Magnetic Shift (27 page)

He handed me a water bottle and knelt down in front of me. “You’re not a monster, Lexi. You’re gifted.”

I choked on my first gulp and almost spat it out. “Gifted? Yeah, right. More like cursed.”

“Hey … any curse that can save my ass is a gift.”

The corner of my lips twitched up.

“I’ll admit the blood thing is kind of creepy, but Dean told me what you did and how you disobeyed him to do it. He also told me it wasn’t the first time.”

“So you know how dangerous I am. You know what I did to
Mitch and—”

“Mitch had it coming. If it hadn’t been you, he would have spun out on his own somehow. He’s alive, Lex. He’ll be back to racing in no time—that is, if he finds a team to drive for. I’m pretty sure NASCAR’s going to boot Carl out for good.”

I bit my lip. Colton moved closer between my knees and wrapped his arm around my waist.

I rested my forehead against his and closed my eyes. “I’m still too dangerous. I can’t control my ability completely. I could have killed him.”

“But you didn’t.”

“As much as I want to, I can’t be with you. You amplify my emotions. Who knows what I could do?”

He placed a finger under my chin and raised my face to meet his. “We can work on it together. I’m not leaving you.”

There were those dimples again, the ones that emerged when he smiled. How could I say no to him?

“What’s going to happen now?”

“Don’t worry about a thing. Dean’s working the media as we speak, and Nancy has already scheduled a press conference for early this week.”

My eyes grew wide. “A press conference?”

“Don’t worry,” said a voice in the doorway. Dean walked in. “You’re going to take a little trip until all this blows over. You need to get your emotions in check after this weekend and decide what you want to do next.”

Colton looked up at him. “You spoke to Pops?”

Dean nodded.

I bounced my eyes between the two of them. “Where am I going?”

Colton stood. “You’re going to stay with my parents.”

I swallowed hard. “Your parents? Do they—”

“No. They know what happened to Colton, and about the accusations revolving around you, but that’s it.” Dean sat down next to me. “Think of it as a mini vacation. Concentrate on your studies. Unfortunately, we’ll have to cut all ties with you until it’s safe for you to return.”

I felt a jolt of panic, and I darted my attention toward Colton. “No. I don’t want—I can’t leave—”

Colton dropped down to one knee and cupped my face with his hands. “I’m not going anywhere. I’ll be right here when you get back. I promise.” He pulled me into an embrace.

“We need to get going. The track’s almost emptied out, and the crew needs to pack up.”

Colton kept me close on our way to the motor coach. We packed up our stuff and headed back to Atlanta.

The following morning I packed my bags, looked back at my room, and said my goodbyes. Was I ever going to see this place again? My tears returned in that moment. Dean and Colton were quiet on the ride back to the airstrip. My goodbyes to Lorna and Annabelle had taken a toll on me, and I wasn’t very talkative myself.

Before boarding, Dean took me in his arms and kissed the top of my head. “This is only temporary. No need to be sad.” His words were comforting, but I was skeptical that this would ever blow over and that I’d ever be coming back. “See you soon, kiddo,” he added and returned to his truck, giving Colton and
me some semi-private time.

Colton came closer and pulled me tight against him. My eyes fluttered closed and I breathed him in, trying to commit his scent to memory. “Will they like me?”

“They’ll love you, Lex. Trust me.”

I nuzzled my face in his neck. “What if I lose control while I’m there?”

His lips grazed my ear. “Just think of me.”

I grimaced. “That’s usually how I lose control in the first place.”

He laughed. “I believe you have it in you.”

“I’m scared.” I squeezed him tighter, not wanting to let him go.

“I know, but know that I’ll be here waiting for you. I love you, Lex.”

I wanted to say it back. I’d regret not saying it if I never saw him again, but I couldn’t. The words were there, the sentiment was there, but I couldn’t let them out. He pulled back, gazed at me again, and then kissed me. A long kiss. One to add to the chest of memories I planned to lock away to reminisce on later in life. “Take care, Lexi. I’ll see you soon.”

I climbed the air stairs, struggling not to look back, fearing that if I did I’d run into his arms.

I sat in one of the window seats and looked out at him, remembering his face the first time I saw it, our first almost kiss in the barn, the way my gift had reacted to his close presence. I missed it all already, and I wasn’t even in the air yet.

“I love you,” I said out loud to him, even though I knew he couldn’t hear me. The plane took off down the runway. Colton dipped his head and slipped his hands in his pockets
as I watched him get smaller. “I love you,” I repeated, this time in a whisper as the plane lifted and I could no longer see him.

The plane landed a few hours later. I stepped off the stairs and approached the group of people standing there, waiting.

“You must be Lexi,” a blonde, slender woman with deep blue eyes said to me. I looked down at her sitting in her wheelchair. Colton had told me about his mother’s complications with the birth of his brother, but I’d almost forgotten. Colton looked so much like her, I couldn’t mistake her for anyone other than his mother. She wheeled herself forward and tugged me down into a hug.

The tall man standing next to her extended his hand. “Welcome. Colt’s told us so much about you.” His green eyes shined down on me.

I worried that I was coming across as rude, just standing there not saying a word, but then out from between the two of them, Colton’s dimpled face looked up at me—only this face was much younger.

“Exie,” the boy screamed.

His mother leaned over the side of her chair and grabbed the boy by his waist. “Shush, Robbi, she’s right here … she can hear you. You don’t have to scream.” I stifled a laugh unsuccessfully. “I’m sorry,” she said, looking back up at me. “He grows on you. I promise.” She smiled warmly, just like my mother used to. My tension drifted away.

“Come on.” Mr. Tayler stepped forward and picked up my suitcase. “Let’s get you home.”

chapter twenty-five

Weeks dragged by without a word from Colton or Dean, and my hopes were dwindling fast. The Taylers were sweet. They cared for me as if I were one of their own. They even let me stay in Colton’s room, and being surrounded by his things provided a comfort that helped me sleep at night. But with every week that crept by and every race weekend that came to a close, the walls closed in bit by bit. I didn’t know how much longer I could stay here without suffocating. I needed out. I missed Colton. I missed going to the track. I’d become accustomed to NASCAR’s way of life—the adrenaline, the excitement. For the first time since Mama died, I had a home, a purpose. People actually cared about me and wanted to help me achieve something better than the solitary life I’d envisioned for myself.

Funny how I needed to leave to realize and appreciate all that. And now who knew when I’d get it all back. If I’d ever get it back.

Dean’s press conference went well. The Taylers and I watched in the family room as Dean convincingly announced
that Carl’s accusations were false, that Carl had been the one behind all the sabotages, and that my presence during the chaos in the pits was nothing more than a devastated girlfriend wanting to protect her boyfriend. And when Lenny took the mic and explained what he’d done, no one even bothered to ask any more questions about me.

“Some of the hoses hadn’t been entirely severed by the blast and the brakes reengaged. We were lucky to have avoided what could’ve been a great tragedy,” was all that was said and quoted.

In light of what happened and how well Dean had dealt with it, the board at Guardian Auto Insurance extended their offer for another fifteen races. If Colton made the top twelve, and if he did it bad-publicity free, Guardian promised them a five-year contract.

As for Carl, he pleaded temporary insanity to all his charges—fraud, attempted murder, a few misdemeanors—and that in itself had cleared my name. I couldn’t be sure if he actually believed himself insane or if he’d just seized the opportunity to use it as a defense, but as long as he stayed away from us and from the sport entirely, I didn’t care. He had no proof.

It’d been four weeks, and still I’d heard from no one. I was tempted so many times to text Colton or Dean to ask when I could come back, but I held back and did what they’d asked of me.

Over the weeks, Colton had gotten himself two top five finishes, one in Kansas and one in Richmond. Last week, he’d crossed the finish line first in Talladega.

The Taylers celebrated with neighbors and friends; they included me in the backyard festivities. They were so proud
of their son, but what I wanted more than anything was to congratulate him in person, wrap my arms around him, and show him firsthand how proud I was of him. Now I wondered if I’d ever get the chance.

Sun beamed through the open curtains of the bedroom as I finally gave up trying to sleep in and sat up in bed. A dozen or so birds perched on the telephone wires outside, squawking and chirping loudly. Even with the window closed, they sounded as though they were perched right above my head. Who could sleep through that?

I mindlessly went through the motions and shuffled off to the bathroom while Diesel, the Tayler family’s chocolate lab, circled around me, wanting to play. I showered, got dressed, and checked my phone for missed voicemails or texts. Thanks to the race schedule now permanently engraved in my memory, I knew today was Friday and that Colton’s qualifying runs in Darlington were this afternoon. Something squeezed in my chest.
God, I wish I could be there to cheer him on.

“Lexi, dear. Breakfast is ready.”

I opened the bedroom door and aimed my voice down the hall. “I’ll be right down.”

I finished brushing my hair, straightened my shirt, and headed for the stairs. Midway down, Mr. Tayler’s voice coming from the kitchen caught me off guard.
Shouldn’t he be at work already
?

Another voice responded to him. A familiar voice, one I’d been waiting weeks to hear. I rushed down the remaining steps, almost tripping off the bottom one as I charged into the kitchen. “Dean!” I launched myself into his arms. Diesel jumped at us and barked.

I caught him by surprise and he laughed. “I take it you missed me?”

I pulled back, pushing Diesel out of the way. “Is Colton here? Did he come with you?”

“No, Colton had practice early this morning. He couldn’t be here.”

Right. I knew that. My gaze fell to the floor.

“Don’t give me that face.”

I wrinkled my nose. “What face?”

“The same one Colton gave me when I told him I was coming here, and he couldn’t tag along.”

My heart skipped at the thought.

“Besides, you’re going to see him in a few hours, anyway.”

I flashed Dean a toothy grin. “Are you serious? I get to come home?”

Dean raised his eyebrow. “Home? I thought the salvage yard was your home?”

“Are you kidding? After everything you and Lorna have done for me? You guys are the only real home I’ve had in years.”

Dean placed his hand on my shoulder. “That’s good to know. Now pack up. We have a race weekend to get back to.”

I turned to run back up the stairs when Mrs. Tayler cleared her throat. “Your breakfast is getting cold.”

I glanced at Dean. He looked as annoyed as I felt.

Mrs. Tayler turned her chair around and faced him. “The girl has to eat.”

Dean nodded toward the kitchen table. “Eat your breakfast. Then we’ll go.”

I pursed my lips to avoid laughing and sat down.

It didn’t take me long to scarf down my food and run back
up to Colton’s room to pack up my things. I thanked the Taylers, gave Diesel a scratch behind the ears—I was going to miss him the most—said my goodbyes, and waved as we pulled out of the driveway.