CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
JULIE
I had repeated to myself over and over again that I wasn’t going to the race, with many excuses in mind: that I didn’t want to see him, that I didn’t want to be seen, and that it wasn’t going to be exciting anyway. But despite myself, I was already there before the clock hit seven and sitting beside a very important person in Scott’s life.
His mother.
It had been a surprise, really. Nelly McCall had come barging into my old apartment while I’d been moping, with just one question: what has my son done to make you go away, sweetie?
Apparently, Nelly had called Scott to wish him luck on the race and had noticed that there was something off despite her son refusing to tell her anything. She deduced that we had a fight, but hadn’t expected that she wouldn’t find me in Scott’s apartment when she snuck in while he wasn’t around.
She then went to my apartment and brought me chocolate pie—and then she proceeded to sweet-talk me so that by the end of it, I ended up telling her the whole truth and apologizing for the mess that I’d created. Nelly surprised me by telling me Scott was as much to blame as I was and not to dwell over matters that were already done.
Then she began to tell me that only an idiot (like her son) wouldn’t realize how in love I was with him and would actually not want to proceed with this marriage.
She was the sweetest thing ever, really, but I still couldn’t believe I got talked into coming. We were sitting inside the VIP box along with the relatives and car owners of the other drivers, and the race had already started minutes ago. The adrenaline was high in the air, and I had to admit my nerves were killing me. Sitting in a box was so different from being part of the crew, and suddenly all I wanted was to be with them and witness the race up close.
The announcer sounded like he’d taken some happy pills and was talking a mile a minute, only adding to the excitement and tension. It was a close race, with Doug already back and all the others vying for the top spot just as much.
But I couldn’t take my eyes off Scott’s distinct blue car.
It was on fire. It was racing in a blur, and my breath caught in my throat as cheers rose from the crowd every time he passed by the stands—no, whizzed by. My heart was racing a mile a minute, but I knew it was doing so even before the race began and I only got a glimpse of him.
Just the sight of him made me ache so much and miss him terribly.
My eyes were glued wherever the car was, and no crowbar could have pried my gaze off. I felt a hand squeeze mine and reluctantly turned to Nelly, who was eyeing me with a soft expression on her face.
“My son’s lucky to be loved by someone like you,” she said.
I felt my face turning hot at the compliment.
“He still doesn’t know,” I replied quietly.
Nelly smiled. “Then isn’t it time to stop being a coward and tell him what’s in your heart?”
She was right. I’d been running away for too long, and it was terrible. I was ashamed of myself for what I’d done, and I wanted to take it all back.
I wanted to take Scott back.
“I’m scared,” I finally replied, squeezing Nelly’s hand back.
“Want me to nag him?” she offered.
I blushed and shook my head, then laughed at the cute gesture.
“I can handle him,” I said firmly.
“That’s the spirit!” she chirped.
I smiled at her, feeling my tenseness easing off. Someday, I was going to take this woman out for some food, and we were going to have so much fun.
But for now, whether Scott won or lost, I was going to tell him how I was feeling and fight my way into his heart.
And he was just going to have to deal with it.
*****
It happened in the last lap.
Scott was leading the race, but Gray Denton was steadily gaining speed and trying to outmaneuver him, with the others not far behind. My nerves were back, and I could tell Nelly was just as tense beside me as she held my hand again and held her breath. The crowd’s roar had now become deafening, but my throat was too dry to join them as I watched the match without even blinking.
Then Doug was inserting himself into the leading spot, too—but it was short-lived.
In a blur, his wheel turned in the wrong direction, causing his car to swerve to the side and block the way for the cars at the back. I saw Gray’s car swerve as well as he almost hit the wall but evaded it at the last second. I saw Scott’s car crash completely into Doug’s, turning the front of it into a crumpled mess.
And then James Kinnick’s car was crashing into Scott’s, and I watched as it flew up in the air and landed right on top of Scott’s.
My heart leaped into my throat.
The crowd’s deafening cheer turned into a massive cry of horror.
And then Nelly and I were already racing away from the stands as no other sound came from the still cars below.