My hungry gaze searches for him but I don’t see him anywhere, not in the lobby anyway.
I start to make my way through the crowd without seeming rude. All these people are here for me after all, and I appreciate it more than they’ll ever know. It’s something I know I’ll never forget.
Dillan and Troy are standing at the entrance to the garage, and they both wear looks on their faces I can’t decipher.
Troy speaks first. “Hey, Lennon. Welcome back. I’m sorry I didn’t put it together sooner, but I should have. If I’d known what Jackson was doing, I would’ve done everything in my power to stop him. I hope you know that,” he says.
I nod. “Thanks for saying that.”
“Can’t wait to watch you race again for real. You’ll be back on the racetrack before you know it,” he says. He hugs me gently before leaving me to face Dillan.
“I don’t know what to say, Dillan. I owe you an apology, but I know sorry doesn’t make up for leaving you with a life-long scar,” I tell him.
He grins. His eye is still swollen and bruised. And he had some plastic surgery so he’s sporting a bandage over the surgery site right now under his eye.
“You have nothing to be sorry for, Lennon. If the roles were reversed, I would’ve done the same. I still don’t know the whole situation, but it would’ve made anyone react the way you did, given I was here when you were supposed to meet your stalker for a confrontation. It was a logical conclusion.”
He takes my right hand and squeezes it. He’s always been quite the comedian, so it’s weird to see him so serious.
“I’m just glad you’re all right. And I’m so sorry about London,” he says.
I suck in a shaky breath. “Me too.”
“How is your eye, by the way?” I ask.
This makes him grin like I’m used to seeing from him.
“It’s looking good. Once I heal from surgery, my doctor says the scar will be minimal. It’ll make for an interesting story though with the ladies.” He chuckles.
I guffaw and then laugh with him.
“Seriously though, welcome home, Lennon. I look forward to being there like always when you race again,” he says.
“Thanks, Dillan. Me too.”
There are a few more people milling about and I’ve yet to see Dash. Maybe he left after making an appearance. If he doesn’t want to see me, it’ll make things a hell of a lot harder.
I’m about to give up when movement catches my eye toward the back. It’s where my race car was parked after it was wrecked.
Dash is there. He’s been watching from a distance, and when he sees I’m headed his way, he straightens and shoves his hands in his pockets.
He has more scruff on his face than I’ve ever seen on him, but anything looks sexy on him.
My heart recognizes his presence and warmth spreads through my veins.
“Dash…” I pause, unsure how to start this conversation.
“It’s good to see you, Lennon,” he says.
“Dash, we need to talk,” I start.
Something flashes across his face, like for a minute he thinks about giving in, but then he stonewalls me. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. It won’t change the fact there’s not a future for us. We need to?—”
I cut him off.
“What? Forget each other? Move on?”
“Move on, yes. Forget you? Never.”
