Royce screams, fighting against his dad as Cowan flips him off. I shrink backwards, my back hitting the door and I watch as Cowan disappears into the distance.
“Royce,” Creed snaps, his hands on his son’s face as he turns it to look at him, but Royce’s eyes are still hooked on Cowan’s back. “Look at me.” His tone is sharp and eventually, a panting, sweating Royce locks his gaze on his dad.
“I’ve told you time and time again, men like Cowan will try and get in your head because they want a reaction.” He pauses and the realisation crosses Royce’s expression. “And you fell for it. Again,” Creed’s voice is softer now.
I feel like I am imposing on this father-son moment. Inhaling heavily, I slip into Royce’s room and sit on the edge of the bed. I try not to home in on their conversation, but I find myself listening anyway. The seconds slip by and that’s when I hear his voice float through his room.
“Hey.” His eyes don’t meet mine; he is focused on the floor.
Do I go over to him? Or do I just sit and wait?
“Hey,” I mutter, and after a beat or two, I push to my feet. But as I begin walking to him, he is walking towards me.
“Are you okay?” We both ask in unison and my lips press into a smile.
“I’m okay.” He grips my face in his hands. “I promise.” A kiss presses to my forehead. “Are you?” He looks at me, tracing my features, waiting for me to answer.
I nod, sucking in a breath as I do.
“He’s a knob, ignore him,” he whispers against my lips.
Royce scowls before his mouth is over mine, sliding his tongue past my lips as he kisses me. Butterflies swarm my stomach and I fear I will never get over this feeling. The giddy head, the stomach flips, the way my heart pitter patters in my chest whenever he is here.
“I’ve got to go.” He smirks and I let my eyes flutter shut, inhaling heavily as I nod.
“Go get them.” My nose scrunches with a smile.
He studies me for a moment, his eyes volleying back and forth from mine and I am wondering what is going through his head.
“What did you want me for originally?” I ask, pondering.
“Doesn’t matter.” With one last kiss, he laces his fingers through mine and leads me back into the garage.
A few moments later, I stand at the back of the garage I watch as he climbs into the car, lowering himself down.
“God, I am wracked with nerves,” I whisper to Edel and she blinks at me in confusion.
“I am so excited,” she chimes.
Nora pops up beside me, giving me the side-eye.
“What a day,” I whine and she gives a knowing nod.
“There is going to be a kick off, I can feel it,” she mutters as Anaïs hovers behind us.
“I heard you caused a riot.” She places her hands on my shoulders as she stands close to me.
“Hardly.” I scoff, watching Royce as he waits for the last of the checks to be done.
“Well… let’s say, the hubs isn’t pleased,” she tattles, moving between me and Edel, linking her arm through my friends.
“I bet,” I agree, and I wonder what is going through Royce’s head.
Nora is tapping on her phone, her eyes lifting to look over to Cowan’s garage. “I’ll be back,” she says quietly, sashaying towards the other side.
The pit crew begin to move, lifting the tyre covers from the wheels. One walks backwards from the garage making sure the coast is clear before he calls Royce out of the garage. I creep forward ever so slightly and watch as he lowers his visor, his head slowly turning to look at me and my heart jolts.
He points, then presses his index fingers and thumbs together to create a heart. My grin widens, eyes glistening.
