“It’s a sore subject,” Is what Sadie replies but she doesn’t stick around either and follows River as he pushes his way through the crowd and away from me.
I turn my wide eyes to Jake, “I didn’t know.”
“It’s alright, Marly,” He says softly, putting his arm around Zara, “He’ll be back, just give him a minute.”
It’s on the tip of my tongue to ask him how it happened but I know it’s not my place. River didn’t tell me about him which, sure, stings a little but I can’t blame him. We barely know each other, and his brother’s death is still eating him up. Grief works like that, some days it’s easy to manage and others it feels as if the whole world is falling apart, and you wonder how you’re supposed to keep going with your life when that person is no longer living theirs.
I’ve only lost my grandmother and that hurt enough, I can’t imagine the pain River feels every day with it being his brother.
I accept the can of coke that gets passed to me and take a seat on one of those fold out chairs while I wait for him to return. The crowd is partying all around me and Zara and Jake laugh at some inside joke, but I just sit there, watching the spot where he disappeared. It’s half an hour later when he returns. He spots me from the other side, eyes locking onto mine, and staying as the crowd literally parts for him. Sadie is at his side, barely keeping up with his long strides.
I tilt my head back when he stops in front of me, his hand coming up to cradle my chin while his thumb strokes a soft line across my bottom lip and then he leans down, and in front of everyone takes my mouth in a powerful, all-consuming kiss.
The world disappears all around me, the noise, the smells, the colors, it all becomes a muted buzz as my whole being zeroes in on where his lips move on mine. It feels different to every other kiss we’ve shared, different even to when his body is moving inside of mine.
It’s powerful and terrifying and dizzying but addictive. I want more of it, to drink from the well of him because only he makes me feel like this.
Like my soul might die if it can’t have this.
I don’t know when it happened, was it the late-night visits? The cocky remarks and heated looks? Was it the takeout or showing me how to check my oil?
At some point my heart stopped and started on a new line. One where it’s started to beat for him. I’ve no idea if that’s even normal, to start falling in love with someone this quickly but that’s what it feels like.
He slows the kiss down and then gently kisses the corner of my mouth before he pulls away and straightens to his full height.
“Let’s race, princess,” He grins, holding out his calloused palm. I slide mine into it, watching his fingers engulf mine and then he starts striding to the Plymouth, my legs only just able to keep up. I know people are watching but neither of us appears to care.
At the car, he opens the passenger door and reaches in to get the helmet stored on the backseat. He helps it onto my head and guides me into the car, closing my door behind him before he rounds the hood and gets in behind the wheel.
I push the visor up to get a better view of him, watching as he puts his own helmet on and turns to me. I can’t see his face behind the dark screen, but he reaches for me, grabbing the lower half of my helmet and pulls me forward. He then bumpshis against mine lightly before he flips the visor down and turns to the wheel, switching on the engine and pulling the car towards the line.
Chapter Thirty-one
He wins.
By a mile and as the car crosses the line and the flag is waved, he lets out a loud holler and throws his arm out the window, punching the air like this is his first win. I let out a giggle, still running on the high of the win. We’d gone faster this time, not giving any of the other racers a chance.
Sadie came in second and Jake third and they follow us round the track as River does a final cool down lap. He brings the Plymouth to a stop and then opens the door, throwing his arms up to the crowd that is all making their way onto the track. The way the people here celebrate, you’d think we were competing nationally or something but it’s just this community. I pull the helmet off my head and place it on the backseat before I climb from the car and lean on the side, watching River celebrate with Sadie and Jake.
My eyes scan the crowd that pulses around them only to stop when I see Rachel standing at the back, her arms crossed. She glares at us, lips turned up in our direction.
She’s pissed.
Before she can catch me looking at her, I turn my attention back to the rest of them, watching Zara get wrapped up in Jake, his arm banding around her while his helmet dangles from the other and then he kisses her and the crowd cheers even louder.
I can’t help but laugh at it, happy for my friend.
My cell buzzes in my purse and pulling it out, I see it’s Liam calling again. It’s the fifth time today and like all the others, I cancel the call and put my device on silent, slipping it back in my purse.
I’ll be heading home soon, and I’ll call him in the morning. I don’t need him to ruin the high of today.
For the next two hours River celebrates with his friends, them sharing a few beers and when it gets close to eleven, we walk back to the garage so I can drive home for the night.
“I’ll come with you,” River tells me after he puts away the Plymouth and comes back holding a small duffel.
“Now?” I ask, surprised. He always joins me later, either by an hour or so or when I’ve already fallen asleep.
“Sure, why not, princess?” He grins, throwing the duffel into the back seat of the Mercedes. He fixed the scratch in the paintwork the day before and it’s as good as new now.
