“I wasn’t distracted,” I lie.
“You were. Was it because of Dean?” he asks.
I should never have told him about Dean and me. He sits down on the bed so that we are eye level.
“I need you focused,” he continues. “I don’t care that you and Dixon have been spending time together. I think it’s great you are hanging out with people outside of the racetrack. If you want that Cup spot, there can’t be distractions. This is a big step forward for you and for all the women who come after you.”
This is part of why I stopped dating and especially why I told myself I’d never date another driver. My feelings for Dean and this whole situation that we are in are getting in the way of what I’ve worked so hard for.
“I don’t mean to lose focus. I’ll be better next week. I promise. Dixon or Hicks will have to fight like hell to win that championship from me.”
“That’s my girl.” Dad beams with pride. He envelopes me in a hug and his phone goes off in his pocket. When he swipes his thumb on the screen to unlock it, a wide smile spreads across his face.
“What is it?”
“I found a way out of this situation with Hicks.”
Dad passes me the phone, and I clasp a hand over my mouth in shock at what I’m seeing.
This is going to fix everything.
FIFTY
DEAN
“Hand me that socket, would ya?”I ask Travis. He and I are in early today to continue playing catch up from being suspended. And now that Hicks has passed me in the points for second, the pressure is really on for this final race. I take the socket and snap it onto my ratchet.
“What do you think about set up as we have it now?” Travis asks. He wipes off his hands on a rag and grabs his laptop to input some of the data so he can have Mark, the lead engineer, run yet another simulation.
“I feel pretty confident in it, I think.”
“You think?” He quirks a brow. I’m usually so sure about the set up, and I trust my team to get it right. With this three way battle for the championship and the Cup spot, I’m more on edge for the final race in Talladega.
All I can think about is making Daniel proud by making it into the Cup Series. It’s so close I can taste it. If one thing goes wrong, it’ll be ripped away from me, just like he was. A hand on my shoulder jolts me out of my spiraling thoughts.
“Don’t worry,” Travis encourages. “We’ve got you.”
“Thanks.” I let out a breath.
Travis heads out for the day, but there’s not too muchmore that can be done today, anyway. I’ve been here since the crack of dawn. Good thing the commute is short. I’m washing my hands when my phone buzzes in my rear pocket. As soon as I see Regan’s name across the screen, I instantly relax.
Regan
Back in NC. Still wanna grab dinner?
Me
Absolutely. How’s 7? Pick you up?
Regan
Yea! See you then.
It’s already early afternoon and I need to shower and do some other things around the apartment before picking her up. I’m cleaning up the last bit of tools before I can go shower when the side door to the shop opens and closes. Steve walks in and shakes his head at me, not surprised that I’m still here.
“Thought you’d be done for the day,” Steves says.
“I am. Just cleaning up. I think we have it as ready as we can for the final race.”
