He shakes his head as he focuses on the dirt road. “Do you think I’m the kind of guy who’s worried about getting caught?”
“You should be,” I tell him. “You’re eighteen. You could get in all kinds of serious trouble. Not to mention, it could screw up your chances of getting into a good college.”
He shrugs his shoulders and I find myself looking away. Clearly, it’s not something he’s going to be easily swayed on. Besides, this is Nate Ryder. He’s going to do whatever the hell he wants to do, no matter how much trouble he could get in. “Jesse said you did a lot of work on your car,” I say.
He nods his head as a proud smile crosses his lips. “Yep,” he says. “There’s still a few more things I want to add though.”
“I never knew you were into building cars.”
“It’s what I want to do,” he says, reminding me of the drawings Brooke had found in his room. “Restore cars.”
“Huh,” I grunt to myself. “I guess that explains why you’re not too worried about college.”
“Nope,” he grins. “A business degree isn’t really going to help me rebuild an engine.”
“I guess not, but it would help you to run a successful business,” I say as he passes the rock I had sat on while waiting for Brooke to rescue me last week. He turns the corner and I see all the same lights and people that were here last week. “You don’t want to get into racing?” I question.
“Nah,” he says. “This is just for fun.”
“Who are you against tonight?” I ask.
We drive a little closer and he points out a green car that looks like it’s had a bit of work done to it. “Damien Kelly,” he says. “He was a senior last year.”
“Is he good?” I ask as I eye the green car, instantly hoping the guy loses.
“He’s alright,” he tells me. “He blew up his engine a few months ago so this will be his first race with the new one. I’m pretty sure I’ll beat him though. The guy is too cocky.”
“Sounds like somebody else I know,” I laugh.
He grins as he drives through all the people, the same way he had done last week, but he doesn’t drive straight down to the track. Nate stops his car and I reach for the door handle. “Where the hell do you think you’re going?”
“I’m not about to be in here when you’re racing again. That shit is way too much for me to handle.”
“Tough shit,” he tells me. “Do you have any idea what kind of people are here? If one of the boys were here to stay with you, then sure, but they’re not, which means you get another up close and personal view of the track.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me, right?”
“Trust me,” he says, turning towards me. “I wish I was. It’s not easy concentrating while you’re screaming in my ear like a little bitch.”
“Ahhhhh,” I say with a hard sarcasm. “There’s the good old Nate. I thought I’d lost you for a while.”
He rolls his eyes and focuses all his attention on the race that’s just starting on the track while I find myself completely zoning out and people watching. I see a few familiar faces that I recognize from school, but not many, though they all seem quite young. “Are all these people from the public school?” I question.
“Most of them,” he says. “They’re not a good crowd to be around. Most of them are into some pretty heavy shit, but they’re fun to party with,” he tells me. “Your boyfriend should be here.”
“Boyfriend?” I grunt.
“Jackson,” he says. “The guy who tried to take you home from my place.”
I look around the crowd and sure enough, the arrogant jerk is right there with a beer in his hand and a girl under his arm as he screams out towards the race. “Ugh,” I grunt, glad that I escaped from that one unscathed, though, that’s mainly thanks to Nate.
“We’re up,” he suddenly says, drawing my attention away from the bystanders.
He starts rolling his car down the hill towards the start of the track and my heart starts pounding in my chest. “Do we really have to do this?” I question. “I mean, I’m sure it’s not too late to back out.”
“Stop being such a pussy,” he tells me. “I don’t back out of races. Besides, at least you got a little warning this time.”
I narrow my eyes on him and double check my seatbelt is secure before watching as the girl walks up between the two cars to start the race. “If I have to suffer through this thing, then you better win.”
“I always do,” he tells me before reaching forward and turning the music right up.
I try to relax, but a few seconds later the girl starts the race and Nate takes off. “Holy shit,” I groan to myself making Nate chuckle under his breath. I look across at him because honestly, watching the track is too terrifying.