When I reach my race car, emotions flood my mind, and I have to blink several times to keep the tears from falling.
“London. What a surprise. Has the need for speed started flowing through your veins too?”
I spin around to find Dillan standing there before shifting my gaze to Hendrix where he stands a few bays over talking to Dad. They’re both watching me.
“What can I say? My sister and I are like the same person.”
He smiles while wiping his hands on a cloth before stuffing it in the pocket of his coveralls.
“Is that guy your boyfriend?” he asks motioning with a nod of his head toward Hendrix.
I glance at him and Dad again. “Yep. That’s him,” I answer with a smile knowing it’s not true, but to the world it is.
“There for a while we thought you had a thing going with Dash. You don’t, do you?” he asks sporting a crooked grin with a mischievous glint in his eye.
“We?”
“Well, everyone here at Tyler Motorsports. We have eyes.” He waves his arm gesturing to the entire garage.
I smile back at him as my nostrils flare while tucking my hands in my jacket pockets. “There’s more than one view of everything we see. Sometimes, another view tells an entirely different story. Maybe you were looking from the wrong direction.”
He laughs. “Hmm. Maybe.” He steps a little closer and leans in so only I can hear his words. “But sometimes a rose is just a rose.”
When he straightens again, he winks at me before Jackson and Troy join us.
“Is this guy bothering you, princess?” Jackson asks with an amused smile on his face. Troy simply chuckles.
Dillan holds his hands up. “I can’t talk to a beautiful woman without being a jerk?” he asks as he laughs.
“We’re just messing with ya. What’s up, London? That was some pretty wicked driving last night the way you handledJackson’s car. You thinking about stepping into Lennon’s shoes?” Troy asks.
Jackson just smiles as he waits on my answer. He’s always been a good friend to me and to our family. He’s the same age as me and London and has always just been there. He’s a damn good racer too. It’s why he’s on the Tyler racing team.
And to hear Troy ask about London possibly taking over for Lennon is surprising. I’ve always liked him, but he’d much rather be working with Jackson than me. And Dillan, it’s not that he hasn’t sort of hit on me before, but this feels different. Maybe just because he thinks I’m London. He knew he didn’t stand a chance with the real me.
“Racing was Lennon’s thing, but you never know. I’ll keep her alive any way I can, and if it means taking on a few races, I will. I guess I spoiled one of our best-kept secrets by showing everyone what I can do,” I say honestly. I do need to be careful how much of my true self I show right now.
“You should race here one night on the practice track. You know, it would be simple. Me or Dillan would be happy to race you,” Troy says.
I quirk a brow and turn my attention to Jackson who still just stands there with a cocky grin on his handsome face. I’d love to show up and show out for these guys like I used to. Jackson is the best racer here besides me, but the guys think I can’t beat him because I’m not Lennon. I groan inwardly as the competitive streak in me flickers beneath the surface threatening to spread through my veins.
“How nice of you. Maybe I’ll take you up on that. And maybe I’ll get the chance to take on Jackson too,” I say casually.
The guys glance at each other and their eyes widen, but Jackson keeps his gaze level on mine with his chin held high sizing me up.
“Princess, we wouldn’t want your feelings to get hurt by racing him,” Dillan says.
I laugh at the absurdity of this. I’m Lennon Shay Tyler and I can blow the doors off any of these guys with the flick of my wrist.
I step into Dillan and push my finger into his chest. “I’m nobody’s princess and I’ll race who and when I want to,” I say before stepping back.
Jackson and Troy shake their heads and laugh.
I hear footsteps echoing through the garage and I know without looking, Dad and Hendrix are coming to intervene before I give myself away. Hendrix may not understand how competitive I am, but Dad does.
“Seems to me you are. Here comes Daddy and your boyfriend to the rescue,” Dillan says as he winks at me before walking away.
Troy shakes his head at Dillan. “He’s been a little off the last few weeks. Sorry about that. You’re welcome to race any of us anytime. Just call.” Then he walks in the direction Dillan went.
