Chapter 44 - Regan
FORTY-FOUR
REGAN
After my interview with Katarina, I jog over to victory lane to congratulate Leslie on her win.
I stand to the side as the confetti falls and the champagne is sprayed over her by her crew, soaking her long brown hair and fire suit.
Once she’s done hugging her crew, I run up to her and pull her in for a hug and squeeze her tight.
This is her first win, and as a rookie, this is big for her and her future in SCORS. I’m so damn proud of her.
Evan is wanting an interview, and after one more quick hug, I leave her to celebrate.
There is going to be a rager of a party at her place celebrating this win.
After my shower and changing into a party appropriate outfit consisting of jean shorts, a plain v-neck shirt, and sneakers, I can already hear the party starting at the end of the row. It’s about to be a wild night.
I’m about to leave when my phone buzzes in my back pocket. I'm expecting it to be Leslie asking where I am, but it’s Dean’s name that comes across my screen.
Dean
Good race today
I’m surprised he texted me. I don’t even know what to say. We locked eyes after I climbed out of the car, and he gave me a look of hope. Like he knows that all of this will clear up and we can go back to being…well, whatever the hell we were.
Me
Thanks. You too
Dean
Going to Leslie’s party?
Me
Yea, on my way. You?
Dean
Maybe. Do you want me to?
Do I want him to? I’m still a bit upset about him lying to me, but at the same time, I think I better understand why he did. Maybe I can give him another chance.
Me
Yea I’d like you there
Dean
Great! See ya there
My stomach swoops at his message, how excited he seems that I’m giving him this second chance. Dad walks into the RV, and I lock my phone so he can’t see who I’m texting, though I think he already knows.
“I didn’t think you’d still be here. Thought you’d be partying with Leslie.”
“I’m heading there now. I’ll be back later.”
“Alright, be safe and good race today, kiddo. You gave Dixon a run for his money.”
“Yeah, I did.” I force a smile. I don’t want to talk about Dean with Dad. I’m not ready to tell him about anything that has happened between us. Dad can sense my nerves, not just about Dean closing in on my points lead, but about him in general.
“What’s wrong? You can still get into Cup. We will do all we can to ensure that.”
“I guess we will see how it plays out,” I say, raising a shoulder.
“Are you not confident you can make it in Cup?” he asks. “Or is this about Dixon’s crush on you?”
My eyebrows shoot up in surprise. “Wh-What? A crush? I don’t think he has a crush,” I stammer. Dad just looks at me knowingly. Damn it.
“I can see the way he looks at you, Regan.” His tone is soft and reminiscent of something else. Like he’s lost in a memory.
“And what way is that? We are rivals, remember,” I say, going on the defense to hopefully defuse this conversation.
“It’s the same look that I used to give Mom,” he says softly. More memories sweep across his features, like he’s left the present and is reliving the past. “Sometimes feelings change over time.”
“Maybe that was you and Mom, but not me and Dixon,” I say, folding my arms across my chest. “I’m heading to Leslie’s, don’t wait up.”
When I arrive at Leslie’s place in the infield, the party is bumpin’, and everyone is there to celebrate with Leslie.
I scan the crown and find Leslie talking with Chase, both holding Solo cups in their hands.
Well, at least they are talking still. Surprising, given the way she was upset with Chase telling her he didn’t like her the way she likes him.
Maybe they are trying to at least be civil.
Leslie sees me, and I give her a wave. She comes over, a little wobbly, so she’s a few drinks in.
“You made it,” she slurs, throwing her arms around me.
“Of course. I wouldn’t miss it.”
“Coolers are over there, and there’s more alcohol inside to use with mixers. Grab a drink and let’s celebrate.”
She woos, which sets off a woo from everyone else, and all I can do is shake my head and laugh. I wander over to the coolers and dig through them, not finding anything that piques my interest, so I opt for a water.
As I pull out the bottle, the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. I turn to see Ian standing behind me, a beer in his hand and looking a bit glossy eyed already.
“Nothing good?” he asks, slurring the question. Yep, definitely a bit drunk.
“Nah, not really.” I shrug. “Here to celebrate with Leslie.”
Ian pounds the rest of his beer and reaches into the cooler next to me and opens another. He’s on his way to being really toasted if he keeps this up.
“Girls gotta stick together, right?” He takes a step closer, but I instantly retreat, keeping distance between us. I don’t like the look he has in his eyes right now. My gut is telling me to get the hell out of here, but my feet don’t allow me to flee.
“I guess.” My eyes narrow at him. I don’t know what he’s playing at right now, but I don’t like it. “I support my friends.”
“What, Brady? We aren’t friends?” he slurs. He takes another step closer, and I try to step back, but my ass hits a table instead.
“Not when you’re this close. You need to back the fuck up, Hicks.” I do my best to shove him so I can try to get around him, but his broad frame keeps him rooted in place.
His face instantly changes, something menacing crossing his features, and for the first time, I’m scared.
“So, you’ll fuck around with Dixon. What about the rest of us, Brady?
” He grabs my wrist and drags me away from the party.
I’m so stunned that all words of protest get caught in my throat until he has me pinned behind the RV.
Leslie is parked on the end and there are no buses behind us, so we’re alone here.
I don’t think anyone saw me get dragged away by him.
“It’s why you stormed out of Chase’s RV that night at the mention of his drunken hookup, you thought you two had something special when all he wanted was to get in your pants.
It makes sense, really. How he races you differently than everyone else.
Of course you’re fucking him to get that kind of treatment.
” His eyes tear into mine, full of anger and I think jealousy.
I can usually handle my own, but I’m scared.
I’m not sure what he could be capable of with me alone and unable to get away.
“You know nothing about me or him,” I huff. I’m trying to be brave, try to show that I’m not as scared as I really feel. Though he can probably hear the loud thumping of my heart. I try to push around him again, and he pushes me back by my shoulder and slams me into the bus.
“Let go of me,” I bellow, still trying my best to pull out of his grasp, but that just makes him grip me harder. The smell of beer on his breath makes bile rise into my throat.
“Come on, Brady. Give me a taste of what you’re giving Dixon. We, too, could have an arrangement for you to get into Cup, huh?” he purrs into my ear and then gives me a smirk. Fucking smirks. I wish my response was to fight, but my instinct is to flee, and I’m not able to do that.
“GET OFF!” I shout, hoping someone at the party will hear or notice I’m missing. Something…anything.
“Come on. I can add you in on the deal Dixon and I struck.”
I just blink at him as confusion washes over me. What deal? What is he talking about?
“Oh, he didn’t tell you?” he asks, full of glee, knowing he has information that I want.
“I told him that I would keep his little secret of hooking up with that chick if he gave me some points here and there. Just something else he lied to you about, it seems. Too bad Taylor had to open his fat fucking mouth and ruin my leverage.”
I think I’m going to throw up. This can’t be real. Just when I was about to give Dean a second chance, I find out he made this deal with Ian of all people to keep it from me.
“What do you say, Brady?” His words are greasy and leave a trail on my skin that I can’t wait to shower off.
“Please, Ian. Just let me go,” I beg. He just fucking laughs in my face.
He presses his body against mine, and I turn my head away from him, squeezing my eyes shut as his weight presses me into the hard exterior of the bus.
The smell of beer and his cologne wash over me, and all I want is for him to get off of me. A hand strokes down the side of my arm.
“I’ll make it worth your while. I promise you’ll forget everything about Dixon after I’m done with you,” he says.
Tears are streaming down my face now. How is this happening? Ian’s hand is cupping my face, then all of a sudden, he’s pulled away from me, and it feels like for the first time in the past few minutes I can take a full breath of air.
I open my eyes and Ian is on the ground, clutching his face as blood streams from his nose. I’m not sure who it is that has Ian flat on his ass and bleeding as my vision is blurry from tears, now not of fear, but relief that someone has come to my rescue.
“What the fuck?!” he exclaims, looking at the blood on his hands.
The person leans down and grabs him by the collar before giving a few more punches.
“You stay the fuck away from her,” my rescuer growls out, rage dripping in his tone. “You don’t touch her, you don’t even fucking look at her. Got it?” The person lets go of Ian and he scrambles to his feet, bloody and bruised.
“Fine, you can fucking have her. Jeez,” Hicks says as he stumbles away.
My rescuer steps closer and a hand finds its way to my cheek, and I startle at the contact. “Shh it’s okay, it’s me, Reg.” Wait, I know that voice. I open my eyes as thumbs wipe away my tears, and my vision clears—Dean.
My Dean.
He’s the one who saved me. We’re still working through our shit, and he stepped in when it mattered most.
“It’s okay. I’m here, he’s gone,” he says, his voice so gentle.