Chapter 16

 

 

Shelby pounced the moment they walked inside. “What’s going on?” she asked.

They exchanged a grin and spoke in unison. “Nothing.”

“I just spoke to Brittney,” she said. “Something going on and I want to know what.”

She folded her arms and pursed her lips, so Reed stepped forward. “You’ll know soon enough. For now, can you trust me?”

Shelby grunted in irritation, but after a moment she relaxed and returned her attention to Jackson. “A girl doesn’t like to be kept in the dark.”

Taking the opportunity to escape, Reed slipped into his room and picked up a pad and pen. Then he set to planning his date for the Fourth of July. The holiday provided unique opportunities, and he scrapped several before he settled on one he liked. He sat back in his seat and mulled it over, a smile forming on his face.

The rest of the week he squeezed in as much time as possible with Kate. He knew it might be playing his hand—and Kate’s measuring looks indicated she was suspicious—but he couldn’t resist. Aside from a lingering twinge about Aura, he was ready to take things forward with Kate.

The prospect both excited and terrified him. As much as he’d dated, he’d never dated anyone for real, so it would be uncharted waters. Still, he figured Kate would be the perfect instructor. The challenge would be to not give anything away, until he was ready.

The night of Kate’s date came and he was ready. His car had been fully restored to its former lack of glory, and they passed it on the way to her car. Kate patted it affectionately as they passed, as if it were an aged dog.

“Where did you store all the pieces?” Reed asked as he climbed into her car.

“Roman stored them at his work, a small mechanic shop on the north slope.”

“I still can’t believe you stripped my car,” Reed said, his tone one of admiration. “The neighbors were coming over every day questioning what had happened. I even had a cop stop by.”

He marveled at how comfortable their conversation was. It would be so easy to just reach out and touch her hand, to feel the softness of her skin. He wondered how she would react if he just leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. He swallowed as heat flooded his skin and looked out the window.

“Is our whole date tonight intended to make fun of my car breaking down?” he asked. “Or just the invite?”

“The whole date,” she admitted with a smile. “How are you at driving go-karts?”

“Really?” he asked. “It’s not enough that you dismantle my car? Now you want to humiliate me on the racetrack?”

“Yes,” she said.

He laughed. “How do you know I’m not great?”

“Because your car does zero to sixty in the time the earth revolves around the sun.”

“Hey,” he protested. “It does better than that—marginally better, but better.”

“We’ll see your driving skills soon enough,” she said smugly.

“I take it you’ve done this before?” he asked.

“A little,” she said.

“How many times is a little?” he asked suspiciously.

“A lot.”

“I may surprise you,” he said.

“I hope so,” she said.

Their eyes met and she smiled. He smiled in turn and looked away. It would be so easy to tell her in that moment, but after planning his date, he knew the moment he wanted to tell her what he felt and finally pull her into a kiss . . .

“Just wait and see,” he said softly.

Her smile widened and she pulled onto the freeway, heading east towards the edge of town. Their conversation shifted to the melting of the ice cube, which took much longer than it should have, even with nine girls armed with hair dryers. Unfortunately, it was not quite frozen in the center. The ice became thin and suddenly broke, splashing freezing water on several of the girls, leading a round of laughter. When Kate was finally able to lift the rose from the ice, the girls had cheered.

“I think they’re all in love with you,” she said. “I can’t tell you how many asked about your schedule.”

“It’s rather full,” he replied.

Her eyebrows pulled together in confusion, but he did not clarify. She hesitated, but whatever she was about to say she kept to herself. A moment later they pulled into the parking lot of the go-kart racetrack.

When they got out Reed had to resist the urge to reach out to her, as if it was the most natural thing in the world. She smiled shyly, her hands twitching as if she too felt it, and she put her hands in her pockets. But like two magnets struggling to be one, they walked close to each other, allowing their shoulders to touch with every step.

They walked in and Reed was surprised to find it empty. He’d expected a crowd, but the only one present was a young man at the counter. Dressed in greasy overalls and a grungy t-shirt, he was hunched over the desk. He looked up at their entry.

“Roman?” Reed asked in surprise.

“Hey, Reed,” he said with a smile. “Glad you could make it.”

“What are you doing here?” he asked.

Roman gestured to the place. “I work here. I said I was a mechanic—I didn’t say of cars.”

“And you let him demolish my car?” Reed asked.

“I didn’t always do small engines,” he said.

Kate gestured to Roman. “Marta said her cousin knew about cars. When I talked to him about the track he suggested we kidnap your car.”

“You didn’t have to tell him that,” Roman said in an aside.

“I can’t be mad,” Reed said, “you already wiped the slate clean.”

Roman grinned and walked around the counter. He opened the back door, leading them onto the track, which proved to be a complex figure that turned in and back on itself, even going over a bridge and curving back to go under. Lit by large halogen lights, the track glowed.

“Our grand reopening is this weekend,” Roman said. “I’m supposed to be testing all the karts and I asked if I could have a few friends help. The owner was kind enough to say yes.”

“So we have the track to ourselves?” Reed asked.

“Just you two,” he replied, picking up two clipboards with release forms. “Sorry, but everyone has to sign. You ever done this before?”

Reed nodded and took the paper, signing as Roman reviewed the rules. Three laps on the track, no contact between the carts (but a little was okay), and watch the warning lights. He added to be careful on the turns and take them slow if they were uncertain. Then he picked up two helmets, using one to point at the two gleaming carts at the starting line.

“These are the best I have. I prefer the blue one, but red is just as fast.”

“He can have blue,” Kate said, taking a helmet. “He’ll need the advantage.”

Reed laughed as he donned his own helmet and tightened the strap. Then he climbed into the blue kart and buckled up. He felt a familiar thrill as he settled into the seat and called out to Roman as he was walking away.

“Alcohol and gas mixture? Or any nitrous?”

Roman raised an eyebrow, as did Kate, who swiveled in her seat to stare at him.

“Alcohol and gas,” Roman said. “Looks like you do know a thing or two.”

Reed grinned and turned the key to start his kart. Then he nodded his readiness. Kate did the same and they pumped the gas, revving the engines. Her pealing laughter echoed over the sound of the engines and both looked to the lights positioned above the track.

“Racers ready?” Roman’s voice came over a speaker.

Reed nodded, and in his peripheral vision he watched Kate do the same. A signal pinged and the red light changed to orange, the lights moving down towards the green. Reed tightened his grip on the steering wheel and released the parking brake. The anticipation mounted as the lights continued to ping, three seconds, then two. He glanced at Kate and saw her looking at him, her eyes bright with amusement and excitement. Then he looked to the lights and they turned green, and both karts leapt across the starting line.