Page 65 of That Summer

“Except him. Mom hates it.”

“Really? I need to listen to it more, it was fascinating.”

He beamed. “You go in through there.” A small crowd gathered around the entrance. “Sit up near the announcer’s booth and I’ll come back after I go say hi to the family.”

“You won’t say anything, right?”

A chuckle escaped him. “Not a word, promise. They know I’m not racing tonight, obviously,” he cracked a grin. “But it would be weird if I didn’t at least drop in and say hi.”

Her smiled melted his heart. Needing a distraction, he popped open the trunk.

“Your things.” He grabbed her bag. A small white envelope bearing his name slipped from the side pocket. He picked it up, holding the thick packet in his hands.

“For you. For later.” Her eyes danced between him and the main entrance.

“Go,” he said, latching the trunk shut, the envelope tight between his fingers.

With a last glance towards the car, she held her gear and turned away from him. While waiting for her to walk through the main gates, he debated opening the small package. Sighing, he tucked it into the overhead storage and drove into the driver’s lot. Game face on, he went to meet up with his family.

Chapter Sixteen

Lucas sauntered into the pit, trying hard to keep his emotions in check, but it was so damn hard knowing she sat a few hundred feet away. It had been easy to locate her in the stands as she sat where he instructed, soaking up the last of the summer rays. As much as she discussed going into the pit with him right at the beginning, he’d managed to talk her out of it. It was too hard on him, on everyone really, having her in the pit, so up close and personal with the cars. At least it had been last time she was there. For now, where she sat, it gave her distance. Hopefully she wouldn’t puke like she did last time.

Nate stood by his car twenty feet in front of him, wiping the windows and readying himself for what he believed was his last race. If he only knew. A spring in his step, he hopped closer to his big brother, and stole a glance into the crowd. Turning back to Nate, he froze in his tracks.

That hoe-bag. Marissa approached and placed her whorish hand on Nate’s arm. Panic flooded through him.

They’d better not be getting back together.

He inched towards his brother while repeatedly checking on Aurora in the stands.

“Tell your dad thanks for all the deals on the wheels,” Nate said.

“Tell him yourself.” She laughed, but it was shrill, like nails on a chalkboard. “He’ll be here tomorrow.”

“I won’t be. Tonight’s my last race.”

“Because of me?”

Dream on, you hoe-bag. He wants someone else. Someone better. Someone awesome.

“My heart’s no longer in it.” Nate slammed a drawer on the toolbox shut, startling him.

Lucas didn’t like the nasty feelings she created within him. After that gong show of a dinner, he actually went for a jog, and he’s never done that. How in hell did Nate manage to stay with her for as long as he did? Was it the sex? He shuddered and searched to the grandstand, wondering if Aurora could see this exchange going on. He wished she were close enough to read.

Marissa lessened the distance between her and Nate. “Well, I’m sorry to hear that but this won’t be the last time we’ll see each other.”

She stood there silently as if waiting for him to say more. He never did, and she ambled away.

Lucas tapped his brother on the shoulder.

Nate turned towards him, sadness descending on his face.

“Why so sad?”

Nate sighed. “It’s over.”

“Thank God.” He searched the nearby groups of people, relieved the hoe-bag wasn’t around. Returning to Nate, he said, “Oh, you mean about tonight.”