I fully expect Raine to tell us to get a room or something in that vein—God knows he was obnoxious to Ocean, and to Jason in the brief time I’ve known him—but a glance in the rearview mirror shows me a funny expression on his face. Like a cross between happiness, wistfulness and sadness.
Huh.
I’m not sure what to make of Ocean’s brother yet, and I still haven’t forgiven him for putting Ocean through a world of guilt for something that hadn’t been his fault.
As we drive out of town, Raine falls asleep in the back seat, his gentle snoring mingling with the music I put on.
Ocean turns to look at his brother and laughs softly. “Typical,” he whispers, and he looks more relaxed than I’ve ever seen him, considering we’re heading back to the racing track that had him so stressed yesterday he almost had a panic attack at the end of it.
“If you had a choice,” I ask Ocean, “to avoid the race and still help your mom, would you take it?”
He stares at me like I’ve grown a second head. “Fuck yeah, I would. Why?”
“Nothing. Just asking.”
He narrows his eyes. “What are you thinking about, Kay?”
“How I should make you more blue T-shirts. And then convince you to take them off again.”
He makes a face and chuckles.
God, I love his chuckle. Deep and dark, it comes only second to his full laughter that’s so loud and open, and I also love his brooding expression, and his aroused one, when his eyes go all shadowy and hooded…
My phone buzzes with a text and I check it quickly. Ocean glances at me, but I mouth “Amber” and he looks away.
Actually it’s Shane, asking for info.
“Hey.” I touch Ocean’s arm. “The doctor seeing your mom. What’s his name?”
“Robert Yates,” he says immediately, an
d I love that he trusts me and doesn’t even ask why I want to know.
I love everything about this boy. Gah. Is it normal? Is it even possible?
I quickly send the name to Shane and focus back on the road. Getting us to the race track in one piece might be a good idea.
My phone chirps with a couple more texts, but I ignore them for now. Hope is buzzing through me. I trust these people to help when it comes to one of their own, and Ocean is their brother.
They’ll come through.
But when we reach the field with its collection of parked muscled cars, I only see Duane, and my heart sinks.
Raine sits up in my back seat, rubs a hand over his eyes and groans. “Son of a bitch. Fucking Duane. This is like a nightmare.”
“Language,” Ocean mutters, and I glance at him, surprised.
Raine flips him off. “I’m fucking eighteen now.”
“Not that it ever stopped you before.”
And they’re both grinning.
I roll my eyes. Brothers.
Then Raine gets out, and Ocean prepares to do the same.
“No.” I grab his arm. “Wait.”