“That was Fallon just being Fallon. Is it time?”
“Yeah.” She wishes me good luck and walks away to Jayson and Julien.
Elizabeth
I don’t think my nerves can take it. Why in the hell is Ryder racing against Marshall? Julien is just as confounded as I am. Jayson, not so much. I watch as Ryder drives his car up to the start line, Marshall coming up next to him in his Mustang. I’m chewing my nails down as I watch. Julien grabs my hand and holds it to help calm my jitters. Fallon already has me worked up with his “secret for a secret” shit again that he whispered to me earlier. So now I’m paranoid about him knowing some big, dark secret on top of me being worried about Ryder. I refuse, however, to let Fallon know he intimidates me. He stares and I stare right back.
Fallon walks out on the track but doesn’t do his usual performance of pumping up the crowd to announce the start of the race. Instead, he stands in front of the cars. He lifts his arms up and the engines rev loudly like rolling thunder. He aims one arm out at Ryder, his hand doing a gun pose.
“You ready motherfucker!” He repeats the same pose to Marshall. “Get set motherfucker.”
I can see Ryder’s left hand clenching the steering wheel, amber eyes hard and focused. Fallon throws both arms down. “Go!”
Dirt flies up as the tires of both cars spin and then they are off like rockets. It’s a two-lap race and I am jumping up and down, holding on to Julien’s hand, hollering to Ryder to go faster. I watch as Marshall clips the back end of Ryder’s Dodge at the driver’s side back corner, denting and scraping it. Ryder spins out into a 180 but recovers and catches back up to Marshall.
Ryder goes wide to pass him on the straightaway, but Marshall tries to sideswipe him. That dirty bastard. I’m shouting and so livid with anger at the crap Marshall is pulling. He could seriously hurt Ryder, crash his car, or worse. What would I do if anything happened to Ryder? The only thought tunneling into my brain is I can’t lose him. As Ryder flies past the finish line well ahead of Marshall, all I see is red.
I don’t remember running out to the track. I don’t hear Jayson or Julien calling my name. I don’t hear Ryder yelling at me. I don’t remember much of anything until I am at Marshall’s car when he gets out.
“You piece of shit son of a bitch!” I pull back my clenched fist and punch him in the face. The sound of bone breaking is audible above all the noise of the crowd, but I have no clue if it belongs to him or me because,holy shit, that hurt.
“Ow, fuck!” I yelp as Marshall shouts, “You crazy stupid bitch!”
He lunges for me and to my downright shock, Fallon is the person who jumps in between us and pushes Marshall away from me.
“You do not fucking touch her or I end you for good this time,” Fallon threatens him.
I’m yanked backward by several pairs of strong arms. “Jesus Liz,” Jayson pants, breathing hard. He folds me into his body and holds me tight, hand gripping the back of my head. Julien takes my injured hand to inspect it. My knuckles are already swollen and bruised but I don’t give shit. I would break every bone in my hand to do it all again.
Julien releases his hold on me and wraps around me from my back, so I’m now sandwiched between him and Jayson. “Why did you do that Liz? What the hell were you thinking?”
I don’t answer. My anger is too vibrant right now and I know I need to calm down before I do something else crazy like attack Marshall again. The urge to do so is very strong. I want to give him two black eyes to go with his bloody nose.
Even though my head is forcibly buried in Jayson’s chest, I can hear his and Ryder’s angry threats to Marshall.
“You come anywhere near her again and I will kill you,” Jayson shouts. Ryder’s threats are about the same.
Elijah’s dad and the other deputy sheriff who are here tonight make their way over to the chaos to figure out what’s going on.
“Everything ok here?” Elijah’s dad asks me, Jayson, and Julien, then looks at Ryder, Fallon, and Marshall.
No one says a word other than yes, everything’s fine. We know to keep our mouths shut. If the adults and parents in town think fights and trouble are happening at the Fields, they may shut it down, and that’s something we will not allow to happen. This place means too much to all of us.
“That’s what I thought you’d all say.” He looks at me. “Do you need medical attention?” I shake my head no. He then looks to Marshall. “What about you, son. Looks like you broke your nose.”
“No. I’m good. I’m leaving anyway.” Fallon shoves Marshall into his car.
“Ok, then. I think that’s enough excitement for tonight kids. Pack up and head home. Races are over for the evening.” The crowd groans and mumbles but everyone turns around and heads to their vehicles to leave. “I’ve got an ice pack in the first aid kit of my car. Elijah will bring it,” Elijah’s dad says to me.
“Got a mean right hook, kitten,” Fallon remarks as he walks by. Ryder grabs ahold of his arm and stops him.
“Did you know he was going to pull that shit tonight?”
“No. But I can promise you Marshall will pay. He’s used up all his good graces with me. Send me a bill for how much the cost is for the damages to your Hellcat.” Ryder nods and lets go of his arm.
Jayson eases up his hold on me and I start to shake from the adrenaline crash. “Baby, let’s get you home and get that hand looked at. Julien, can you grab the blanket from the back of my truck and bring it for Liz?”
“Yep. Be right back.” Julien kisses my temple and leaves to get the blanket.
