The Rookie (Racing On The Edge #7) (9 page)

He didn’t do well in the Nationwide race, finished twenty-fifth and I knew he wanted to blow off some steam.

“Did you have fun?”

“Yeah…it was nice to see everyone.”

He gave me a tense nod. “I’m going out.”

He could tell immediately I was pissed.

Easton’s like any other guy. He has faults and moods that rub me the wrong way. I do that same thing. Some days I can handle his moods. I can handle the heat. Other days I can’t.

“You’re gonna do what you want anyways.”

“Jesus,” he groaned setting his phone on the counter and scrubbing his hands over his face. “Just fucking talk to me. If you don’t want me to go, say something.”

“What would it matter? If I tell you to stay, you’re not really here anyways. I do talk to you. All you hear is racing.”

“So kind of like you missing a race of mine to go see Rager race?”

Easton’s not stupid. He’s always had an inclination that I felt something for Rager. He’d never flat out asked me about anything that happened with him though. I doubted he would.

I closed my eyes, wanting him to just leave. It would be easier.

As if he knew, he motioned toward the door. “I was going to have a beer with Jacob and Brody in the pits.”

I didn’t say anything to him. It wouldn’t matter if I did. He would have gone anyways. At least I had it in my head he would. Maybe he wouldn’t had I said something.

“Are you…staying?”

“Here?”

“Yeah. At the track.”

I shook my head reaching for my bag beside the couch. “I’m going to head home.”

“You’re not staying for the race tomorrow? It’s almost midnight.”

I had to laugh, it’s too late for me to drive home but not for him to go have a beer. Nice. “I have some things to do at home. I’ll be back in the morning. And what does it matter if I drive home? You’re going out.”

He gave a nod, I doubted he even heard what I said, and then looked at his phone when it vibrated. “So I’ll see you in the morning then?”

“Yeah.”

Why did I come back here? Out of some sort of misplaced guilt over an interaction with Rager and look what it got me…a fight with Easton and another night by myself. Basically, par for the course as this was pretty much my life lately. Fucking great.

And then he was gone. Part of me wondered if it was really just Jacob and Brody in the pits drinking and who they were drinking with. Knowing Lexi went back to Mooresville with Casten and Hayden, it probably wasn’t. Brody wouldn’t cheat on Lexi but he wasn’t exactly all eyes on her kind of guy. She knew that though.

The drive to Mooresville isn’t long but it was nice to have some quiet. When I got to my parent’s place Dad was out on the dock in the dark. I saw the lanterns and realized he must have been trying to relax. Part of me didn’t want to bother him but the other part wanted to make sure he was okay. When I got down there I noticed his phone connected to the small portable speaker beside him as country music flowed. He was laid back on a lounge chair, beer in hand and hat pulled down over his face, his legs kicked out in front of him. From the looks of the ten longnecks beside him, he’d been out here a while.

“Are you okay?” He sat up slightly when he noticed me.

His eyes squeezed shut as he shook his head. “I’m fine.”

He wasn’t fine but you don’t question my dad. If he wants to talk he will. You push and you’ll piss him off.

I’ve always felt comfortable around my dad. I’ve never had to guess where I stood, how he felt or what he thought of me. He’d tell me. What I wanted to know, and what I assumed was bothering him was my mom.

“Mom’s sick … isn’t she?”

Dad gave the lake a contemplative stare, almost hesitant as his eyes wrinkled at the edges. He didn’t answer, only gave a nod.

I felt the sharp pain in my chest but didn’t ask more, I wasn’t sure I could take knowing. Not today. I understood why he didn’t say anything either. He couldn’t. He’d break down if he said the words aloud.

His eyes went misty as he stared at the lake, so lost and sad, just unbelievably sad. I heard him sniff and wipe his sleeve over his face.

I’ve seen my dad cry twice. After he was released from the hospital I found him sitting on the kitchen floor with a bottle in hand, crying. The next, my grandpa’s funeral.

And now here he was again. Every time it hit me straight in the heart. He was tough, an awe of arrogance that most wished they could muster but he could break, legends could fall and it wasn’t easy to see when they did because you often wondered what it took for someone like my dad to break down and what it would take to put him back together.

He didn’t seem like he wanted to talk, lost in his own thoughts so I let him be.

He surprised me when he tipped a beer my way as “Sweet Annie” came on. “Stay?”

I smiled, nearly in tears myself when he knew that this was what I needed. “Okay.”

Taking a seat next to him, we sat in silence watching the ripples of the lake as the lanterns caught reflections that went on forever it seemed, drinking beer almost in sync until the song was finished and he looked over at me.

Tired eyes spoke of a pain I might never understand, a man hardened by a life he loved but loathed. A man knowing he’d never be anything without the woman at his side. I couldn’t imagine walking a mile in his shoes and making the decisions he’s had to make in his life. Losing what he’s lost and seeing what he’s seen. That was my dad though and my mom was his rock, his heart, his entire world. Without her, racing was secondary. Whatever was going on with my mom was something she’d have to tell me. My dad wasn’t going to be the one strong enough to tell me without falling apart himself.

I ended up staying at my parent’s house that night and sleeping in my old room. The next morning I intended on getting up early and heading back to the track.

“How’s mom?”

“Fine. She’s sleeping,” he paused and stared closer at what looked to be a text message. “Fucking Willie…” Dad groaned beside me tossing his phone on the table.

“What?”

“He was arrested last night in Charlotte for indecent exposure. Which means he was probably showing someone his dick or took his pants off in front of the wrong people.”

I wasn’t really listening to what he was saying though because in the stack of mail beside me was that
Racers Edge
magazine that Shaylee was talking about.

“I can’t believe this shit!” I said flipping through the full cover spread. On the cover was a simple picture, he had his shirt off wearing a pair of boxer briefs and holding his helmet in one hand and a trophy in the other. His head was down but just his eyes were focused on the camera. I knew that look. It’s the look of his determination and persistence.

What pissed me off was when I opened it to the article and saw my husband naked, with only a helmet covering his junk. What. The. Fuck?

Dad wasn’t looking at first and I doubted he even knew about the magazine either or that it had been sitting on his counter. He sighed, his eyes scanning the photos in front of me. “Is he really naked? Christ, I don’t want to see that shit while I’m eating.” He pushed his bowl of cereal away. “Why would you ruin my breakfast like that? That’s rude.”

“Oh please, Rosa ruins your breakfast every morning when she comes in wearing her hot pants.”

Rolling my eyes, I took the magazine back. It was all there. Easton’s amazing body, his tattoo of my name on his chest, his stomach, the sharp defined cut edges of his hips and lower, Oh my God. Everything I saw intimately was on display for everyone else.

“I’m fucking pissed. He never said a word to me about doing this photo shoot!” I said, closing the magazine and tossing it on the floor. “Not one fucking word.”

Dad shrugged standing to take his cereal bowl to the sink. Setting his bowl down he then turned back around leaning back against the counter. His arms crossed over his chest when he spoke. “Is the problem the photos, or that he didn’t ask you?”

I ignored him and asked, “Did you ever pose like that?”

“Well, no,” he smiled. “But I was nearly naked a few times.”

“I just can’t believe this.”

Dad sighed moving from his place at the counter to sit next to me. “Again, what’s the problem, him or the photos?”

“Him.” I said without question. “The photos are too because he never considered to ask me how I would feel about this. How would he like it if I posed nude? I could. I bet
Racers Edge
would be dying to do a full spread on a legends daughter all grown up.”

“The fuck they will.” Dad said, almost disgusted. “I wouldn’t allow it.” His voice was firm as he leaned back in the chair crossing his arms again.

“Oh my God. You know you’re the only dad who made their daughter wear a long sleeve turtle neck under their dance tutu.”

“I’m sure I’m not the only one that made their daughter to that.” Casten walked in right then, drinking a beer. “I bet he’ll make Gray do that.”

Dad looked at the beer in Casten’s hand and then to me. It wasn’t even seven in the morning. “Well, he’s not a good example obviously.”

“What?” Casten looked at us and then felt the need to explain. “Being a parent is a lot of work. It dehydrates me.”

“Alright, well, I will make her wear it.” Dad deduced, still staring at Casten like he was trying to figure him out.

“Make who do what?” Casten sat down at the table with us and stuck his hand in the cereal box to grab a handful of cereal and then ate it like the fucking Cookie Monster.

Dad watched him like he’d lost his mind, and his shirt. He was only wearing a pair of shorts and no shoes. I kept having to remind myself that Casten wasn’t fifteen any more and was actually an adult yet nothing had changed.

The magazine on the ground caught Casten’s attention. “Wow, E’s getting brave these days. And you are okay with him showing his junk to the world?”

“Fuck you, Casten!” He knew I wasn’t thrilled with those pictures. I caught the magazine with my foot and kicked it aside. “Dad’s gonna make Gray wear a long sleeve turtle neck at all times.” Propping my left elbow on the table, I leaned my head into my palm.

“Why would he make her do that?”

“So no one sees naked photos of her.”

Casten glared at me stuffing another handful of Lucky Charms in his mouth. “Fuckin’ right she’ll wear turtlenecks.” He finished his beer and then put the bottle on the table so he could probably eat his Lucky Charms two fistfuls at a time. “With my looks and Hayden’s body, I’m thinking of putting a chastity belt on her and I’ll be the only one who’ll have the key.”

“Great plan, son, you’ve redeemed yourself from my earlier assumption,” Dad agreed, all the while moving away from Casten as he ate and sprayed small pieces of cereal on the table.

“I feel bad for that poor child.” I said laughing. “Gray and Abigale have no possible chance of having a normal life.”

“Don’t feel bad for her. She kicked me out of my own bed last night. Hayden and I woke up on the floor with her in the middle sprawled out like she owned the goddamn place.”

Hayden called Casten. “I’m gonna kill your dad!” she yelled.

Casten immediately put the phone on speaker. “Oh yeah? Why’s that, honey?”

Dad arched an eyebrow at the phone and smiled, completely amused with himself.