Page 177 of Finish Line

“That’s why I didn’t want to say anything.” She huffs. “I also don’t want you to be mad at him.”

“I understand why he’s going crazy about finding Roger. He feels responsible for letting me go with him. Everything that happened while I was gone was hard on him. Not to mention Roger had Hannah and hurt Cam. He knows nobody can relax until he’s caught.”

“Why can’t he tell me that?” She sets down her mug a bit too hard.

I’m surprised it didn’t break. “Only he can explain.”

I hug her. She’s not one for hugs, but I feel she needs one. “I’m going to go check on my guys.”

I jog down the steps to the basement to find bodies everywhere. Dom’s on the pool table, hugging a stick and balls. Cam’s spread eagle on the floor, missing his shirt. Mav’s half on top of him.

On the loveseat, Mark is on top of Robert. I’m unsure how, but Luke is asleep in a chair with what looks like a pillow stuffed into one of my shirts. I cover my laugh.

Ricky and Amber snuggle on the couch, but Sam and Paige aren’t down here. Did they head home? But Sam was too drunk to drive.

I take my phone out to check for messages from Paige and don’t find any. Then, I snap pictures of everyone. Blackmail.

Since the race isn’t until tonight, I go back upstairs and let everyone sleep.

In the living room, I find Paige sitting at the counter drinking coffee with Cin.

“Where were you sleeping?” I ask Paige as I step back in the kitchen.

“On the couch.” She points to the one in the living room.

“Didn’t see you.” I laugh. “I took pictures of the guys downstairs.”

When I show them the photos, Paige spits coffee across the counter.

“What is Luke holding?” Paige wipes off the mess, her hand shaking from her laughter.

“I did some laundry yesterday. I think it’s one of my shirts I washed with a pillow stuffed in it.” I turn the picture over to view it from a different angle.

We laugh for a half hour. Cin’s mood lightens some. She and I decide to check on the car and do some hits.

“Do you mind if I use your shower, Shelby?” She yawns.

“Yeah, that’s fine. You’re in for a treat. The guys tricked out my shower.” I take a step, but then turn back around. “I recommend locking the door. You wouldn’t want one of my guys to stumble in thinking it’s me in there.”

Her face pales. “I’ll make sure to do that.”

While she’s getting ready, I collect the items I store here. For the rest, we found a heated, outdoor storage unit to keep tools, helmets, and car parts. The RV and the flatbed we’ll hook to Nick’s truck are kept in the back with the other RV.

At the unit, Cin and I switch cars and find a back road to do some hits on.

After a few hours, she runs another diagnostic on the car. “I think we’re in good shape. What do you think?”

“Yeah, it feels good. Let’s head back.”

We return to the unit to switch cars.

I stand outside the car while Cin puts away some items, and a chill runs down my spine. I scan the area.

“You all right?” Cin asks when she comes out.

He can’t enter the grounds unless he knows the code, which wouldn’t be hard for him. But I don’t want to freak Cin out.

“Yeah.” I shake my head. “Just being silly. Let’s head home.”

---