He got out and came around to her side, opening her door and helping her out. His hand stayed on her lower back as they walked toward the group.
Giovanni leaned against the hood of the Hellcat, Paige tucked under his arm. Spirit sat on the hood of her Mustang, legs crossed, a drink in her hand. When they saw Rolani coming, Giovanni straightened up and the two of them dapped up, one of those handshakes that turned into a half-hug.
“What up, bruh?” Giovanni said. “Thought you got lost in the booth.”
“Almost did. That Cadillac was calling me.”
“Color down?”
“All good.”
“That’s gonna be stupid clean.” Giovanni turned to Kennedi, pulling her into a side hug. “How you feeling, sis? He taking care of you?”
“Always.”
“Better be. I taught him everything he knows.”
“Nigga,” Rolani said, already pulling a folding chair from the trunk of the Hellcat. He set it up next to the cars and gestured for Kennedi to sit. “Get off your feet, baby.”
She lowered herself into the chair, grateful. Her back had been aching for the last hour. Rolani stayed close, leaning against the hood of the Demon right next to her chair, one hand resting on her shoulder.
Paige passed her a bottle of water. “You need anything else? I got snacks in my bag. We come prepared.”
“I’m good. Thank you.” Kennedi twisted the cap off and took a long sip. “I had no idea this was out here.”
“Most people don’t,” Spirit said. “It’s been running for years. Friday night tradition. Ro and G used to tear it up out here.”
“So this is where all those reckless driving charges came from,” Kennedi said, cutting Rolani a look.
He laughed. “You keep bringing up my record.”
“I’m saying. RJ is not doing this.”
“Man, please. RJ is gonna be out here with me as soon as he can see over the dashboard.”
“Rolani, you bet not have my baby out here with a need for speed.”
“I’m playing.” He grinned down at her. “Mostly.”
She shook her head but couldn’t stop the smile. “That was different though, right?”
“Yeah. Different time, different me.” He nodded toward the strip, where two cars were lining up at the starting line. “This is for fun now. Family shit. No stakes, no beef. Just cars and people who love ‘em. Oh, and a lot of shit talking.”
A horn sounded, and the two cars launched, engines screaming, tires grabbing asphalt. The crowd erupted. Kennedi felt the vibration in her chest, watched the taillights blur down the strip until one crossed first, and the winner threw a fist out the window.
“Aye, Ro.” A man approached from the crowd, older, grey in his beard, built like he’d been somebody back in the day. “They want you to do the coin toss for the next heat.”
Rolani looked at Kennedi.
“Go,” she said. “I’m fine.”
“You sure?”
“I got her,” Paige said. “Go do your little celebrity thing.”
Rolani kissed Kennedi’s forehead, then looked at Giovanni. “Come walk with me.”
Giovanni pushed off the Hellcat. “Duty calls.” He kissed Paige quickly and followed Rolani into the crowd, the older man leading the way.
