Danger (The Driven World)

“Yeah, probably not a good idea. Besides, we have a busy day tomorrow.”

“We do?” I ask her.

“Yes, we have another charity event for the Corporate Cares. They’re following the tour.”

“I still can’t believe I punched Colton Donavan.”

Monterey’s eyes meet mine. “Yes, you sure did.”

“Tomorrow night, see if you can get me a meeting with the two of them. I want to apologize to him.”

She nods. “Ok.” And then she rises to her feet, and I follow suit, swaying just a bit from the lightheadedness from standing up too quickly. “Are you ok?” she asks.

“Yeah, I’ve got tough skin.” And that’s probably the most true statement I’ve ever made.

We head to the hotel and Monterey’s exhausted by the time we get back.

When we’re at the actual race venue we share a room to keep up the ruse. I open the door, and she follows me inside.

“What are you going to do to stay awake?” she asks me.

“Shower and read, I guess. Don’t feel like you need to entertain me. You should get some sleep.”

She nods, heading into the bathroom to get ready. “Ok.”

I sit in the chair, grabbing the King James Bible from the hotel side table. And lucky me, I’m not struck by lightning.

I open it up, not really looking for much of anything and stumble across a verse that reads, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.”

I’ve been searching for something for so long that I don’t think I’ll ever find it. My mood turns sour as I try not to think about things I have no control over.

Tomorrow maybe I can get myself one step closer if I just ask.

Another black-tie affair and I still can’t figure out how in the world I got to this point. Driving a car. That’s it. And here I am able to drink champagne and eat caviar with the rich and wealthy. I almost feel like a sham.

Like if I hang out too long people will figure out I’m not who I say I am. That I’m just a kid from the wrong side of the tracks who has been playing a part.

I smile at all the right people with Monterey on my arm in a bangin’ red dress that goes all the way to the floor.

She’s quite possibly the sexiest woman in the room. No wait, she is the sexiest, by far.

“Rylee and Colton will meet with you after the first speeches,” Monterey whispers next to me.

“Thank you.” I kiss her cheek as the lines blur between faking it and the reality of it all. It feels like this is all too real. And I’m ok with that.

Thad’s across the room, and I do a nod with a smirk back at him. Fuck this guy. I’m not sure why he feels he has some claim over Monterey.

He doesn’t.

I know I don’t have a claim either, but this guy just makes me want to punch something. He brings out the worst in me. I have to make sure tonight I’m not punching Colton Donavan—again.

Luther, Mike and the rest of the guys hang around, and the pit crew looks out of place here. I almost want to laugh, but I probably look just as out of place, too.

But, no one really notices, and the cameras flash at me every so often.

And yes, I search for that motherfucker, to see if he’s here. The reporter. I never even caught his name. Or how he knows me.

I scan the crowd again, just to be sure, looking for his bright red hair and beard.

I walk around, listening to the speeches, not really paying attention to much of anything.

And then, it’s time for me to meet with Colton and Rylee.

“I want to apologize, man,” I say, reaching out my hand to shake Colton’s.

He smiles, shaking my hand back. “We all lose control every now and then.”

“It won’t happen again. I can promise you that.”

He leans in close. “Everyone loses it over the right woman.”

I want to explain to him that it isn’t like that at all, but I glance at Monterey across the room and my breath hitches tight in my throat. I do a little nod to her, and her face lights up with a smile.

Colton notices. “It happens to the best of us,” he says with a laugh.

I don’t really know what to say, and I don’t really have the time to ponder over my feelings for Monterey at this moment. I need Colton’s wife’s help.

I shake Rylee’s hand, and then we all sit down at a table near the back of the room away from all the noise and cacophony of the gala.