Page 19 of Refuel

Tennessee came up next to the car to help me push it out.

“Ready to go?” Tennessee asked.

“Ready, my boy.”

The cars lined up, and the pit crews moved away as I slid inside. I heard Beckett come in on the radio to direct me as the timer started. Revving up the engine as the crowd cheered on, this was where I felt the excitement, rush, and fire to be on top. I pulled off as the team clapped and yelled in excitement. Keeping a steady pace, I was ahead of the other drivers by a split second.

“Control it, Kash. Keep it lined up, you’re doing fine,” Beckett said.

“On it, Becks.”

Two hours later, the race was over, I showered, cleaned up, and met Tennessee and Ronald for lunch to celebrate at Surf Shack. Colton told me about this place, and I’d been meaning to come here. Finally relaxing after the run and the week of craziness, I was back to chilling.

“Good job, Kash. eYou’re back in the top spot,” Tennessee said.

“Thanks, it’s good to be back on the track,” I replied.

“What’s up with you and Josie?” Ronald questioned, out of the blue.

“Nothing. If you ask my mom. she’d say I was crazy for even dealing with her.”

“She’s right.” Tennessee coughed in laughter, taking a sip of his water.

“She’s not that bad,” I replied.

“So, you two aren’t a couple?” Ronald questioned.

I stopped picking up the fork and peered over at him in curiosity.

“Ask me what you really want to ask me?”

“She told me that you cheated on her, and I didn’t know if you two were serious. Looking out for you,” Ronald explained.

“Wait, you want to date Josie?” I asked.

“I don’t go after your dates, Kash. I think I can manage getting my own women,” Ronald insisted.

Tennessee and I both stared at each other after that comment. We had a healthy competition amongst the drivers, but sometimes Ronald had taken this a little farther and ended up in fights.

“What are your plans after this?” Tennessee asked, eating his sub sandwich.

“My mom called and wants me to come over to put some things up in the garage,” I responded.

“I’ll head over with you,” Tennessee stated.

“Cool. What about you, Ronald?”

“I got a date,” Ronald told us, grinning and rubbing his hands together.

“Does she have a pulse?” Tennessee joked.

Ronald flipped him off and talked about some new chick he was interested in getting with. I zoned him out when a group of women came to my table to ask for an autograph.

“OMG! It’s really you. Can I take a picture please?” a young girl no older than seventeen or eighteen asked.

“Of course. What’s your name?” I questioned.

“Kelsey,” she said.

---