Hayley: Liam is here. Is it cool if I talk to him?
Liri: Of course. Stop texting me and get your man back. We can meet back up at your mom’s later.
Hayley: Killian is here.
Liri: I saw. So is Hunter. Text me later.
Killian: You look beautiful tonight.
I blush and look for his car but it’s getting dark and there are too many vehicles.
Hunter: You looking for me, gorgeous? We should go out again sometime.
I frown. I told him that we weren’t going to happen. Why is he pushing it now? Is he watching me? The thought gives me the creeps. I don’t get guys at all. They say women should come with manuals, but I think it is the other way around. I text Killian back and ignore Hunter.
Liri: Text me after your pass, and I will come find you.
After sitting on the bleachers for an hour my butt is numb. I leave my seat and go to the concession stand to purchase a drink and cotton candy.
Someone taps on my shoulder and it’s Hayley.
“Hey. How’s things going with Liam?”
“We’re going to meet up later to talk. He’s going to get Killian’s car ready.”
“Cool.” I feel bad that I told him no about hanging with him until his pass, but he has to learn there are consequences to lying.
Hayley steals my cotton candy and we return to our seats.
“What’s Hunter doing here?”
“He said he was racing.”
“Weird. I’ve been to these things a lot with Liam and Killian and have never saw him before, but a lot of people race.”
“Hope there’s not any wrecks tonight. That poor Marcum boy still hasn’t woken up from his coma.” I overhear the people sitting behind us talking. Panic starts to takeover. What if Killian gets hurt? What if what happened to my father happens to him? I know he is in a car, but I heard what those people said, and this could be equally as dangerous. My palms start to sweat and my belly gurgles in discomfort.
“Just breathe, Liri. He’s done this a million times.” I try to tell myself that Hayley is right, but that feeling of what if hangs out in the back of my mind giving me doubt.
Finally, I spot Killian’s car and nervous flutters spread through my belly. Riding with him and watching him race are two different things. My knees are bouncing, and I am gripping the edge of my seat. Killian’s tires dig into the black asphalt while his rear end begins to dance as the smoke blows into the crowd while his engine whines and his exhaust roars with that sexy muscle car sound. Warmth spreads through my veins like wildfire. The Christmas tree lights up and on green his car jumps forward and hauls ass down the track. I jump up out of my seat, keeping my eyes on his taillights.
Hayley’s fingers press into my wrist. “He won. Come on.”
She leads me through the crowd to where Liam is. He’s shooting the shit with some of the other drivers and their mechanics. He gives Hayley a chin lift and strolls over to us. Things between him and Hayley still feel tense, and I notice he doesn’t even take her hand as we wander toward where Killian is pulling his car up at. There’s about four cars between us and he gets out of the car with a smile on his face. I’m feeling like we can put this whole Jackie mess behind us. As I was watching his car speed down that strip of blacktop all I could think was what if something goes wrong. What if he gets hurt and I never told him how I feel?
Jackie was before and I am his now.
That’s what I tell myself until I see some chick with black hair and white tips I have never seen before rushing up to him and shoving her tongue down his throat.
“Oh hell,” I hear Hayley say next to me.
“I can’t do this,” I whisper as the scene sucker punches me straight in the heart.
When I come out of the Dragway, Hayley and Liam are silently following me, and Killian has my car blocked in with his.
I fold my arms across my chest and lean against my driver’s side door.
“Will you just listen to me.”