Page 3 of Ride

I cackled and Amena groaned, shook her head, then slapped me on the arm for laughing.

“Kayne, what did I tell you about listening to grown folks’ conversation?”

I peered through the rearview mirror at him, and he shrugged. If Kayne has Amena’s personality, I can’t imagine what he got from his dad. Early on I knew having kids with her was a dream, but her mind was always wrapped around getting away from her parents. Brett could do anything, but Amena had a curfew, wasn’t allowed to date until she was older, could only have limited friends, and had to go to church every Sunday. When I came along, we’d sneak around when I wasn’t with Brett and hang out together. Our love of comic books, movies, and Cheetos made the friendship grow into more, and we dated briefly, before something else caught her eye.

“I date, Amena, same as any other single man. Knowing you have a child wouldn’t hurt.”

Amena grunted sarcastically. “Single. Okay, Laikin.”

“We were friends first.”

My phone rang. I noticed Malik was calling and picked it up. “What’s good. Malik?”

“Are you swinging by the office?”

“I had no plans to. I’ve got a few errands to run.”

“Do those plans include you posting with some influencer or model?” Malik stayed on me about the women I’m often spotted out with by the paparazzi. I made it clear right in the beginning for any woman, especially if I had date the night before a competition, that we’d have to reschedule until racing was done.

After the media circus when his sister and Kash’s relationship became public, along with Malik also getting into trouble, he has gotten onto everyone at the office about reining in their extra activities in public, especially the drivers.

“My personal life is simple. I go to a few events and drive. I mean, your wife handles my PR, so if something is off, take that up with Sarai.”

Sarai kept him on his toes, and I loved their relationship, just like Kash and Arianna. Settling down looked good on him, but putting me in that box right now wouldn’t work. I liked having the freedom to go where I pleased without having to answer to anybody.

“Simple, my ass,” Malik cursed.

Fear and sorrow mingled in Amena’s glistening eyes, and she looked away.

“I can run by there tomorrow. I have an errand to handle,” I explained.

“All right, be prepared for practice, we have a lot riding on the race coming up.”

I whipped my car around the corner a few blocks from Amena’s parents’ home in Calabasas. Listening to her have a conversation with her son filled my chest with pride. I could tell from the little time we’d spent together in the car how good of a mother she was. That was one thing I’d always known she would win at—no matter where she went in life. A role I expected to be a part of and maybe I held a little jealousy at him not being mine.

Pulling myself out of that trance I heard a car horn behind me, and I flicked my turn single to ease down the road.

“Who was that?”

“Malik, the owner of racing team.”

“I’ve seen a few of your races, you’re good.”

“Thanks.”

Kayne mumbled under his breath, “Mommy.”

The depths of how much I loved Amena and cherished every moment we had growing up gave me a long-standing bond that would never go away, but at our age now, she’ll never be my girl again after breaking my heart. I never settled on any one girl for long, and they all had Amena to thank for that.

After handling the favor of getting her car fixed and getting her to her parents, it would have to end. It would have to be like she was invisible or lived in another state. We could coexist in California, but anything beyond a “hello” could never happen again.

Chapter Two

Amena

Before I knew what was happening, a rush of old memories of Laikin and my brother hanging around our neighborhood with their friends playing ball popped into my head. My brother had no clue about the crush I had on his best friend. It was something I would take to my grave, and now, years later, sitting in a car with him and my son in the back seat sent my nerves to new heights. I came back into town to start over and get away from my ex-husband Virgil, an asshole who felt like he owned me. Everything had to be to his liking-- how I dressed, the food I made, the way we raised our child. Getting swept up in love and being blinded to the red flags at a young age, I should have listened to my parents when they asked if I really wanted a life with him. I rolled my eyes when I saw Virgil’s name flashing across my cellphone for the tenth time. I’ve been avoiding talking with him since the divorce papers were signed, but I knew I would eventually need to let our son speak with his father. However, at the moment, I needed a break and time to think and to get my life in order.

Laikin Trenton, the first boy I ever loved, held that stare that could get anything out of me. “What's up with you, Amena?”

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