Credence

No short supply of women to take his mind off me once I’m gone, I guess.

“You ready to go to L.A.?” I ask Noah as Juno takes our picture.

“I’ve been ready. You?” he challenges. “You ready to get the fuck out of this dump?”

I want to shoot him a look, but I don’t want to lose the shot.

“I don’t want him to be angry with you,” I tell Noah, referring to Kaleb.

If I leave with Noah, Kaleb will assume the wrong thing.

“If he wants to follow us and bring you back, then maybe that’s what he needs to do,” Noah retorts. “If not, I get you to myself. Win, win.”

I fluff my hair and adjust my stance. “You don’t want me. You want to race.”

“I’d love my family with me, though.”

Yeah.

I can do that.

“I’m not letting you go,” I tell him.

He smiles. But then he stops, remembering himself.

He glances off toward Kaleb and then back to me. “He’s five seconds from rearranging my face.”

I could care less if Kaleb is angry.

“Ugh, doesn’t that just take the cake?” someone says somewhere by the doors. “I love women in that position. All she’s gotta do is hold it like that.”

Someone chuckles, but I don’t know who. I ignore them.

“She’s carrying herself a little hotter than last fall,” the same guy says. “Wonder what changed?”

“I don’t know, but I’m wishing I was locked up here with her all season,” the other man adds.

There’s a shuffle, a gasp, and then all hell breaks loose as a table topples over and shouting ensues.

“Kaleb!” Jake shouts.

I shoot up, watching as Kaleb throws one of the racers down on the floor of the shop and Jake rushes in to haul his son back. Juno and the stylists rear back, out of the way, and the girls who came with the guys stumble out into the driveway.

I climb off the bike, seeing Noah rush over and keep Kaleb back as his dad picks up the guy off the ground.

“Motherfucker!” the guy growls at Kaleb.

But Jake pushes him and his friend out of the shop. “Hit the road,” he tells them. “Closed shoot, you little shits!”

Those must’ve been the jerks making remarks.

Kaleb goes after him again, but Jake is quick to catch him. “Stop!” he yells. “Stop it right now.”

He points in his son’s face, but Kaleb is seething. The racers take their girls, climb on their bikes, and speed off, everyone in the shop standing around, shaken.

Finally, Jake just waves them off. “Alright, that’s enough,” he bites out. “We’ve got what we need.”

Juno nods and turns off her camera, everyone hurrying to close up shop and gather their equipment.