Page 131 of Sparks Fly
I laugh quietly.
“Oh, don’t you worry about me, darling. You’ve just given me something even better than standing on the podium.” He winks and I spin myself around and focus on the car. His arm drapesaround my shoulder as he presses his lips to my ear. “You don’t mind me taking her out, do you? Like, it’s not going to be weird for you, is it?”
I turn my face to look at him and shake my head. “No, no, it’s fine.” I laugh it off
I mean, I can’t say anything because I am fucking his dad. But truthfully, it doesn’t bother me.
“Okay, cool.” He presses his lips into the top of my head.
“But.” I step away from him, and he rolls his eyes.
“Here we go.”
“Such a child.” I smirk as I hold my camera. “You can give me some shots of you getting ready for the race. Climbing into the car, getting out, putting your visor down. I’ll clip them in slow mo, it’ll look great.” I hold my thumb up.
He mumbles something under his breath followed by, “The things I do for you, kid.”
“Good boy,” I sing as he walks off, but not before blowing Rue a kiss and I giggle. Her eyes follow him out the room and once he is out of sight, she runs over to me.
“Oh my God, please tell me that you’re okay? I won’t go out with him if it upsets you.”
I look at her with a warm smile on my face, and I love that she is concerned. “I am absolutely okay. Royce is a good man; he deserves to find his person.” I wrap my arm around her and pull her into me. “I think it’s nice that you’re going out together, you’re both suited very well.” I let her go and she knots her fingers together.
“I just felt like I may have been stepping on your toes.”
“No, babe.” I focus on the car. “I’ve moved on, so should he.” A warmness settles deep inside my chest.
“When are you going to tell Royce that you’re with his dad?”
And that’s when the sound of his voice floats through the garage.
“What the fuck?”
My skin blankets in goosebumps, a chill running up and down my spine and I feel like I am having an out of body experience. I want to move, want to turn to look at him, but I can’t. I am anchored.
“Royce,” I whisper, because it’s all I can manage.
The sound of his race boots drifts across the floor to where I stand. His hand curls around the top of my arm as he spins me to face him. His jaw is locked, eyes burning into mine, and I swear I see every emotion flash in his blue eyes. I hate that I have done that. Hate that I have pushed every single thing he is feeling to the surface.
“Is it true?” His voice cracks, his face softening but his grip is still tight on my arm, fingers digging into my skin.
I nod, a tear rolling down my cheek.
“Fuck,” he whispers.
“We were going to tell you.” My voice is strained as the garage begins to fill. “Can we talk about this somewhere else,” I whisper a plea.
“No, I want to talk about it now.” His eyes bulge into mine. “When were you going to tell me, Anaïs? When were you going to tell me that you were fucking my dad?” His words are loud and I wince. The light chatter that was echoing around the room as now been replaced by Royce’s words and met with nothing but silence.
“Royce,” I whisper, hot tears rolling down my cheeks.
“Tell me.” His voice is low and slow.
“I told her not to say anything.” I hear Creed’s voice and instantly Royce drops my arm and turns for his dad.
“You,” he hisses.
He runs for his dad, shoving him back but Creed stands his ground. I am a sobbing mess.
