Page 54 of Beautiful Rush
“And you gave up the street racing, right?”
“Right. Definitely. No more street racing.” It sucked that it had all gone so epically wrong. I had loved street racing. The vibe and the energy and the adrenaline rush. But I pushed those thoughts out of my head.
He nodded slowly. “Okay. But if you need me foranything, you call me.”
“I will.”
We returned to the living room where Eden was waiting for us, having sensed that we needed some sibling time.
As they were leaving, Killian asked, “Have you heard from Maggie?”
Maggie. I couldn’t blame him for not calling her mom. Once upon a time, he had called her that, but she didn’t deserve the title anymore. Not from him and Connor, anyway. And me? I wasn’t sure what she meant to me anymore. Her love had never been a guarantee. My parents didn’t know how to love unconditionally. I didn’t think they were capable of giving something without expecting something in return, and the price of their love had been so high. Unquestioning loyalty. Turning a blind eye. Keeping my mouth shut.
I shook my head. “I haven’t heard from her. And I don’t know how to reach her.” It went beyond not having her cell phone number, but I suspected Killian understood that.
He hugged me goodbye and I held on tight, like the motherless child I was, until I sensed it was making him uncomfortable and released him.
“We’re so tragic,” I said, laughing a little as I hugged Eden.
“Like all the best fairy tales,” she said. “I have a good feeling though. Your happily ever after is waiting for you, just around the corner.”
Like I said, Eden was an incurable optimist.
* * *
One hourafter Killian and Eden left, Deacon called me.
“Hey,” I said, trying to keep my voice even and my heart from leaping out of my throat. “Are you okay?”
“I’m okay. How about you?” His voice was cool and detached. It made me sad and angry.
“I’m fine,” I answered coolly.
He exhaled loudly. “I wanted to come over last night, but it was too late or too early, depending how you look at it and I knew you needed to work today.”
He sounded more like himself, like someone who cared.
“You still could have. I wouldn’t have minded.”
“I can’t come over tonight either. I need to do some damage control.”
“Is it about the race?”
“Something else.”
I tried to swallow my disappointment. I wanted to see him so badly, but he sounded tired and I didn’t want to add to his troubles any more than I already had.
“Have you made any plans for tomorrow?” he asked.
“No. Why?”
“You feel like taking a drive?”
“Is that a trick question?”
He chuckled softly. “No. I just wanted to see if you’d be up for meeting me.”
Anywhere. Anytime. Anyplace. “I’d be up for it.”
