow Charlie in the ribs for his remark.
“Knock it off,” she warns him under her breath.
“I’m just kidding. Besides, if people are talking about you, it means that you must be doing something right.”
“The moment I saw her behind the wheel, I knew I wanted her driving for Powell Racing.”
Remembering back to the incident in the garage, the first time Jackson actually saw me behind the wheel, makes my stomach hurt.
Does Jackson feel like he has to speak up for me?
Maybe he feels obligated as my team owner to defend me.
Either way, the more they continue to talk about me, the harder I have to resist the urge to run out of here like a scared little girl.
“You’re on a great team, Sawyer,” Charlie informs me. “There are some very strong drivers, and you’re sure to learn a lot from them as well as from Jackson here.”
“Yeah, if they ever decide that I’m worth talking to.”
I blurt it out before I even realize I’ve done it.
I didn’t mean to, but the anger that I’ve kept bottled up about my rocky introduction to the team reached a boiling point, and I couldn’t stop it.
I don’t want to hear how good they are at driving.
What about how they are as people? When are they going to get over the fact that I’m not a guy and welcome me as one of their own?
“In this industry, you need to have thick skin. These are your team members, but you’re also racing against them. If Jackson believes in you enough to bring you on to his team, then I know you’ve got what it takes. So shake it off, and show everyone what you’re made of, okay?”
There haven’t been many people giving me motivational speeches throughout my life. For a complete stranger, who just so happens to be a racing superstar as well as one of my idols, to do just that has me picking myself up off the ground and soaring to new heights in no time.