Page 116 of Wrecking Boundaries

“Please don’t allow it to bother you,” Maddie says. “It’s how they show affectation.”

I smooth my hair back, giving myself time to consider a reasonable offer. Boone wants my share, and I’ll provide it for the right price.

“I want four years of manufacturing assistance at no charge. This company owns the two nearby lots, each with several acres for future expansion. I want one.” What else? What else? “The announcements come from us, and you have to attend our wedding tomorrow. Also, you must be happy for us and smile at least five times.”

“Be reasonable,” Boone says.

Out of that entire list, is it the smiling he rejects? “Four times, and one of those for a picture.”

“Two years manufacturing and one smile.”

Not good enough. “Three years and two smiles.”

“We have a deal,” Boone says, and he smiles. “You get that one for free.”

Did I do it?

Jake stares forward, unseeing. “That was amazing.”

“Our future is starting,” I say to him. “We have three years of manufacturing and engine assistance. That’s plenty of time to build our facilities.”

It means I can build my future while keeping my family close. It’s what I set out to do when Jake found me on the side of the road all that time ago.

“Hey, come here.” Jake pulls me into his lap and nuzzles my lip. “You did amazing. That was amazing. Odd, but amazing.”

“It puts us in a great place.”

“You gave up your family’s company,” he says quietly so Boone and Maddie can’t hear. “How do you feel about that?”

It was an easy decision, and I made it for the same reason I quit my job: “I’m excited.”

Boone was raised in motorsports. He started in karts and moved up from there, going into trucks and to the cup series. As a little kid, he insisted on being a race car driver. It’s all he ever wanted. Boone spent his summers in the garage and his weekends at the track.

I did none of that and never wanted to.Rivers Motorsportswas built for both of us, but it’s meant for him, and I’m at peace with that.

The possibilities hit me during our lunch meeting with Bert. Boone has long dreamed of turning our family business into a motorsports dynasty. Well, if he can do it, why can’t we? Sure, I don’t drive, but Jake does. My knowledge of the industry is as deep as Boone’s.

Why can’t we do all that?

“Good.” His lips graze my cheeks, and a shiver runs through me. “Now go put on your wedding dress because I’m marrying you tomorrow.”

41-Sarah

I keep twirling the ring under the table. Married less than two hours, and it’s already a compulsive habit. Who knew a simple gold band could fit so perfectly on my finger? Jake reaches under the table, clasping my hand as our eyes meet.

We should have done it earlier. Jake once said we wasted an entire year, and the more I think about it, the more I agree.

“Lean in, you two. Let’s get a picture.” Maddie snaps a couple of quick shots with her phone. “I’ll send them to you.”

It was a straightforward wedding, with no appointment needed at the courthouse. Maddie and my brother joined, and Boone even delivered his promised smiles after the ceremony ended.

If you waste a year, it’s important to get moving on the rest as quickly as possible.

“Can you post them? Nothing obvious; let people guess,” I tell her. “It’ll be big news this weekend,” I say in response to Jake’s unasked question. “You’ll be the main story for the next week.”

Jake rubs his chin. “Huh. I’m not used to my personal life in the public spotlight.”

“You married into this family. It will happen.”

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