I’m sitting in Chase’s RV with frozen peas on my face. I have at least one black eye forming from Brady’s punch. I still can’t believe she punched me. Sure, in the past we’ve had loud arguments, and maybe some choice words, but never have we put hands on each other.
And for what? Because she wrecked fighting for a win?
Obviously, she never watched the replay, because if she had, this punch wouldn’t have happened. I never touched her to cause her to wreck.
“Bro, I can’t believe she fractured your nose,” Chase laughs, pushing his red hair out of his face, showing more of his green eyes as he continues to laugh at me.
I would laugh with him, but it hurts too much to do so at the moment. After Chase and Taylor took me to the care center, we came back here to play some video games. We ran into Ian along the way, so naturally, he’s here, too. They’ve been on me nonstop since we walked in. Which is mean, even for them, considering I’m injured.
“She snuck up on me. It’s not like I can hit her back,” I defend.
“Sounds like she has a mean right hook on her,” Ian jokes while playingSmash Brotherswith Chase and Taylor.
Yeah, no shit.I close my eyes to try and relax so that no one else gets hit today.
“You did wreck her on the last lap today. So, I kind of don’t blame her for punching you,” Chase says.
“I didn’t touch her. The air jostled our cars,” I growl out. They know this, I showed them the replay. They just want to continue torturing me.
“Yeah, sure.That’swhat happened,” Taylor says with a wink.
Whatever, these guys can think whatever they want. I wonder if Brady still thinks I wrecked her, or if she has watched the replay by now.
“A win is a win, though, and one step closer to that Cup spot,” Chase says, pulling me out of my thoughts. I know that they would love a chance at that spot, as well, but unless something drastically changes, it’s basically a two way battle between Brady and me.
“Brady is good, though. I mean, just look at who her dad is,” Chase swoons. “Racing is in her blood.”
Since when did this become a Regan Brady gushing session?The only reason she’s here is because she’s Karsen Brady’s daughter. She doesn’t put in half the work I do to be worthy of that spot. I work in the race shop with the crew and at a local diner, and I live above the shop to save money to race and pay all my other bills. She doesn’t know what it’s like to struggle. To work hard for something. Her life is handed to her on a fucking silver platter.
“Of course she’s good with Daddy’s money and recognition from his name,” I scoff.
Everyone just looks at me. Someone has paused the game and the silence is loud.
“I guess.” Taylor shrugs, his blue eyes blinking at me. “Most people have some kind of connection. It’s how this sport is.”
He’s not wrong now that I think more about it. Taylor is also related to a retired racer, and Chase’s family also has connections. There’s just something about how Brady flaunts everything in my face that just makes my skin crawl.
I watched her latest interview when she called me reckless. Right before the camera panned away, she took out her low ponytail and shook out her silky, blonde hair.
It still shined, even after being inside a helmet for three hours. It looked so soft, and I pictured my fingers running through it to see if it was as soft as it looked?—
Whoa.I shake my head to clear the image. Everyone else hasn’t noticed my drift into space. Fortunately, they’ve resumed playing. I try to focus on the game they’re playing, but my mind continues to wander back to Brady’s blonde hair and hazel eyes, making my stomach flip. This is a new feeling, one I’m not prepared to deal with.
What is wrong with me?
NINE
REGAN
“What doyou mean you punched him?” Dad asks loudly, using his disappointed voice. I would rather him just yell at me. His disappointed voice is so much worse.
“He wrecked me. What was I supposed to do?” I retort, trying to make it sound like a better excuse than it is. I know I shouldn’t have punched him. I also didn’t see the racing official who saw the whole thing go down and reported it to the SCORS board.
I was originally going to go over and talk to him, but as soon as I got close to his smug face, I saw red, and my inner cavewoman took over.
“You talk to him like a human being, Reg. You don’t punch him in the nose.”
I run a hand over my swollen knuckles and wince. He’s right, but it felt so good at the time. I only slightly regret it. Slightly.
