Dina winks. “Count on it.”
“Night, sis. See you tomorrow.” He kisses her cheek as she also tells him good night.
Xander then leads me around the bar to a black muscle car he’s unlocking with a FOB.
“Oh myGod, a 1968 Camaro?”
“You know your muscle cars.”
I walk around the gorgeous piece of machinery, taking in its immaculate condition. When Xander opens the passenger door, he reveals cream leather seats and a sanitary dash. Instead of being restored to its original glory, this muscle car is equipped with some modern conveniences.
“Modified with EFI, power steering, A/C, disc brakes, and satellite radio.”
“How much power?” I ask with a face-splitting grin.
“I’ve got a Chevy LS small block V-8 that produces about 430 horsepower.”
We climb in and he starts it up, the rumble of the engine making me smile bigger.
“Ever race it?” I ask.
Xander chuckles. “Took it to Palm Beach International Raceway just after the car was completed about two years ago. Made a decent pass at eleven point nine seconds going 118 miles per hour.”
“That had to be a rush.”
“Yeah.” He looks at me. “So tell me how you know about cars?”
“My dad was a mechanic. Would work on a pit crew some summers and during winter testing. He’d take me to the races, and I loved them! Drove my mom crazy that I was such a tomboy back then.”
He puts the car in gear and rolls to the street’s entrance. “Which way am I heading?”
“South. Are you familiar with the Boca West area?”
“Only that it’s Southwest of here.”
I chuckle. “Smarty pants. You can take Highway 1 or hop on 95, then head west on Glades Road.”
“Got it.” He pulls out onto the street, heading south on Highway One. “Are your parents still around?”
“Yes, they’re over in St. Petersburg where my mom’s family is from. She has an uncle there who hasn’t been doing well this year and wanted to be close to him. He’s the last remaining family on her side.”
It’s not quite 11PM and traffic is moderate. I expect tomorrow to be bustling, given it’s the Fourth of July. I don’t get a chance to ask about his parents because he starts speaking again.
“So, I gotta ask,” he says. “What made you enter the contest? Don’t get me wrong, I had no problems seeing you up there.” He gives me a quick glance, winking.
I laugh. “Guess I thought I had something to prove. Like I still had it.”
“Not had;have. Believe me, you still got it.” His voice is playful yet sincere.
“Well thanks. I’m known for my antics. Not that I do that sorta thing on the regular, I just figured, what the hell.”
“What the hell, indeed.”
I turn in my seat to face him as best I can while buckled up. “How about you? Any crazy antics you’ve done lately?”
“Nothing,” he says a little too quickly.
“Oh, come on. Don’t tell me that. You’ve gotta give me something.”
