“No problem. Sometimes asking for help is hard. But I’m glad you did.”
She makes no effort to get out of my truck. Her hand is on the door handle, but she doesn’t seem eager to leave the confines of my truck. It’s like we are both waiting for something to happen that we are both too nervous to start.
Finally, she opens the door and is about to get out, but I stop her.
“Regan?”
She turns to face me. I lean forward and place my thumb and forefinger on her chin, pull her further across the center console, and give her a gentle kiss. She sighs, leaning a bit further into me. I pull away, although I want to keep kissing her soft, perfect lips.
“Goodnight, Regan.”
“Goodnight, Dean.”
She smiles and climbs out of the truck. I wait until she’s inside and a beat longer, just in case, before pulling away. My heart is still fluttering my whole drive back home. This may make things more complicated going forward.
TWENTY-FOUR
REGAN
It’sa dreary day here at Richmond. It’s been raining constantly since we arrived. Qualifying was rained out, so the lineup for the race is going to be the current point standings. So, Dean and I will be starting in the first two positions. That is, if they can ever get this race started.
Rainy days at the track are the worst. It’s a lot of waiting around for decisions to be made by the higher ups—which they like to take their sweet ass time doing. Usually, Dad and I just hang out in the RV until we know what’s going to happen. This weekend, though, he’s home sick with the flu. So, it’s just me here, and it’s a little too quiet for my liking. Just the sound of the rain hitting the roof of the RV filling the small space.
Dad and I would play games or watch TV. With it just being me here, it’s a bit lonely. Danny Shoulderman is filling in again. He didn’t do too bad the weekend he filled in while Dad was suspended, so it could be worse. At least we know how to work together this time around.
One of the other crew members was nice enough to bring the RV down for the weekend so I didn’t have tostay at a hotel or with Leslie. Not like there is anyone else here I could stay with, anyway.
Well, maybe one.
I think back to Dean’s kiss across the console of his truck after dropping me off that night we had dinner at The Pink Balcony. I’ve been dreaming about that kiss—and the one when I was basically dry humping him in his apartment. I wiggle on the couch at the memory. I have to stop letting my thoughts wander there; my battery operated boyfriend will soon need new batteries if I do.
I let out a long groan just as a notification comes through that they are postponing the race until tomorrow. Now that I can start to fully relax, I can finish up one of the romance books I’m reading. I pick my book up and get fully immersed. The enemies are about to become lovers when my phone buzzes.
Dean
Hey. Can you swing by my RV?
Swing by his RV? For what? We have texted a little here and there since our not-date date. My curiosity is too much for me not to figure out what he wants. And to be honest, I kind of want to see him again, to breathe in his now familiar scent again.
That thought scares and surprises me.
Me
Sure. Where are you parked?
I start to put on some rain boots and a jacket as his response comes through.
Dean
At the end of the row. Hurry
Damn, this sounds like something important. I grab my umbrella and start heading in his direction. I’m passing Leslie’s RV when surprisingly, Chase walks out of it, hair tousled and shirt not buttoned correctly. He looks up and stops dead in his tracks. He wasn't expecting anyone to be out in the pouring rain.
“Chase? Are you coming out of Leslie’s place?” I ask, even though I know the answer already. He’s still staring, the sound of the rain hitting my umbrella and the awning he’s still standing under the only sounds passing between us.
“Please don’t tell anyone,” he pleads. “No one is supposed to know.”
“Okay. I didn’t see anything, then.” I start to walk off again when he says something behind me.
