Page 38 of The Spy Ring

THIRTEEN

Tiffany

“Crush them, sexy!” Aria yelled at her boyfriend who was currently whipping around a small indoor racetrack in a red electric kart.

I think it was her boyfriend Alexander. Everyone had helmets on, and I couldn’t tell who was who. I even lost David in the crowd of testosterone that filled that track. Except for Morgana—she was the lone female of the racers.

“There are kids out there, Aria. I wouldn’t encourage a six-foot-three man to crush them while racing around in metal vehicles.” I pointed to the red and black blurs going around and around.

It was David’s birthday party, and everyone was having a great time at the kart racing center. Several kids that David got to know through Diego were here, including Diego. Even Matt and his mom flew in to visit.

Matt was excited to see David walking. It was like no time had passed as they caught up with each other. Matt had sensory sensitivities, so he stood on the sidelines and watched everyone race around. Every so often, David would stop racing and come over to hang out with his old friend.

“When does he get here,” Evaleen mumbled between bites of her hot dog.

I pointed to the corner of her mouth. “You’ve got a little mustard right there.”

She wiped at the glob. “Answer the question, Blackburn.”

“Who do you mean?” I asked as I turned my attention back to the track.

Of course, the SWIM Meet gals showed with their men. Evaleen and Aria were sitting with me at a table filled with hot dogs, French fries, and pickles. Evaleen was eating most of the food.

“Is it Jagger Chance?” she asked.

That made my spine straighten.

“Jagger? Why would Jagger come to David’s party?” Aria asked appearing just as uneasy as I felt.

Evaleen leaned a little closer to Aria, dripping some of the mustard from the hot dog on her arm. “Because they have the hots for each other.”

“We do not,” I lied.

I was a healthy woman that may have been celibate for a decade—not by choice—but that doesn’t mean my libido had shriveled up and turned into a tiny little raisin. Jagger had the body of a cross between a Greek god and a lumberjack. At least, that’s what I imagined in my head when I pictured him naked. If he were a model in New York City, I’m sure he would be rolling in cash.

But he isn’t a model, he’s a secret government agent. I don’t even know his real name. It could be Gerald or Gavin or Griffin. Why can’t I think of anything but names that begin with a G?

“Stop lying to yourself, Blackburn. If anyone needs to get laid, it’s you,” Evaleen said.

“I one hundred percent agree with that statement.” Aria balled up the paper napkin she used to wipe up her arm.

“What does me needing to get laid have to do with whether or not Jagger wants me or not? Or that I might want him?” I shrugged but wouldn’t look into Evaleen’s defense breaking blue eyes.

“Oh, well, if it doesn’t matter then you won’t care that he’s heading right this way,” she said before popping a fry into her mouth.

You know that moment when you feel a sudden charge in the air. In that second, no, less than a second, that nanosecond, you know everything will change. That’s how I felt when I turned my eyes toward the front of Kart One, formerly a Skate-O-Rama that went out of business in the late 90s. The roller rink expanded and turned into a race track.

I don’t know if it was the smell of the burned rubber or Evaleen’s hot dog, but I felt nauseous and exhilarated all at the same time.

Evaleen was right. I had the hots for Jagger. I didn’t like that I desired him like a warm bag of nuts at a World Series game, but I did.

He was sexy, great with David, and was kind to me. But I shouldn’t have those feelings. Not for Jagger. He was the opposite of safe.

I know that, logically, he’s not someone I should consider for myself especially with me having a son. I guess that’s why my heart wasn’t my brain and my brain certainly didn’t feel like my heart.

“Hello, ladies,” Jagger said as he approached the table.

“Agent Chance.” Evaleen nodded before wiping her mouth with another napkin.

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