Page 5 of Racing Dirty Trilogy Box Set

Xavier

My phone chimes, snapping me out of my daze as I sit in the hospital waiting room, the sterile white walls closing in around me.

Mia is curled up next to my mom, her small frame shaking from the aftermath of so many tears.

Her short, spiked hair, brown, blue, and black, looks like it’s been tussled by every emotional wave that hit her.

I want to comfort her, to be the one to wrap her in support the way she did for me when Izzy left, but I don’t know how. I’m not sure what to say.

My dad is sitting on the hard chair next to me, his eyes locked on the hallway, waiting for any sign of the doctors.

He hasn't said a word since we got here.

My mom is beside Mia, her arms around her as they cry together, a quiet symphony of sorrow in the otherwise silent room.

The ticking of the clock feels like an echo in my ears, reminding me that it's been over four hours since the accident. Over four hours, and we still don’t know anything.

My phone chimes again breaking the silence in the room and my dad glares at me, assuming it’s another hook-up trying to get a hold of me.

Little does he know, I’ve had no hookups since Izzy and I broke up five years ago.

I take it out of my pocket to power it down when I read the screen.

It’s Izzy texting me and my heart sinks to my stomach.

I open the message with shaky hands, anticipating what she would say:

B: X, I heard about my dad. I’m on my way home. I won’t bother you, but I didn’t want it to be a shock to see me around. My flight lands at three a.m. Mia should be there to pick me up. Xoxo-B.

I check the time and see her flight lands in about two and a half hours.

I nudge my dad and motion to the doors leading outside.

My heart is thrashing in my throat and my palms are sweaty.

I don’t want my mom to know what I want to do, if she finds out, she’ll have a fit.

He nods his head back and whispers to my mom.

I step out into the corridor that leads outside, waiting for him to follow me.

We walk between the automatic doors that lead outside.

“Xavier, what’s going on?” James asks concern in his tired voice.

“I got a message from Izzy. Her flight lands at three and she said Mia is supposed to pick her up.” I gesture to Mia and Mom through the window, still crying. “I don’t think she’s in any condition to drive. I’ll go and get Izzy."

James’s face takes on an impassive look. “Why don’t I get her, and you stay here? I’m worried about you. Austin is like a second dad to you and I don’t want you to get into an accident. Add the stress of seeing Izzy again, I don’t want you pushed over the edge."

“Nah, Dad. I’ll be fine. I can’t just sit here anyway, it’s driving me nuts. I need to be doing something, anything, and picking Izzy up is no big deal.” I shrug my shoulders. It is a huge deal, but I will not tell him that.

I school my features as he watches me for a minute, searching for any proof this idea is stressing me out. Not finding what he’s looking for, he agrees.

“All right, go ahead and get her. Just please be careful. Something tells me this was no accident." His words catch me off guard. I have been considering the same thing but have been too afraid to say it aloud.

I step out of the hospital entrance doors, the warm night breeze caresses my overheated skin, and I head to my dark green Dodge Charger SXT.

I turn back and look through the tall windows.

I see my dad approach my mom. He rests his hand on her shoulder and she glances up at him.

I can see him say something to her and Mia.

They both look out the window, my mom shakes her head, warning me to be careful, and Mia is grinning at me through her tear-streaked face.

She has constantly been by my side since Izzy left. We became close, like brother and sister, in the last five years and she’s always telling me to pull my head out of my ass and go get Izzy. Well, Mia, I’m finally going to get her.