Page 2 of Call It Unexpected

“Sometimes…” Bristol prompted.

I closed my eyes against the beautiful Carolina blue skies and blurted, “I feel like my life was all planned out before I even hada chance for any input into it.” As soon as the words left my mouth, I blanched. “Don’t get me wrong. I love where we grew up, and I love The Dogtrot. Sometimes I just wonder what else is out there, you know?”

She squeezed my hand before laying back down and staring at the sky. “I get it.”

And she did. Bristol had never been content in Sterling Mill. Her dad, Brock Allen, was a race car legend. With his growing career, it had become too hard for him to raise three children on the racing circuit after his wife left him. He moved Bristol and the twins, Chase and Cameron, back to his childhood home in Sterling Mill, and during the racing season, Uncle Brock left his children with their grandparents, returning during the off-season and any other breaks he had.

Bristol hadn’t been happy being left behind. She’d worked to get back to her dad in the city as soon as she was old enough, causing mild disturbances in the town too small to contain her big dreams. She hadn’t come back since and was now pursuing her engineering degree with the goal of becoming her father’s racing engineer. Unlike me, Bristol traveled all over the country when she wasn’t in class, joining her father on the racing circuit.

Since my arrival in Charlotte, Bristol and Uncle Brock had not only made me feel welcome, but they’d also brought me to a few local races and introduced me to several of Uncle Brock’s crew. They were like their own tight family, and their enthusiasm for the racing world was contagious. Listening to their exciting tales, I had an urge to explore and unearth my own unique stories.

We were quiet for a few minutes, allowing my breathing to slow back to normal. My left thigh twitched, and I worried my leg was still protesting until I realized it was my cell phone’s anemic vibration. I worried someday it would give out entirely.Carefully plucking it from my pocket, I sawJ&W Bus Offon the screen.

Crap.

I shot Bristol an apologetic look and accepted the call. “Hello?”

“Miss Dalton?” a female voice asked.

“Yes.”

“This is Dolores Briscoe from the business office. I’m sorry to inform you that your account is past due. Do you know when you will be able to complete your payment?”

I closed my eyes and turned my back, not wanting Bristol to witness my humiliation. “I’m so sorry, Ms. Briscoe. I’m sure the check has been sent. Perhaps the mail is slow.”

I cringed at the overused excuse, but Mama had promised she’d send it after she finished paying for the air conditioning unit that had to be replaced at The Dogtrot.

Her sigh was long and drawn out. “Very well, Miss Dawson, but I need to make sure you understand you cannot register for next year’s classes until payment is complete.”

“I understand.”

The call dropped. I wasn’t sure if it was because of my cheap phone or her lack of concern.

I plastered a smile on my face and turned back to my cousin. “If you don’t mind, I think I’m going to skip the rest of the run.”

Her hazel eyes were bright with sympathy, obviously having put together the gist of the problem from my end of the conversation. “You know, Dad could—”

I held up my hand to stop her. I loved her for what I knew she was going to say. It wasn’t her first offer to help, but while our accounts were short on cash, they were full of pride. We always found a way, and this would be no exception. I only had one more year to graduate, and then we wouldn’t have to worry about it anymore.

“You guys already do more than enough to help. We’ll be all right.”

Bristol jumped to her feet with natural grace. “Are you sure you don’t want to run off some frustration?”

I shook my head. “Positive. There’s no way I’m ready to keep up with you. I think I’ll go soak up some Vitamin C over there instead.” I waved my hand in the general direction of a grassy field. Hopefully, no one would care that I wasn’t a student here. “I’ll meet you back at the house.”

I could tell she was warring with herself about leaving me, but I plastered on my best smile, and she seemed to relax. With a wave, she took off. I headed in the opposite direction toward a patch of sunshine in the middle of the park. It might not burn off the extra calories I’d been consuming lately, but it sure as hell would feel relaxing. And it was free.

Chapter 2

Zach

“Milo, settle!”I used my sternest voice, hoping the excited pup at the end of the leash would respond to me as his alpha. It got his attention—for all of ten seconds.

Thinking of the multitude of other things I needed to do, I yanked him away from the latest tree he was marking. So far, the “quick walk” through a park on the campus of Edonton University as part of my volunteer hours at the animal shelter had cost me two poop bags, a missed class, and almost all my patience.

It was my own fault. I loved to run along the paths here and figured it would make a scenic walk. I hadn’t considered all the new things for an untrained puppy to sniff. But come tomorrow, I knew I’d again be a sucker for his adorable giant brown eyes.

“Woof!” Milo strained against his leash, his eyes targeting his newest victim. The squirrel looked up for a second before it continued to eat whatever was between his little paws.

---