Page 102 of Loving the Legend
“I’m impressed. Have you driven in one before?”
“Nope. Even if I had, I bet it’s a different experience with you at the wheel.”
“Let’s hope I don’t disappoint,” he says as we pile in.
He reaches over to help me figure out the seat adjustment for my height.
“Ready?” he asks once we’re buckled up.
“Hell yeah!”
He revs up the car. “Hold on to the grab handle.”
I brace for take-off, but instead of flying forward, we jolt back in reverse.
He shakes his head. “My days. Not this again.”
“What’s the matter?”
“I sometimes forget how to drive after a race. The adrenaline muddles up my brain.”
“Oh, damn. That’s rough.”
He closes his eyes. “Left pedal to brake, right pedal to accelerate. You got this, Archibald.”
Christ! He doesn’t even recall the basics. He tenses, keeping his eyes closed, and takes a deep breath.
“Hey, Archie, it’s okay, man. Meeting you made my day! We don’t need—”
My words die in my throat as he covers his eyes with his hands, and the air grows thick with awkwardness.
I reach over to pat his shoulder but hesitate, my hand hovering mid-air.
Then, all of a sudden, I hear a snicker…or was it a sniffle?
His chest shakes, and then I hear it again.
I quirk my eyebrows. “Are you laugh—”
He explodes with laughter.
My eyes widen. “What the hell, man?" I scoff. "I thought you were serious.”
That makes him double over, and I burst out laughing. “What’s so fun—”
“I’m sorry!” he splutters. “Your face.” He shakes his head. “So concerned.”
“It sounded plausible,” I retort in my defense.
“Not for me,” he says, wiping his eyes. “I’m an even better driver after a race.” He revs up the car again. “Hold tight, Pretty Boy.”
That’s the only warning before I’m plastered to the seat by the G-force as we accelerate to a criminal speed. A rush slams into me when he executes the first turn, and my stomach drops.
“Fuck yeah! Let’s go!” I bark, making Archie laugh as he shifts and commands the steering wheel with mesmerizing expertise.
“You’re a proper adrenaline junky. That’s usually the point where people start praying to their god.”
I chuckle. “Nah, I feel alive!”
