“That why you’re still up?”
“Among other things. How did tonight go with Elizabeth?”
I had texted him and Jay earlier to let them know we were hanging out. Jay was not happy at all. That’s probably why he went to fight tonight. Lots of anger needing to find an outlet.
“We went to Belly’s. We danced. We sang bad karaoke. She drank me under the table.” Wow. I’m amazed I can actually speak coherent sentences. Maybe I’m not that drunk after all.
Ryder laughs again and stops abruptly. I wince. Okay, maybe I am that drunk. “Wait. You bought her alcohol? Elizabeth doesn’t drink.”
“She does now,” I tell him.
Ry thinks about that new revelation. Just another facet of Liz’s new self that we are discovering and learning about. “I’m glad she had a good time with you. Come on. Let me help you to bed.”
I’m too tired and too dizzy to get up on my own, so Ryder hefts me up and puts an arm around my waist to drag my ass to my room. He tosses me onto my bed and pulls off my shoes. I snuggle down in my pillows. They’re soft like Liz’s kiss.
“She’s a great kisser,” I mumble before passing out.
Chapter 7
Ryder
Fallon’s leaning back against the pit wall when I pull in with his Radical RXC. Driving cars on a track, whether it’s dirt or paved, has always given me a rush and this time is no different. I remove my helmet after getting out of the car and shake out my sweat-soaked hair, then unzip the coverall until the top part hangs down from my hips.
“How’d it feel?”
“Traction isn’t the best, but otherwise drives pretty well.”
I could have told him it was the best car ever and he would still buy a new one in a week. It’s just how Fallon’s made. Sometimes I wonder if my family was as wealthy as his, would I be the same as Fallon, spending money left and right, never settling on one thing. Never happy.
“Thanks for letting me drive it.” I pull off my gloves. My watch lets me know Elizabeth should be arriving soon. She and I planned on her meeting me here at four.
“Hey, Fallon. Can you do me a favor, man?”
“Possibly. Whatd’ya need?”
However I say it, I’m going to sound like a dick. Fallon used to make Elizabeth uncomfortable. He was always watching her at the Fields or at parties. I never could figure out if he liked her or what, but she told me on more than one occasion that he acted weird around her. Perhaps it’s because Elizabeth was one of the only girls who never showed any interest in him. Maybe he thinks she’s a challenge. Who knows? Regardless, I want her to feel at ease today and have fun with me.
“Elizabeth is stopping by and I don’t want you to freak her out.”
As soon as I mention Elizabeth’s name, he stands up straighter, his eyes get brighter. He’s not so relaxed anymore.
“You found her I take it?”
“Yeah. We found her.”
“And?”
“And she has amnesia. She doesn’t remember anything.”
Out of all the reactions I expect, his hysterical laughter is not one of them.
“What the fuck, man,” I glower at him.
He looks at me, tears of mirth in his eyes. “Oh that’s fucking awesome,” he cackles. “She seriously has no memory? Like none?”
Getting pissed, I answer no.
“I bet Jay has lost his fucking mind. Am I right? Oh, yeah. I’m right.” He laughs again. “This is good, no?”
