“Wouldn’t dream of it,” I said with a wink.
I spotted Rita in the opposite corner with her husband, Len. “Did you have a hand in getting those kids cleared to go out to the farm today?” I called to her.
She winked as Len took her hand and kissed her knuckles. “That might have been me.”
“I owe you, huge. Thank you.”
Rory let out a whistle, snagging Patti’s attention. “A round of Banked Tracks—”
Tilly watched all the commotion with a cautious look on her face. I knew she wouldn’t like our usual, but I also knew she probably felt just awkward and out of place enough, she’d never say so after taking the first sip and would just suffer through it to fit in.
I had her back.
“Pick something else tonight, guys. Tilly doesn’t like root beer. Besides, we could use a special drink for tonight to celebrate.”
“That’s cool. What do you like?” Zara asked as she passed the drink menu to Tilly.
“I’ll be right back. That big ass bottle of water I sucked down on the drive here is knocking.”
I ducked into the bathroom, did my business, washed my hands, caught my face in the mirror, and froze.
Clear, bright eyes stared back at me. A healthy pink hue glowed on my happily flushed cheeks. My chin tilted with confidence, my chest out and shoulders back.
I didn’t recognize myself.
And it’s exactly what I kidded myself into thinking I looked like all along.
This was the look I wanted Rylee to have on her face.
Well, shit. My team would just have to win some money and make sure I got to stick around long enough to help Rylee achieve it.
I headed back to the derby booth and spotted Tilly’s empty seat. “Where’s Tilly?”
Rory shrugged. “She said she had to go. Guess we can order those Banked Tracks after all.”