Page 110 of Wrecking Boundaries

She offers her hand, and I accept. Sarah described her friend as polite, which was not an exaggeration.

Polite, and maybe the hero I needed.

We’re almost ready to leave when the perfect solution hits me. “Wait. One last favor.”

38-Jake

Rivers Motorsports Headquarters, North Carolina

Boone Rivers follows Maddie into the conference room and his expression sours. His frown deepens the longer he looks at me. “What is this? I thought we were meeting with some new sponsors.”

Maddie plants her palm over his chest and says, “Please listen to him. Everything you’ve tried isn’t working, so this is next.”

We’re on opposite sides of the conference room. I sat in the middle of the oval table, figuring he’d try to sit as far from me as possible. “We need to talk,” I say.

“I’ll leave you two alone,” Maddie says, but Boone pulls her back into the room before she manages a step. She shakes her head, refusing his unasked question.

“At least stay.” Boone sounds a little desperate. I didn’t know that was possible.

“Not this time. You two need to have it out.” Maddie plants a kiss on his cheek and leaves.

As I guessed, he takes the chair furthest away and crosses his arms.

Neither of us speaks.

I lay awake half the night, deciding how to handle this. Is it better to apologize and let him take a few hits? A punch on the jaw can heal a lot of wounds. Would a logical speech work better? It struck me, sometime around three in themorning, that we never once had a simple conversation. We’ve threatened and yelled several times. We’ve punched a couple of times, too, and that’s it. For all our interactions, most of what I know about Boone Rivers comes from his interviews and his younger sister.

“Sarah doesn’t know I’m here,” I say. He wants me to speak first, and that’s fine.

Great opening line, Jake.

“Thank you for the information.”

Boone’s blank expression explains Sarah’s story about Matteo. The poor guy was threatened with career ruin because someone else thought he knew what was best. Even if I understand the reasoning, the method is fucking awful.

He’s trying the same on me, too. Unlike the poor sap Matteo, the girl picked me, and my career is assured.

Fuck this. New plan. “Is that look of yours meant for everyone you come in contact with, or is it just for me? If so, I’m honored.”

“Is your dickish attitude shared with everyone, or is it just for me?”

I refuse to give him a reaction.

“Sarah and I started dating more than a year ago, at the start of last season. Did you know that?” Boone doesn’t answer, but his eyes grow. “She dumped me two weeks after you won at Talladega. She ended it because we didn’t get along, and she loved you so much. It was her decision, and I accepted it, even though it hurt. She picked you, and I’ve been angry about it every single day since then. Also, this doesn’t lead to an apology because I don’t owe you one. If that’s your hope, give it up now.”

“Then why are you here?” He uncrosses his arms. That’s progress.

“Because the way Sarah talks about you, it’s obvious you were her childhood hero, and I think you still are. She talks about you all the time. I know you taught her to drive and helped with a bully once.”

Boone breaks eye contact to look at the table’s surface.

Feeling slightly encouraged, I keep going. “I’m betting she’s right about you, that you’ve earned her feelings towards you. I’m hoping that will matter more than your opinion of me. We’ll soon discover if it’s true.”

“You want something from me, don’t you?” he asks, guessing where my statement leads. “If this is about your spotter, he’s already accepted, and I won’t renege. It wouldn’t be ethical for one, and we need him. You’ll need to find something else.”

“Derek is one of my closest friends, and he told me about it long before he accepted, even asking my opinion. I told him it was a great opportunity and wouldn’t begrudge him accepting. Your effort failed.” Derek is one of my only friends, which is rather pathetic. Years of my life were devoted to either family or career. Until Sarah, there was nothing of me left. “You won’t regret your decision.”

A dimple appears, but no smile. “Then what do you want? Earlier, you said you know nothing about me, so here’s one thing. I’m blunt to the point of brutality and appreciate that trait in others.”

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