The Rookie (Racing On The Edge #7) (22 page)

“How’s Easton doing?” Van asked on the way to the house. He always liked Easton. Probably because he was the one decent guy I had chosen and Van didn’t have to worry about me with him.

“He’s doing good. Pullin’ triple duty this year and it’s definitely wearing on him.”

Van nodded. “Yeah, that’s probably not easy but if the kid can pull it off, hell yeah!”

The conversation casually shifted to mom, as I knew it would with each arriving guest. I hated the feeling it gave me when they said her name, like she was dying and it was the last time they would see her. I didn’t want to think that.

“How’s she dealing with it?” Andrea asked from the backseat.

“She seems good.” Our eyes met in the rearview mirror. “It’s dad who’s taking it hard.”

Andrea understood that. She’d lived through this herself. Not breast cancer but she dealt with a loved one having cancer. She had to watch my Grandpa Charlie die from brain cancer twenty five years ago. It wasn’t easy from what I’ve been told.

I hadn’t seen my dad all afternoon and neither had Casten and Axel. They were helping with the stage, as well as the other JAR Racing boys. Even Rager.

I watched him for a minute remembering last night. Our stare lingered and he winked at me, a simple gesture but a reminder of what he said and how he treated me.

For the first time in a while, it wasn’t the victory someone was celebrating. It was just a moment together.

I could tell Rager wanted to come up to me but his stare went to my brothers and I knew he wouldn’t. After a victory, it’s different. There’s that adrenaline fueled behavior where you say and do what you want because you’re celebrating. You’re high on the win.

Right now it’s not that at all. There’s no liquid courage or adrenaline fueling this moment. There’s only consequences. I doubted anyone cared if we talked but Rager did. He was always cautious.

It was me who approached them first, using the excuse that I was looking for dad. Which I was, but it was more to see how Rager would act and if he would say anything about the photo I sent him this morning. We exchanged a smile, but I diverted my eyes when I felt my cheeks flush.

“Have you seen dad?” I asked Casten who was near Rager hooking up the sound equipment for Grayson and Dylan.

Grayson hopped down from the stage and tipped up his gray baseball hat for a better view. He was dressed in a red and black flannel shirt with the sleeves rolled up and faded jeans. Though he had darker hair, he definitely resembled Aiden is some ways.

He held his hand out to me. “Thanks for inviting me.”

“Thanks for coming. I really appreciate you guys coming out on such short notice.” I looked at Dylan approaching us with a microphone in his left hand.

He smiled as well, reaching for my hand. “You must be Jameson’s daughter, Arie?”

“Yep, that’s me.”

His smile grew. “I met you once before but you were like five so you probably don’t remember me.”

“I have a horrible memory.” I wasn’t lying. I did. Unless it was Rager. Fucking memory stealer. My eyes flickered to his, he was watching me and my interaction with Grayson and Dylan but saying nothing. No indication of what he was thinking at all.

Axel called Grayson and Dylan away so I went back to asking Casten where dad was.

Casten looked around, an extension cord slung over his arm. “Nope. Last time I saw him he was heading down to the track with Tommy and a bottle of whiskey.”

“He better not make this night shitty for her.” I would totally punch my father tonight. I would.

“He won’t, trust me. Just give him some time alone today. He’s struggling.”

That I knew and Casten was right. He needed to be alone.

Casten turned around to help Harrison and then Axel. I stood there pretending to look at my phone, only I was seeing if Rager was actually going to come over.

And he did. Surprisingly.

“Thanks for the picture.” His voice was low and soft. “I did save it.”

“I bet you did.” I teased, looking up to smile at him.

His faded when he saw me smiling. “It’s like a fucking knife to my chest when I see that.”

“See what?”

Rager looked around, and then touched his index finger to my lips. “Seeing you smile…”

“Why?”

“Because I can make you smile. I want to be the one who always makes you smile like that.”

That afternoon passed in a blur and before I knew it, it was nearly time and we were waiting on mom to get there. I’d been inside with the caterers so I hadn’t seen everything Emma had done outside yet.

When I stepped outside I gasped at the sight before me. Their backyard had been turned into a party for sure. In the field was the stage, lit up with lanterns and hanging white lights. There was more floating lanterns in the pool and decorations everywhere you looked.

On the stone patio was where the food tables were set up with more tables and chairs scattered around.

Aunt Emma rocked that party for mom and made it everything we hoped it would be for her. A few minutes before they were going to bring mom down, I saw my dad for the first time today. He was already shit-faced with Tyler and Justin.

“Don’t punch anyone tonight. For mom.”

“I’m perfectly calm.” Dad shrugged drinking straight from the whiskey bottle in his hand.

“Stop watching
The Big Lebowski
.”

He shrugged again. “It’s a good movie.” Looking at Tyler beside him, he nodded.

I poked him in the chest. “Behave.”

He rubbed the spot but smiled bringing the bottle to his lips.

“What are you going to sing?”

Dad smiled looking at Dylan and Grayson, who found him. “All her favorites.”

They disappeared to the stage and looked over playlists.

Dad has always been a blues fan and it’s well known his love for The Black Keys. I bet they played a good variety for my mom’s party. I was so excited and couldn’t wait to see her reaction to this big soiree in her honor.

They walked away and I scanned the field trying to make sure everything was in order before mom came down. Grandma had her upstairs and was distracting her with who knows what.

Gray was obsessed with the stage. Her and Jacen both. He would rip the cords away from the speakers and she’d put them in her mouth. Stupid kids. Casten noticed and took a spray bottle over to her and sprayed her in the face.

“Did you just squirt her in the face with a spray bottle?” I asked, not believing what I just saw.

“Yes.” He looked over at me like I was stupid as he brought a red cup to his lips. “So?”

“She’s not a cat.”

“It worked. Look. She’s not touching it anymore.”

I took the spray bottle from him and squirted him in the face. “How does it feel?”

He licked the water off his lips. “Actually, very refreshing. It’s hot out today.”

“I should report you to the Department of Children and Families for child abuse.”

“Parents are supposed to be teaching their children life lessons…this is just another example of me teaching her an important life lesson. What if she kept reaching for a hot stove? Don’t worry, sis, I got this shit!”

I simply walked away muttering under my breath about my brother being the best form of birth control I could ever need.

The scary part about that was, he probably did.

I made my way over to the food table and stopped, laughing. Hayden had did what she said she was going to do and made a titty cake.

“What are you guys doing?” Tommy asked coming up behind me to prop his chin on my shoulder.

Tommy scratched his head only to have Willie ask, “What is that?”

“What does it look like?” Rosa asked him, seeming amused.

“A tit cake.”

“Well, genius, you figured it out.” I said, patting his back.

“Can I have the nipples?” he asked Hayden.

She gave him a strange look and then rolled her eyes when dad walked up smiling at the cake. “Sure.” She said, looking over at dad next.

“Alley made titty cake pops too.” Tommy said, and then eyed the cake a little closer. “Is that a replica of Sway’s chest?”

Tommy hadn’t even finished his sentence, turned to see my dad, and then took off running the other way. Laughing his ass off but knowing my dad would have his ass on a cake platter for that comment if he caught up with him. Tommy is stupid but he’s not that stupid.

Rosa looked at the cake then cupped her breasts. “I think they look like mine.”

Jack snatched a cake pop, two of them actually and handed one to Jonah, his blue eyes lighting up as he took in the sugar. They had no idea what they were.

Lily approached from behind and before she could stop them, the boys were eating them.

Casten smiled. “How’s that boobie, Jack?”

Jack stared at the cake pop and then shrugged. “I’d be a good daddy.”

Lily smacked Casten in the ear. He got smacked in the ear a lot.

Rager came up too with Abigale on his shoulders. “Are those titty cake pops?”

“Yep.” Alley said proudly.

“Impressive.” He laughed, looking at me and then Alley again. “They look good.”

Rager reached over his shoulders to pull Abigale down setting her on the ground. Immediately she was straightening out her dress with her hands. Jack had snagged a cake pop for Abigale and handed it to her. She looked at it like she was offended by it and then gave Rager this funny look. “Sucio.”

Rager laughed and nudged Rosa with his elbow. “What’s she sayin’?”

Lily glared at Rosa. “Stop teaching her Spanish.”

“Why do you care?” Everyone watched Abigale as she gently took a napkin from the table and set the cake pop down on it looking disgusted. “She’s Lane’s kid.”

And if it was timed perfectly, Jonah smiled widely up at Rosa tugging on her dress, like a trained dog and pointed to his own cake pop. “Tatas!”

“That’s why I care.” Lily said taking both cake pops from her boys.

I didn’t see the harm in teaching them Spanish but I didn’t have a kid.

The throngs of people caught my attention around us. I smiled knowing they all came for her.

Grandma still had her upstairs. The plan was for her to come down, walk outside and have Dad start playing her favorite song, “It’s Time” by Imagine Dragons.

When that time came, the look on her face said it all. She never expected us to do this for her but immediately you knew this was the best day of her life. Her eyes and smile said so.

My attention was drawn to the stage as dad started that familiar beat she loved so much, like the crowds beating on grandstands with their feet. My mom loved hearing my dad sing more than anything and to be showcasing more of his talents in front of all of these people, yeah, she knew this was truly a magical day.

He smiled widely when he saw her and leaned into the microphone.
“So this is what you meant…”

I’ve heard my dad sing before but on a stage with a live band, never. He was amazing. I was kind of proud of him and his ability. I couldn’t believe it. I gasped just like everyone else did, even my brothers were star struck by him singing and they don’t impress that easily.