Page 53 of Survival

“Yeah. No. Guess that means he’s here, then.”

“On the other side.” He gestured across the crowd, and I looked over to spot the sleek black Mustang I’d lost against last fall parked next to David’s Firebird.

The mood was tense when Monty walked away, Izzy staring down at her feet as Tucker glared over at Zane. Nic just looked confused.

“I’m missing something.”

“The last time I raced Zane, Tucker knocked him out with a single punch.”

“He’d fucking left bruises on Izzy. He had it coming.”

I shot him a look to cool it. The mood had been good before, and the more worked up he got, the worse Izzy was going to be.

“Let’s not worry about him,” Annie chimed in, sensing what I had. “He’s way over there, and we’re over here, having a great time. You still calling the Charger, sis?”

A small, appreciative grin crossed Izzy’s face as she looked up. “I’ll take your advice. Let’s go Firebird.”

“Good. Just in time for the race to start.” I directed their focus back to the track. The countdown started, and the cloth fell. “Just wait ‘til you see them.” I grinned at Nic.

As soon as the cars took off, Annie stood straight, pulling from my lap but still in my arms. She grabbed Izzy’s hand as she screamed when the Firebird took the lead around the second corner, and like it was the cueIzzy needed, she joined in, cheering, the two of them calling out and yelling the rest of the race until the Firebird took a three second lead over the finish line.

“Yes!” Annie turned in my arms, wrapping her hands around my neck to pull me into a kiss. I pressed my hands to her back, one dipping down to her ass to clutch her and pull her close. I was fucking beaming and hard as a rock when she finally pulled away to breathe. Our brows pressed together before she turned in my arms, and her ass rubbed against my erection. I held in a hiss as she grinned. “I’m telling y’all. I’m getting really freaking good at calling these things. I oughta start placing actual bets.”

“Annie, really?” Izzy admonished.

She just shrugged. “Can’t hurt.”

It was a few races later that Tucker followed the twins over to the port-a-potty, and I didn’t blame him one second for not wanting them out of his sight. We weren’t making that mistake again. Especially knowing Zane was here.

I sat back, watching the next race, and with the others gone, Nic finally hopped up on the tailgate beside me.

“So, you’ve done this a lot before?”

“Not a ton. We didn’t come out here much in the fall after some shit went down, but I’ve been racing more since January. Enough that I’m becoming a regular.” I shrugged.

Nic nodded, the wheels in his head turning. I just couldn’t read with what. “It’s good that you have something. You’re into football, too, right?”

“Cars, football, surfing, racing…Annie.” Nic grimaced, and I frowned. “What are you into? I know the car stuff is new for you.”

“Not completely. Well, I suppose the mechanic aspect of them is, but I used to have a motorcycle. It’s not quite the same, but that feeling of freedom out on the road? I can relate to this, in a way.” He gestured out to the track. “But I’m more into the computer and software design game. I work IT at my firm and started working remotely a few months back.”

“Which explains why you’re able to stay here so long.” I nodded, a piece of the puzzle finally falling into place. “Have you decided when you’re heading back yet?”

“Are you trying to get rid of me?”

I almost took the defensive, he sounded so sarcastic, but when I glanced over, there was a hint of a smirk on his lips.Well, shit. He does have a sense of humor.

My own mouth tilted in a grin. “Not really. It was just confusing how you were able to stay so long when I knew you had a job back home.”

“Like I said. Remote worker now. And no, I haven’t really decided when I’ll head back. When I checked, I can stay up to ninety days.”

“Wow, you thinking you might stay that long?”

Nic’s brow furrowed, and he seemed to think for several long seconds before he replied, “If things keep going like they are, then yes, probably. Being here is a bit of a relief, and my dad’s been talking about coming over for your graduation. I could just fly back with him after that.”

I’d been wondering about that. It’d been mentioned a few months ago that my uncle and Nic might finally make the trip over to Texas this summer, but I hadn’t taken it too seriously. Other attempts had always been pushed back for one reason or another. Even when Aunt Sophie died, Dad was the only one who flew over to England, therest of our house getting an ugly case of strep throat at the time.

My brow furrowed, thinking it over. “That’s still a long time, man. You don’t have anything you need to get back to? Just curious,” I added when I saw Nic tense.

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