Chapter 22

Present

Landon's POV:

I watch Emma park beside Jay with a proud smile. We appreciate his tips. He's always helpful and I always feel like I learn something new from him.

Jay's an incredible racer for his age and I don't even think he understands how great he is and how far he can go in this. I have never seen a street racer as balanced and consistent as him.

I tune back into the conversation, hearing Jay giving my sister some more pointers. "The way you took those sharp turns, that's how you do it when you compete. And just remember, when in doubt, throttle it out."

We've got to be on top of our game for street racing championships. The championships are not official or anything because street racing is illegal and unsanctioned but it's still fun to compete and win cars.

"You are sure in doubt a lot then, huh, JT?" I joke. If there's one thing I know, it's that he doesn't slow down for anyone.

Grey chuckles in agreement, lighting up another cigarette. "It would seem so. Highly probable."

"It's likely," JT admits.

My phone lights up with another message from Sarah:

I'm glad he could help you guys. Other than racing, how's your day going?

I type back a response:

It would be going better if you were here...

"You gotta stop smoking, my man," I hear JT lecture Grey on the bad habit again. "It's no good."

Grey shrugs carelessly. "Who said I was any good?"

JT shakes his head. "Shut up, man."

"He's bad to the bone," I mock Grey, jumping on JT's bandwagon.

When the conversation strays back to some girl, Mia, that Grey forced JT to go out with, I quickly lose interest and focus on Sarah's next message:

You're cute. I miss you too.

I grin. I never thought I'd be this guy – sappy over a girl. I shrug it off and reply to her anyway:

What are you doing later 2day?

It's not even a second later and my phone buzzes with a new message from her:

Working late today☹ But 2morrow, I'm hopefully going for a drive in that car of yours that you refuse to fix.

I freeze momentarily.

Sarah knows how important that broken-down car is to me...but she doesn't know why. She doesn't know that it was my dad's first race car. She doesn't know how he taught Emma and I to not only drive in that car but to race in that car.

That car...it was everything to my dad. I can't bring the car back without him. It wouldn't feel right.

I gather myself and finally reply to her:

We'll see...

I briefly look up from my phone when Xavier enters the conversation:

"The answer is money," he tells us – I'm not quite sure what they're on about at this point, I haven't been listening. "Money makes everyone happy."

He says more and I barely register Emma disagreeing with him. I can tell, just by the tone of her voice, that she and Xavier are currently on terrible terms. I prefer it this way. Normally, I'd step in, but I'm starting to realize that my little sister isn't so little anymore. If anyone can hold their own, it's Emma.

"Nah, my man," JT disagrees with Xavier, "the racing life is all about spending money you don't really have on parts you don't really need to outrun people you don't really know."

If JT didn't race, I don't know who he'd be.

"You said it, bud," I agree with him for the sake of being the third person to disagree with Thorman. "It doesn't get any more real than that." I'm still not even sure what we're talking about exactly.

My phone lights up with another message from Sarah:

Didn't mean to pressure you. I know that car means something to you.... I'm sorry for pushing.

I sigh, realizing that I'm going to have to eventually explain it all to her.

When I zone back into reality, I find myself standing alone. Emma, Grey, Xavier, JT...they're all gone.

"What did I miss?" I question aloud, so confused. This is going to give me a headache.

I don't even have Dean here to tell me what went down. It's up to me to play catch-up because he's being lazy again and avoiding practice at all costs.

I can only assume there was another argument, one that led to everyone leaving.

*~*~*~**~*~*~*

"I don't remember inviting you on this trip," I tell Dean, staring at the meathead who decided to climb into my car at a red traffic light close to home – I had to drive him back to the house because he really needed to pee, and it sucks because I was on my way for a long drive.

How does he always seem to know where I am?!

Why do I still not lock the doors when this is the third time that he's done this?!

"Praise the gods because I do remember you inviting me," he argues, straight out lying to my face, refusing to get out of the car.

I shouldn't have followed him inside to fetch a jacket when he went to the bathroom. I should have driven away...but having Dean alone and unsupervised in my house just doesn't sit well with me.

"You specifically told me that you were going to spend the entire day in the gym so that you can skip out on laps," I remind him, growing more impatient by the second.

He gasps overdramatically and places his hands against his chest, acting offended. "I would never!"

I really hate how pathologically happy he always is. It's disgusting.

I flick him on the forehead, annoyed. "Tough love is sometimes a prerequisite with you."

"Do. Your. Worst," he challenges me, articulating every word – it only irritates me that much more!

I glare at him. "Get out."

"No can do," he retorts, choosing to be stubborn. "No way, Jose!" He adds with his usual, stupid grin. "Now, let's get down to what really matters...chicks!"

I groan under my breath. I already feel the migraine starting.

"Today's date...a tennnnn!" He chimes at the top of his voice. "I scored! And can I just say one more word–"

"No," I cut him off.

He continues anyway, "...legs!"

"I'm just going to start the car now because this whole conversation is lacking substance, a lot like your character," I reply, driving backward for a bit before yanking the steering wheel 180 degrees so that my car is facing the right direction again.

"I would take offense if I was capable of ever taking offense," he assures me and then proceeds to tell me the details of his date – details I'd be really happy to not hear.

"I thought you said you were at the gym today," I interrupt him before he can go any further.

"Straight off the bat, Lan, dude, I lied to you," he confesses to what I already know. "I was on my way...but this girl...wow...she just...uh...stroked my ego and I totally...and I'm ashamed to say this...forgot all about gym."

I step off the clutch and step all the way down on the throttle, launching us forward and propelling us at a higher speed. The g-force presses against our chests and drives us back into our seats.

Anything to shut him up!

"Dude...pump the brakes there!" Dean urges, aware that he's crossed the line one too many times today. "I promise I'm done talking about the hot girl! Just don't kill anybody! We're on public roads!"

I do as he asks and slow down for the sake of those around us...not for him!

He grins, getting comfortable again. "Now, this a nice change of pace." He shakes his head at me and crosses his arms behind his head. "If you keep driving like a maniac and insist on your own sideshow, we're totes gonna need a safe house."

"For the billionth time, we're not turning the garage where I work into a safe house," I scoff. We've only had this exact conversation about a dozen times before.

"But for why?" He whines like a toddler.

"Because—"

"Don't you dare start 'mansplaining' to me again in that condescending tone of yours!" He stops me after the first word.

This is unfair. I'm not even married.

"Let's play the 'drive in silence' game," I suggest, close to losing it. I'm already rigid with anger as is.

"But you always win!" He complains again.

Honestly, a minute of silence when with Dean is a win for me.

"Fine," I shrug, "you can talk...but I'm not gonna listen."

"Talk about rude!" He protests.

I ignore him and let all the windows down.

"Don't try and block me out!" He continues to whine but I don't care.

With a grin of my own, I head down the countryside, enjoying the open road and the wind in my face.