“Probably,” Jared said, aware that this was the first time they’d ever talked racing.
“I’m still coming after Tucker with all I’ve got.”
“He’ll be ready.”
Dave grinned a little ruefully at Jared. “I can’t believe my sister is dating a guy on another team. It’s odd.”
“I know the feeling.”
Dave glanced over his shoulder one time and then turned back to Jared, and started talking about football and the chances that the Panthers had of going all the way to the Super Bowl this year. Since Jared was a Cowboys fan from childhood he told him they had little chance.
His cell phone twittered and he pulled it out of his pocket to see a text message from Annie.
Where are you?
With Dave.
Dinner’s ready.
“I’ve got to go.”
“Later, man,” Dave said.
Jared walked away and had a feeling of anticipation in his gut. He stepped into his motor home and froze realizing this was the dream he’d always wanted, but had been afraid to reach for.
The scents of roasting chicken and potatoes filled the air. There were two places set at the small kitchen table, a candlestick lit between them. Annie’s iPod was plugged into the speaker system and the Cure was blasting from the speakers.
Annie came out of the back, stopping in the hallway. She had on a pair of jeans and a lacy shirt with ruffled sleeves and no shoes. Her hair hung in thick curls to her shoulders and she had no makeup on.
“Do you like chicken?” she asked.
Chicken, lamb, tofu, he didn’t care what she made. The smells, the woman and this setting were more than he’d anticipated. Why wouldn’t she move in with him? This felt settled to him.
He nodded.
“Well, good.”
“What’s that?” he asked pointing to the package, sitting on the table next to his spot.
“A present,” she said, putting the food on the table and pouring them both a glass of white wine. “I’m not much of a cook, so this is kind of simple. Open your present.”
He took a sip of his wine and removed the wrapping paper to find a small metal sign that read Home Is Where Your Story Begins.
She was watching him carefully and he realized that once again she’d surprised him. He’d always thought that life was happening outside of him. “Thanks.”
“I thought we could hang it on the wall here. So you’d see it every week.”
“I like it. But why did you choose this?”
She shrugged and glanced down at her plate. “I thought that maybe you forgot that your story?and your life?stem from the home you carry around within you.”
“Is that why you won’t move in with me?” he asked.
“Maybe part of it. Most of it’s on me, because I don’t want to rush, but another part is the fact that you don’t let any roots form around you.”
Her insight humbled him and made him feel a bit unworthy of her. Because he had no great truth or secret inside of him and he knew it.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
DAVE QUALIFIED in the pole position in New Hampshire; Annie was so proud of her brother. She celebrated with his team. They were all talking about how they’d lowered the motor mount for his car and how it had made all the difference. It was still within legal standards, according to Vinnie and one of the other guys that Annie heard talking to an official. She went to look for Jared. Tucker had qualified in fourth but as she approached his garage she heard him talking with a reporter.
“Fourth suits me just fine today. I know that I’m going to be in first on Sunday.”
Annie shook her head as he winked over at her.
“What about those early-season rumors that your team was treating your tires?”
“I hope they’ve been laid to rest. We’ve endured every kind of testing available on our tires and still there’s been no proof of wrongdoing.”
“That’s got to be a relief. Anything else you’d like to add?” the reporter asked.
“It has been an exciting season for us and we’re just hoping to enjoy the ride all the way to Homestead,” Tucker said, concluding the interview. Annie drifted behind the crowd and into the garage. She spotted Jared in the back talking to Reilly O’Connor, the general manager of Tucker’s team.
Jared looked up at her, gesturing her over to his side. He wrapped an arm around her shoulder, pulling her up against him. He did it often and she liked it. Liked the way he immediately drew her close whenever they were together. She hoped it meant that he didn’t like being apart any more than she did.
“Hi, Reilly,” she said, greeting the other man whom she knew from years ago. His dad had been the general manager on her father’s team. Teams on the NASCAR circuit liked to hire people whom they knew.