Page 32 of The Road Ahead
Chapter 15
Rio
The culmination of the festival was a fireworks display, and we found a patch of grass in a field to sit and watch it. Teresa and her friends had found us, and so had Brad. I wasn’t sure what was going on with them now, since Teresa was sitting with Brad’s arm wrapped around her shoulder, a soft smile on her face, but I knew it was none of my business. They would either work things out or they wouldn’t. She’d have my support, whatever she decided.
Cooper was behind me and I was sitting in the V of his legs, leaning back against his chest. The night had turned a little chilly, and I was enjoying the warmth of him against my back. I was still feeling a little angry from earlier, when that fucker had groped Cooper, but also sad after he’d told me that so few people had ever stood up for him. I couldn’t understand that. Cooper was the sweetest guy and deserved for everyone to have his back. Yes, I knew he could look after himself, but that didn’t mean hehad to do it alone. I wanted to be the person who would be there for him. I would do whatever it took to keep him safe and happy.
“Are you warm enough?” Cooper asked quietly against my ear.
I hummed and pulled his arms around me a little tighter. “You’re nice and toasty,” I told him.
“Did you want me to go get the jacket I left in the car?”
“I’m okay, thanks, but I appreciate the offer.” I lifted our joined hands up and kissed the back of his knuckles. It made me feel all warm inside to know that Cooper wanted to look after me as well. Our relationship was only in the early stages, but already it was more balanced than any I’d had previously. It made it all the more special to know webothwanted to go above and beyond for each other.
“Rio!” a voice called out, and I looked over to see Jimmy heading towards us. He was accompanied by two other people, and I waved at him. “Mind if we join you?” Jimmy asked once they reached us.
“Of course,” I said, gesturing at a spare patch of grass. To be honest, I was over the moon that they wanted to sit with us, instead of just saying hi as he and his friends found their own space to sit.
“Thanks. This is Darren and Ravi. They’re both members of the club as well.”
“It’s so good to meet you,” Ravi said, giving us all a wide, toothy smile. His skin was a darker brown than mine, and he had a long, narrow face and delicate-looking nose that was slightly upturned. “Jimmy tells us you’ve got an ’86. That is so cool! Darren and I both have RX-7s.”
“Wow. I didn’t think I’d find so many others here with classic drifters,” I admitted. “Most of the people in the club I was in back in Georgia had things like MX-5s, Mustangs, or M3s.”
“There’s not many of us,” Darren agreed. He looked younger than the others, with a scattering of acne across his pale cheeks,which were almost hidden by his floppy blond hair. He couldn’t have had his driver’s licence for long. “Chantelle drives an R32, but everyone else has cars from the past decade.”
“We kind of make up a club within the club,” Ravi said with a laugh. “And now we have another member!”
I grinned, more than happy they were accepting me so easily. “I can’t wait for tomorrow night,” I told them.
“What’s happening tomorrow?” Teresa asked.
“Shit, where are my manners? Jimmy, Ravi, Darren—this is Cooper, Teresa, and Brad.” Teresa’s friends were chatting to the people on the other side of us, so I didn’t bother introducing them. I also didn’t mention that Teresa was my cousin, since the sibling resemblance was strong between her and Cooper. It wouldn’t take a lot for them to figure out Cooper and I were cousins as well. Teresa may have accepted us well enough, but I doubted anyone else would. I didn’t want to risk my new friendships with these people so soon after my arrival in town.
“You run Knit Happens don’t you?” Ravi asked Teresa. “I’m sure I’ve seen you a few times when I’ve been in there buying wool.”
Teresa’s face lit up. “That’swhere I recognize you from! You were crocheting that blanket for your nephew, right? How’d it turn out?”
Ravi laughed. “Really good. My sister has already asked me to make one for my niece’s birthday next, so I’ll be in for more supplies soon.”
“Nice,” she said. “So, no one answered my question—what’s happening tomorrow?”
“We’ve got a hill climb and cruise planned,” Jimmy explained.
Teresa frowned. “I know those words individually, but not in this context.”
“Basically it’s a club meet up, where we all drive over the mountain before we meet at the bottom, hang out for a bit, and then cruise around Stony Creek for a longer drive.”
“So, it’s basically just driving around?” Teresa asked, sounding a little confused.
I chuckled, as did Jimmy, Ravi, and Darren. “We’ll be having a little fun as well,” I told her. “Seeing what our cars can do.”
“Showing off, basically,” Jimmy said drily.
“Sounds fun,” Brad said. “Maybe Teresa and I can join you guys?”
“Oh, um, you wouldn’t get bored?” I asked, knowing Brad’s Eclipse Cross wasn’t exactly the most maneuverable SUV out there and there was no way he’d be able to keep up with the pack.
