Binny Bnai
Marketing Associate
Ditzy Candy Company
America’s Go-To Sugar Rush!
Chicago, Illinois
Chapter 21
9 days until the Indianapolis 500
“What are you doing?”
Mack paused, mascara wand in hand. She blinked innocently at Laurie’s reflection in the guest bathroom mirror. “You’re always telling me to wear makeup.”
“Not at six p.m. the night before Indy 500 qualifications. Where are you going?”
Mack finger combed her hair off her forehead, determined not to rise to Laurie’s bait. She didn’t know herself where she was headed, only that Leo sent her coordinates and she needed to burn off her nervous energy. The last thing she needed was to lie in bed and obsess over the various ways tomorrow could go wrong.
“You need to focus. Eat a good dinner and then get good rest. Not ...” Laurie flicked a glance at Mack’s skintight black jeans and thin white tank. “Whatever this is.”
“I need to be with other people who understand the pressure of tomorrow.” Mack shoved her toothbrush in her mouth and glared at Laurie’s reflection.
“People like Leo Raisman?”
Mack spoke around the toothbrush. “What the fuck does that mean?”
With an irritated eye roll, Laurie grabbed a tissue and wiped at the mirror where Mack had sprayed foamy spit. “It means exactly what youthink it means. The biggest moment of your life and once again you’re going to ruin it by screwing around with some guy.”
Mack bristled. Sleeping with Leo had been a mistake, but he wasn’t just some guy. She didn’t know what they were to each other, but he was nothing like Kelley or the one-night flings she’d once mainlined. He was too good forsome guy.
“I’m not fucking around with anyone,” Mack said honestly.
Laurie skewered her with a look but Mack held her ground. They may have lived apart for the past sixteen years, but Mack knew her sister’s tactics. Laurie would wait her out until, pathologically unable to hide from her older sister no matter how much she wanted to, Mack would blab too much and Laurie would judge too much and the inevitable argument would start. She didn’t know why she couldn’t keep her mouth shut with Laurie, but she was determined to do so now.
Laurie stood and waited placidly.Shit.
She faced Laurie head-on. “I’m meeting several drivers for some pre-qual tradition. It’s an honor to be invited. Plus, I can’t sit here and overthink everything. I need tonotthink.”
“And Leo will be there,” Laurie said.
“He’s my teammate.”
“That you aren’t sleeping with?”
“Nope,” Mack said, pushing past Laurie and toeing on her favorite flip-flops.Not anymore.
“My god, at least wear some real shoes,” Laurie snapped. She pawed through the mess on the closet floor and handed Mack the white Nikes she never wore because they pinched her toes but couldn’t bring herself to throw out because she’d got a good deal in the kids section. She slipped them on, annoyed that the rainbow Swoosh went perfectly with her royal blue jacket.
Laurie ran her hands through Mack’s hair, tucking and fluffing until the waves were artfully arranged rather than their usual haphazard mess. Her focus remained on Mack’s hair as she said softly, “I get needing distraction but please, please do not make a mess of this like last time.”
Mack froze, her momentary appreciation for Laurie’s style smothered by shock. The last time Mack had a shot at Indy, she’d had to back out because she was pregnant with Shaw. “Are you calling Shaw a mess?”
“No!” Laurie had the grace to flush. “No, that’s not what I’m saying at all.” Her hands fell from Mack’s hair. She looked both contrite and concerned. “You always do this, Mack. Go wild, do dumb shit, mess around with the wrong people right when you’re poised to win the most. You do whatever it is you want without thinking of the consequences.”
“Are you fucking kidding me? I think about the consequences of my actions every day! What does this decision mean for Shaw? For Dad? For the dirt track? My whole life is about consequences, Laurie. Which is a hell of a lot more than you can say.”
