Page 81 of Well Played

Now we’re at Circle City for two nights and it’s close enough to his parents that Robbie is staying at home overnight. A streakof jealousy punches through me. I haven’t been to my house in almost two months. We’re always on the road, driving from one track to another, hopping in different cars, packing things in a suitcase at the end of the night.

I love it. It’s what I want to do for the rest of my life, but you get homesick sometimes. Like tonight. I’m holed up in a hotel room going over tapes from old races at Circle City to see if I can pick up on any strategies before I have to race tomorrow.

Robbie: What are you up to tonight?

Charly: Staying in, trying to study. Why?

Robbie: Want to come over for dinner?

Does he mean what I think he means? Is he asking me to come over to his house?I stare at my phone, trying to parse out his words.Is he asking me out on a date?

Robbie: If not, no worries.

Robbie: I can introduce you to my dad if that’s an incentive?

Fuck it.My thumb brushes over the call button before I can think better of it. There’s only one ring before Robbie answers. “I probably should have called, right?”

“Robbie Faraday, are you trying to ask me out on a date?”

The clang of metal hitting metal makes me wince. “Maybe?”

A blush tinges my cheeks with heat and stupid, fluttery excitement whirls through me. “Then yes. And for the record, you don’t have to bribe me with an introduction to your dad.”

“That’s a relief.” His nervous chuckle makes the line sound full of static.

“I’ve already met him, but he probably doesn’t remember me.”

“Oh God, don’t tell dad about this.” He groans. “I’ll never live it down. Be there to pick you up as soon as I can get across town.”

Forty-five minutes later, I get a text letting me know he’s in the parking lot and I dash down the stairs, looking over my shoulder to make sure there’s no one in the hallway to see me sneak away.

Excitement courses through me and when I see the big black truck idling outside the side door to the hotel. I burst outside in a near run. The passenger door pops open, Robbie leaning across the seat with a shy smile on his face. “Hi.”

“Hi.” I jump inside and close the door.

“Mom would smack me for not opening the door for you.” He’s half turned in his seat, for once not dressed in a race shirt and work pants. Even if it’s a rare occurrence, he cleans up well. He’s tamed his wavy hair into more uniform directions and put on a pair of khakis and a polo shirt.

“Tell her I forbid it.”

He sighs, his eyes darting over me before settling on my face. “You look really nice.”

I have one dress I travel with on the chance that I have to go somewhere nice for a sponsor event. Or you know, a date with the crew chief of my biggest rival. “You don’t look half bad yourself.”

“Thanks.” He mumbles, cheeks flushing. His hands fidget along the steering wheel before shifting the truck into gear. I watch the play of muscles in his forearm where it rests on the shifter and swallow down the sudden heat that’s ignited from thoughts of what else he can do with his hands.

A twinge of worry tries to take root. I might have bitten off more than I can chew, because nothing between us can be more than casual. There shouldn’t even be anything between us.

Except the way he already makes me feel is far from casual, and I don’t want to stop feeling this way.

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Robbie

For Christ's sake,say something intelligent.I berate myself while driving, hypnotized by Charly’s voice as she chatters away. My moment of bravery when I asked her to come over is being eclipsed by sheer panic. She’d see how terrible I was at this dating thing and she’d figure out whatever she might see in me was an illusion.

She is so far out of my league it boggles my mind that she even considered saying yes.

By rote, I make my way around the city and up to my house on the outskirts of Brownsburg. I liked it because it’s close to most of the tracks, quiet, and I have tons of room to build out a garage when I’m ready. Plus, it’s close to Dad’s shop so in the offseason I don’t have to drive very far to get to work.

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