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

I always enjoyed the races at Charlotte because we were close to home and it’s the race my family always came to. Except this year. The World of Outlaws was scheduled for the night before the Coca-Cola 600 race at the dirt track.

Saturday morning, the day before the 600, I was in the middle of getting new orders done for the merchandise trailer when I stepped outside for better reception so I could call Emma.

As soon as I stepped outside, I wished I would have stayed inside.

Standing near Brody’s motor coach was Shaylee, a girl I hated. She’d fucked my brother over once before and taken advantage of me numerous times.

“Easton’s looking good on the cover of
Racers Edge
.” Shaylee said, walking past me, knowing damn well I knew nothing about what she was talking about.

“Yeah, he is,” I agreed, though I didn’t know what it was. “Bet you’ve been drooling over it, huh?”

That pissed her off. “The only reason you’re anybody is because of your dad.”

“So you’re nobody because of yours, yes?”

People have the misconception that because I’m quiet, I don’t pay attention and I won’t stand up for myself. I’m always paying attention. I’m quiet because I’m observing. I stand up for myself when needed.

I know who Shaylee’s dad is. He’s a fucking drunk who’s never held a steady job as a sponsor rep and her mom’s a hair dresser.

It’s not like she has anything to brag about or be able to even remotely compare parental units.

“Why are you even here?” I asked looking at the pass around her neck. “Join a fan club or something?”

“My dad’s a representative for Wyle,” she held up her temporary pass. “My boyfriend’s a tire changer for Brody. I’m here with him this weekend.”

“You should stick to Ohio. This isn’t really your crowd, is it?”

“I should say the same thing to you.” I knew what that was about. But I ignored it…for now. She’s referring to my family racing dirt and me being here now. As if that’s supposed to piss me off. It kind of does, but not enough to respond.

I laughed. “So you’re a garage groupie for the weekend. Sweet. Fits you.”

“I should call your mom then. She could probably give me some advice on how to get that hard pass, couldn’t she?”

Well, she’s just trying to set me off for real, isn’t she?

“Shaylee, Shaylee, Shaylee…why do you want to limit yourself to just one racer to get that hard pass when you could just continue to sleep with whoever is drunk enough to think you’re a catch for a one-night stand?” I smirked and turned away as I saw her cheeks turn a crimson red.

Shaylee’s a bitch. I’ve never known any other side of her and my brother was a fucking dumb ass for sleeping with her.

It’s in her nature to destroy people. I’m not sure who or what made her that way, but she was just nasty. The first guy I ever slept with was found the very next night with Shaylee at a party. I never liked her and I wasn’t about to start now.

Easton stepped out of the motor coach, smiled at me, and then stepped toward Jessie who’d been watching this all along. She always found my interactions with women obsessing over my husband entertaining. I knew what Shaylee was doing too. She was after Easton. I was sure of it.

Easton didn’t say anything to me as he stepped past me but I also knew he had a press conference in ten minutes and then the Nationwide drivers’ meeting.

He watched me as he and Jessie got on the golf cart but still never said anything, just waited for me.

Rolling my eyes at Shaylee, I made my way over to the golf cart.

“What was that about?” Easton asked, staring at his phone.

“Just Shaylee being Shaylee.”

He gave a nod, and said nothing else. I wanted to ask about the magazine cover considering I knew nothing about any magazine cover he was on. I’d save that for when I could guarantee he’d be listening and ten minutes before a meeting was not the time to bring up him posing on the cover of some racing magazine.

Every press conference is essentially the same. Same questions, usually same answers.

I wasn’t in a good mood after that conversation with Shaylee. I got bored at the press conference and snuck back to the hauler with Tray and Megan, Jacob’s wife. Jacob Harris was Tate’s son who now raced for Riley-Harris Racing as their rookie driver.

“Where’s E?” Kyle asked coming into the hauler to see the four of us leaned against the counters.

“Press conference and then autograph session. Should be back in a few minutes.”

He gave me that look, the one that told me he needed him.

“Why?”

“NASCAR just slapped us with a fifty-thousand dollar fine and probation for that shit with Sean during the All Star race.”

Megan and I gasped. “What?”

Immediately I had a text from dad.

Part of me wondered how he knew this already. But then again, this was my dad we’re talking about.

Easton walked in right about then with Jessie, staring at his phone. “That’s bullshit!” Were the first words from his mouth. “I can’t believe this.”

“Dad said you’re appealing it and not to say anything?”

“Not to say anything?” Easton turned to look at me, his eyes scowling. “A fucking reporter asked me about it at the press conference. How did I not know about this before that?”

“We just found out,” Kyle defended. “I don’t know how they would have known first.”

Easton lost it right about then and started spouting off shit none of us understood.

I didn’t wait around knowing his afternoon was full and I really didn’t want to bear the brunt of his outburst today.

My phone chirped so I looked down as I walked out of the hauler. It was a text from Casten.

To me, the Outlaws being in town was way more exciting than this. Sure I was ditching my husband and the Nationwide race but this was my family. It wasn’t often that I got to see them all together. I wasn’t missing it for anything.

When the Outlaws were in town, that’s what felt right to me. Maybe because it’s where my dad and brothers were, but I was essentially raised on dirt track racing and you couldn’t pull me away from being this close to seeing my family race for anything. I got a smile on my face just thinking about it. It’d been too long and seeing them race was just the icing on the cake.

Everyone around me could tell my mood had improved when I went back to the motor coach and saw Easton and Brody there. Brody and Lexi were heading over to the dirt track with me while Easton got ready for the Nationwide race.

“Wish you got this excited about my racing,” Easton mumbled when his lips brushed my cheek as we said goodbye and I wished him good luck.

As I pulled back, I gave him a look but I wasn’t sure what to say. In all actuality, it was a fair statement these days. Yet he had no idea the reasons why I wasn’t as excited about him racing as I was watching my family race. He’s forgotten everything about me it seems yet makes it seem like it’s all my fault. I had no response because any response I could have given him would have fallen on deaf ears or would have done nothing more than cause an argument. Definitely not worth the hassle.

When we got over to the dirt track, mom and Hayden were outside the hauler, laughing at Gray playing in the dirt. She was quite the traveler these days and as cute as she was rotten.

She knew four words already at sixteen months old. Daddy, mama, papa and race. And recently, win.

Typical Riley child.

Lexi took off immediately when we got to the track and found Abigale, the Pretty Princess as we called her. Lane’s only daughter hated dirt. And here she was being raised at dirt tracks. The kid didn’t stand a chance.

Bailey was constantly having to clean her off with baby wipes. It wasn’t because she wanted to either. It was because Abigale would literally go crazy if any dirt was on her or her clothes. People in my family definitely had their skin phobias.

Beside me, Brody stood watching the boys putting heat in Axel and Rager’s cars.

Casten, Dad and Justin were on the track doing hot laps.

I couldn’t see Rager but knew he was around somewhere. It’d been a few months since I saw him and it never got easier. I may be married now but you never forget your first love. The one who broke my heart too. I doubt anyone knew Rager Sweet was my first love. I don’t even think Rager knows.

He might, but maybe not.

My attention was pulled to the pits around me and the hallow sound of sprint cars pulling off the track. Being in the pits at an Outlaw race is different than being at a NASCAR race. More laid back but just as busy.

Rager and Axel emerged from his hauler, both laughing and dressed in their racing suits. Tommy followed behind them and it appeared they were laughing at something he was telling them. More than likely inappropriate banter that’s best left to their set of ears.

Neither of them saw me, tucked behind Brody. Rager looked over at Brody, and then the other way. It wasn’t that they didn’t get along, it was that Rager didn’t talk much. He’s pretty quiet…a lot like me, always listening and observing his surroundings.

Dad, Casten and Justin all came in from hot laps at the same time, one right after another. The throaty pop as the engines surged caught my attention. I loved that sound.

Dad saw me and revved his engine as he came to a stop in front of the haulers.

I backed up slighting when a few fans gathered, two or three asking for autographs as soon as dad was out of the car.

To my left Tommy and Willie hopped on black 4-wheelers and pushed Axel and Rager onto the track for their hot lap session.

Mom came up behind me and wrapped her arms around me. She smelled like beer, methanol and her Victoria’s Secret perfume she always wore.

Smiling, I turned and hugged her, my arms wrapping around her delicate body. She had most certainly lost weight since Gray’s birthday party.

“You okay?” I asked, pulling back to look at her.

Hayden did the same giving my mom a once over. Everyone knew something was up but she denied it.

“Feeling great!” She wasn’t fooling me. From the corner of my eye, I saw dad to my left watching her, sadness present and that’s when I knew she wasn’t okay. The look at his face said it all.

The commotion of the second hot laps session ended and all the guys giving feedback made us girls move aside. I did sneak a quick hug from my dad and Casten and then found Dave beside Axel’s hauler smoking ribs. I’m pretty sure Dave was kept around only because he could cook. He was full of a shitload of dumb ideas and bad decisions and that’s saying something since he makes Tommy look like a saint.

“That smells fucking amazing!” Lexi said, opening the door to the smoker.

“Don’t touch that.” Dave slapped her hand away. “You’ll fuck up my process.”

“When will they be done?”

“Soon. Just don’t touch.”

Lexi glared, her dark eyebrows pushed together in a scowl. “Slap my hand again Dave and I’ll shove it up your ass.” He was actually taking this cooking gig to a whole new level…process, my ass. The smoker does all the work.

When the heat races begin Lexi and I went and sat in the stands. She’s was afraid she was going to chew someone’s arm off so we stopped by the concession stands and got some food and beer.