“In case you want to get lost again.” He says and then the line goes dead.
My heart does a little flip inside my chest. I hold the cell to my ear for the longest time, listening to the static of the disconnection and contemplate whether I go. Zara isn’t here, I don’t have her safety. Would I be confident enough to go alone?
There’s nothing stopping me and I’m good at blending into the background. I could hide from him and just watch; he’d never even know I was there, and I can’t deny that I am curious to see him race.
I contemplate the decision for most of the day. I don’t bother leaving my bedroom and I listen as I hear my parents pack up and leave and then watch the silver Bentley as it drives further from the house and then disappears through the gates. They have staff that come and go so I’ll never be truly alone, but I don’t have their prying eyes on me now and when the clock strikes six that evening, I make my decision.
Pulling out a pair of denim shorts and an oversized tee I’d never be allowed to wear if my parents were still here, I get dressed. I pull my hair into a ponytail and slip my feet into my sneakers before I escape out the backdoor of the house in case there are staff that’ll report back to my parents. I sneak down to the gate and walk a block before I call a cab on my phone.
I debate calling the number again, to let him know I’m coming but then decide against it, unsure if I want him to know I’m there.
Nerves bubble in my stomach as the cab weaves through the streets of the town and before I know it, we’re stopping at the track.
I give him cash and then climb out, standing awkward and alone while a party rages on ahead of me.
Maybe this wasn’t the best idea.
Chapter Eight
Imove through the thick crowd, the warm air pressing down on me. A fire is blazing in a barrel off to the left and it looks like there’s a table set up with a keg and a large bowl that has a ton of ice and red liquid inside. There’s music and dancing and cars whizz around the track, going far faster than I ever thought possible. The roar of their engines so loud it almost drowns out the music.
No one really pays me any attention as I move through the crowd, avoiding touching anyone as I look for River but he’s probably racing or at least somewhere he is needed.
Maybe I shouldn’t have come, at least not alone.
I continue anyway, only stopping when a body bumps into mine. Lukewarm liquid spills down my legs and onto my sneakers before I can jump back to avoid it.
“Oh god!” I yelp, “I’m so sorry.”
“Watch where you’re going,” A female voice snaps in my direction. I look up and meet the eyes of an incredibly beautifulgirl, long black hair that tumbles in waves, dark blue eyes and her makeup looks as if it was done by a professional. Her eyeliner is so perfectly even, I’m a little jealous I’ve never managed to get it to look like that.
“I’m so sorry,” I apologize again, looking between her and the two girls standing to the side of her. “I was just trying to find someone.”
The girl’s eyes run down me, the judgement clear and open on her face, “Who?”
Swallowing, I glance to the other two, one of them is blonde, her hair a few shades darker than mine but she’s distracted, not paying attention to her friend but the third, a short girl with dark eyes and skin, is watching me intently. Not like the one judging me, it’s more curious than it is spiteful.
“River,” I say, “He, uh, invited me, I was just trying to find him.”
“River?” The girl scoffs, “River Sinclair?”
“Rach,” Her friend steps forward as the blonde bounces away, clearly bored with the interaction.
“I’m just going to go,” I cringe, making to move away but the girl I now know as Rach moves to block me.
“We’ll help you find him,” She plasters on a smile, “Won’t we, Sadie?”
Sadie doesn’t look convinced, “Sure.”
I don’t trust her, not one bit.
“Just entertain her for five minutes,” Sadie whispers when Rach turns her back, “She’ll leave you alone when she gets bored.”
I frown at her, “Okay, but why?”
“Don’t ask,” Sadie sighs, “Come on.”
Sadie stays at my side as we follow Rach through the crowd, people seeming to part for her before she stops at the beverage table and plucks a red solo from the stack. “Drink?” She offers.
