Ignite

Hank turned to leave. Before stepping outside of the bus, Hank glanced back to me. “That boy loves you, Adaline.”

I bit on my lip and grinned before saying, “I love him too, Hank. I always have.”

Hank looked down before looking back up and into my eyes. “Watch your back, Adaline. Not everyone is who they seem.”

My smile dropped as Hank stepped out of the bus and shut the door.

A feeling of fear swept over my body. Swallowing hard, I put my hand to my stomach and said, “Holy shit.”

“Emmit, you want to let me know how you’re doing in that car?” Daddy asked as I glanced over to him and then back out to the racetrack.

Emmit had hardly talked since the race began. “Good. It’s a little loose in the turns still.”

My father looked over at me and winked.

“Bumper, bumper, door, all clear,” Emmit’s spotter said as Emmit passed another car and took fourth.

“Caution,” the spotter and Daddy said at the same time.

“Emmit, we’re going to pit next time around.”

“Make the adjustment, Waldo. I’m fucking tired of fighting with this car in the turns.”

Daddy widened his eyes and said, “Copy that.”

I stood so I could see Emmit and the rest of the cars coming down pit road. “Is everything okay? Why is he so quiet?” I asked my father.

“He’s in the zone. When he gets like this, I tend to just leave him alone. He’s worked himself up from twentieth to fourth, so whatever he’s doing I’m letting him do.”

I couldn’t help but wonder what was going through Emmit’s mind as he raced so hard. The only thing I did know was my leg bounced up and down nervously while I watched as the cars came in. Malcolm was in the pit box behind Emmit. He came to a screeching stop and his pit crew went to work with lightning speed.

“Five, four, three, two, one,” the spotter called as Emmit stopped.

Emmit quickly began talking to his crew. “Let’s go guys! Get me out before the twenty-three. We’ve got this!”

After making an adjustment to Emmit’s car, four new tires and gas, Daddy called out, “Go! Go! Go!”

Making a fist pump, I called out, “Yes!” when Emmit beat Malcolm out. Turning to Daddy, I smiled as he gave me a wink.

Daddy leaned over and whispered, “You’re on TV baby, don’t act too excited.”

I quickly sat back down and nodded. “Sorry.”

Two reporters had already asked me if I was Emmit Lewis’ new girlfriend. Smiling, I just kept walking. I knew how this game was from when Emmit first moved up to NASCAR.

“Have you told him yet?” Daddy asked me.

Shaking my head, I said, “No.”

“Don’t you think you should?”

My heart dropped as I looked back out onto the track. What if that’s why Emmit was so quiet? He was thinking how we were going to make this work.

I was about to say something when Emmit came over the radio. They were still under caution as the track crew cleaned up where a car hit the wall.

“Is my girl still sitting there with you, Waldo?” Emmit asked.

Daddy laughed and shook his head. “Yes.”