Page 58 of Drive Me Wild
“Did you ever drag race?”
“When I first started, I raced on some back roads and then found this place when I got caught. Luckily, the sheriff was friends with Buzz. I got off with a warning. After a while, I got into production car and stock car racing.”
“What was your favorite?”
“Probably stock car.”
“Why?”
He squinted at me, seeming to weigh how much he wanted to say.
“It’s the most thrilling. Probably the most dangerous. Stock car racing started in the Prohibition era. The bootleggers altered their cars so they could outrun the police. Stock cars look like regular cars on the outside, but they’re modified to be fast. Then, the bootleggers started bringing their cars to racetracksto compete, and a new class of racing was born. That’s what NASCAR is—National Association for Stock Car Racing.
“Wow, that’s interesting. I never knew.”
He bumped me with his shoulder again. “Are you glad you came?”
I leaned into him, burying my face in his neck.
“Thrilled. Didn’t you say a friend is racing one of your cars today?”
“I sold him one of my stock cars.”
“One?”
Caleb fake-coughs into his hand, trying to hide a laugh.
“I have several in a garage I rent near here.”
“Are you going to race again?” My heart thumps in my chest, thinking of him risking his life on this track.
“Not planning on it.”
Just then, a lanky guy in a Canadian tuxedo comes over with a beer in his hand.
“Hey man, good to see you. My race is coming up soon.”
“And you’re drinking a beer? Don’t be stupid.”
“It’s just one to calm the nerves.”
“If you get caught, you’ll be disqualified.”
“I’m not going to get caught. Look.” He finishes his beer and tosses the cup in the nearby garbage can. “See, not drinking.”
“You’re an idiot.”
He slaps Caleb on the back and sits down on the other side, pulling out a can of chewing tobacco. I notice Caleb stiffen.
“You gonna introduce me to your date?”
“Sorry, man. This is Zoe. Zoe, this is Tommy. He’s the one who bought my Barracuda.”
“My Bella Baby.”
“He’s also a big Twilight fan, so he named the car after Bella.”
“Nice to meet you, Tommy. Does everyone name their cars?”
