Page 91 of Well Played

Focus on your job.I scold myself.

The race goes well enough until it doesn’t. Eddie and I get tangled together fighting for second place, and both of us get a tow ride back to our pits. When I see him wander over, I prepmyself to speak the apology that’s been rolling around in my head.

“Good racing tonight, kid.” He holds his hand out and I stare at it in shock.

“I’ve been trying to figure out a way to apologize.” I tentatively reach out and take his hand.

He smiles. “Don’t apologize. Racing happens.” I let go of his hand and he keeps watching me, like he’s trying to puzzle out some mystery.

“We good?” I ask, feeling nervous and blurting out words without thinking.

“Yeah. Can I give you a bit of advice?” I nod and he continues. “This is a dream job, but it’s hard weeks on the road and lonely nights. You don’t always know who’s going to be on your side.”

I bob my head.

“Robbie will always be on your side.”

I swallow down the sudden lump in my throat. “Do you think I’ve ruined things between us?”

“No.” He shakes his head decisively. “That man is head over heels for you, but both of you need to fight for it.”

9

Robbie

Charly: Talk to you before you leave?

Shit.I’d glanced at my phone only after the race while we were getting ready to hit the road and by then we couldn’t delay.

Robbie: Sorry, just saw this.

Charly: It’s alright. See you in Oklahoma?

Robbie: Definitely.

I feel like I’ve missed some big seismic shift, but all I can focus on is that she’s talking to me again.

She wanted to reach out at the race. Where people could see us. Could she be wanting to get back together?

Robbie: What did you want to talk about?

Robbie: I could call when we get to the hotel tonight.

One thing was for sure, whatever the conversation we were about to have was, I didn’t want all of my guys to listen in on it.

Charly: I think this might be best in person.

Shit. What does that mean?

Red Dirt Racewayis in a tiny town just outside of Oklahoma City. When we approach the track, I can tell Eddie’s nervous. The championship is close enough between him and Charly that he needs to perform well these next two days.

And that likely means he needs to win. The two of them have been swapping the lead all season with only a handful of other winners. The driver in third place is dozens of points behind, so they won’t threaten Eddie and Charly’s duel.

I pull the hauler around behind the track and into the pit area, pleased to see that Charly’s team is already there. Seizing the door she’d opened by texting me, I’ve been sending messages to her all week. Simple things like pictures of the team working or things I think she might find interesting.

She’s been responding, but so far we haven’t gone past those surface level interactions. Maybe I’ll have time to talk to her right away. The guys can get everything unloaded and set up without my help.

I throw the rig in park and jump out, glancing around to see if anyone else is here before hustling over toward Charly’s hauler. I’ve gotten used to parking as far away from her as possible so we can avoid any whispers of gossip that might still be lingering.

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