Page 131 of Beneath the Hood

He laughs, waving me off, and I get out of the car and make my way inside, searching for my dad.

I find him in the garage.

As I walk through the glass doors, memories spin like a record. Every corner of this place reeks of Jackson and I have to bite back the tears, an intense longing exploding inside of me—the whip of regret striking new lacerations against my heart with every step.

My dad is standing next to a man who’s loading the cars on a truck. My eyes scan the area, taking in the scene. “Hey. What’s going on?”

He spins, his smile blinding as he beams from across the room. “Hi, honey.” Walking over, he pulls me into his arms. It’s a new thing of his—hugging. He visited me every week at Turning Pointe, and each time he’d grip on so tight I worried he might leave bruises.

I sink into his embrace, allowing his warmth to wrap around me like a blanket.

Pulling back, his hands on my shoulders, he sighs. “Let me look at you.”

I roll my eyes, but my chest warms from his attention. “I was only gone for thirty days, Dad. And you saw me last week. I’m hardly different.”

He lifts up my arm, his finger poking my sides. “Hmm... I don’t know, you seem different to me.”

Giggling, I wrench out of his grasp. “Stop it. What’s all this?” I wave to Jackson’s work as it’s loaded onto the truck, worry tearing through my insides, hoping that he isn’t taking them somewhere to be hidden away, covered in dust, never to be seen again.

I’ll never forgive myself for ruining things when it didn’t make a damn difference in the end.

My dad’s face grows serious, and he leans against the red toolbox Jackson apparently left behind. “This is me, taking the last of Jax’s cars and putting them on set.”

My breath stutters, hope sticking to my insides like cling wrap. “You’re using them?”

He nods. “I’m using them. And I’ll be paying him for it, too.” His jaw clenches. “I never should have used his career as an ultimatum. I just... well—” He lifts a shoulder. “I don’t really have an excuse. I was angry. Protective. Not able to see past my ego to recognize that sometimes two people fall in love even when the world tells them they can’t.”

My heart throbs against my ribs, my abdomen flaring.

“You feeling good?” He lifts a brow. “Strong?”

I straighten my spine, pride filling every pore at all the work I’ve been putting into myself. “Yeah, Dad. I’m feeling strong.”

He nods, sucking on his teeth. “Good. Because I have the jet geared up and ready for you.”

Confusion spreads through me. “Uh... for what?”

“To go get him back.”

I laugh, nerves lighting up my insides like a Christmas tree. “I’m sorry, to getwhat?”

“You never would have gone through with that ridiculous charade if I hadn’t pushed you.” He grabs my hands. “Let me help you make it right. You love him?”

Choking back a sob, I nod, my hand coming up to cover my mouth.

“He saw you when everyone else was blind... the way I saw your mother.” He shakes his head. “You don’t let something like that slip through your fingers.”

I sigh. “Dad, there’s no chance—”

“Youfight, Blakely. And only after you’ve given it your everything, do you admit defeat.”

“I don’t...”

“Do you want him back?” he asks.

“Well, yes, but—”

“Then take the jet, there will be a car waiting for you when you land. You go to him and you show him that you see him too.”

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