Blaze (Drive Me Wild 3)

“Oh, he didn’t . . . Oh, well, never mind.”

“Jonna?” I pushed. “Tell me what race.”

“Adam is going to kill me.” She winced and looked around. “Since Knight has the list locked up with a bunch of his guys, Drew, Woody, Nitro, and Blake are all going to challenge his crew. They’re going to try to wipe out at least half the line up at one time. Adam will organize all the security and everything. He founded the whole damn thing. The racing list is his and he plans to take it back.”

“Oh.” I felt my stomach turn, and it had nothing to do with the champagne. I had a feeling that Blake was up to something. He spent all his time in the garage. Sometimes Fox and King would stop by, which I thought was odd because I didn’t think they were friends, at least not the kind of friends who hung out together. There were so many things happening that I didn’t know anything about.

“Relax, Tayia, it won’t happen for a while. There’s too much heat on Adam, but as soon as things die down, the plan is to take Knight and his crew out. In the meantime, Blake’s been getting schooled by the best. I just wish he wasn’t so damn uptight all the time.” She took another sip from her glass of bubbly then glanced around the small gathering. “If you want to know the truth, I think he needs to get laid.” She lowered her head and whispered, “You need to get laid, too.”

“Jonna!” I squeaked as I looked around to see if anyone had heard her. She giggled as I swatted her on the arm. “Quit it.”

“Well, it’s true. Since Lucy left, Blake hasn’t dated anyone and you . . .” Her voice trailed off as she rolled her eyes to the heavens. “Who knows what sort of cobwebs are taking up space in there.”

“Oh my God. Enough. Are you drunk?” I stood, feeling partly outraged and partly embarrassed. Jonna continued to smile like a lunatic. The crazy look on her face was so contagious that I burst out laughing.

If only she knew.

“Well, I guess you aren’t moping anymore.” She threw her arms around me and gave me a knowing smile. “I’ll always have time for you, Tayia. You’re my best friend. I love you, girl.” Then I was dragged to the dance floor.

She hurried over to the DJ and made a song request before grabbing the microphone. Soon, the familiar melody of the song she used to torture me with when we were younger started playing through the speakers: God Only Knows by The Beach Boys. After announcing she was dedicating the song to me, she twisted from side to side in time with the music and winked. I smiled at the memory of her playing the tune on repeat as she blow dried her hair, applied makeup, and changed outfits several times. “Listen to the words, Tayia. Can you imagine feeling that way for somebody?” she would say dreamily. It was a side of her very few people saw. She could be snarky and grouchy, but there was a soft side hidden underneath that was reserved for those close to her.

As she sung the words to me loudly and off key, I threw my head back and laughed as I swayed and clapped my hands to the beat. Her voice softened as she turned her attention to King. He was seated at their table, leaning back in his chair and grinning. Jonna started singing the words to him as she moved toward where he was sitting. He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her onto his lap while she sang softly and rubbed his cheek. The moment felt so intimate that I had to look away because it felt intrusive to stare. I turned my head and locked eyes with Blake, who was sitting at a table in the back. When our gazes met, his mouth turned up slightly into a grin, showing that perfect dimple. I wondered if he would always be able to stop my heart with just one look. Suddenly, everyone began to applaud, bringing my focus back to Jonna and King. The song was fading out as they leaned in to each other for a kiss, but the moment was brief because Mr. Hal appeared in front of them.

“Ay,” Mr. Hal warned as he crossed his large arms over his chest and glared at the couple. “Watch it.”

When the two separated, King slapped a hand on his new father-in-law’s shoulder and smiled. After a brief pause, Mr.

Hal returned the smile and the men shook hands, letting us know all was well between them. Everyone was clapping again and whistling.

Ms. Annette wrapped her arms around her husband as she dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief while Harley and Fox were swaying slowly on the dance floor to music it seemed only the two of them could hear. It was an intimate group of everyone who was important to the wedding couple, and even King’s mother flew in from Arizona.

As oddly as their relationship began, it was clear that Jonna and King were made for each other. The entire day had been filled with love, and I couldn’t have been happier for my best friend, but that didn’t stop my heart from aching over witnessing something I could never have with my own soul mate.

The night ended with all the wedding guests following the newlyweds to the dock and waving as they sailed off in King’s luxury Cabin Cruiser.

I felt a hand on my shoulder and I looked up to see Brando smiling down at me. His usually messy jet-black hair was combed in a respectable style befitting a proper best man.

“Well, you clean up pretty nicely,” I teased and nudged him with my shoulder.

“I do all right.” He winked then vigorously ran his hands through his hair, effectively destroying his orderly hairstyle in favor of his just rolled out of bed look. I giggled as he un-tucked his white button down from his tan pants and shook his entire body like a dog shaking off water.

“Ahh,” he breathed out, “much better.” This time, my laughter came out with a snort, causing us both to fall into hysterics. I didn’t know how he knew, but I needed a good laugh and was grateful to have him there.

Over the past few months, Brando and I had created a friendship, mostly bonding over our efforts to comfort Jonna during the time King was in prison. I realized that he also needed someone to be there for him, too. All he had was his brother. However, it was hard to be the brother of a guy who had King’s reputation. I learned that Brando was an excellent artist and had not only designed the images he wore on his forearms, but he also tattooed many of them there himself.

“You sure you want to do this?” he asked as the ferry pulled up to the dock.

I looked up at him and nodded. “We’re going back to your place, right?” I had thought long and hard about my decision, and I wasn’t going to back down now.

“That’s where the magic happens, babe.”

“All right. Then let’s go.”

“You got it,” he replied while grabbing my hand and pulling me toward the ferry.

Chapter Eighteen

“Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.”