Page 97 of Racing Heat

The girls leave to dance in the small area The Backwoods has for dancing. I think it’s just so they can talk, because the only one really moving is Hendrix. The other three are talking quietly together. Cassie has shaken her head so many times, and I’m sure it has something to do with me.

“What’s up with you lately, man?” August asks me. “Anything new?”

I take a sip of my beer and watch him carefully. “No, nothing really. How are things going with the office? I saw your dad’s out of office again, on another trip or something?”

“Yeah, he is. I’m doing fine. Handling things. I just haven’t seen you around in a while. Did you finally meet a woman? Are you getting some?”

Danny chokes on his beer. I shoot him daggers.

“Nah, none for me. But I do need another drink. I’m gonna go and get it,” I tell him without waiting for him to answer. I hop up and make my way over to the bar. Once I’m there, I look back and see August has gone off to bother the girls and Danny appears, grinning beside me.

I playfully punch him in the arm. “Could you please knock it the fuck off? You’re going to get us caught.”

He chuckles. The light blow I landed on his shoulder didn’t even affect him. “I don’t think August is that smart.”

“The fuck he’s not. Come on, he keeps looking from me to her. It’s not going to take much for him to put it together. He’s not stupid,” I remind him, glancing again in August’s direction.

“Yeah, he’s not, but I think it’ll be okay,” Danny says with a shrug. Leaning over the bar, he orders another pitcher.

“Mac knows?” I ask.

“She does indeed.”

“Did you tell her?”

“I kind of did, yeah. She was feeling guilty about spending so much time over at my house. Worried she was leaving Cassie alone too much. I might have let it slip that she’s not all by herself.” Danny smiles like he’s proud of himself.

“Really, man? Come on.”

“It’ll be fine. She’s not going to say anything.”

“What did she say when she found out? Was she mad?”

“She wasn’t sure what to make of it, but she’s definitely worried that Cassie’s going to get fired. I think she said that it’s not possible that August would let you go, since you guys are bros.” He puts quotes around the bros. “She thinks Cassie would be the one who’s cast away, and when that happens, she’s going to castrate you. So, I’d be careful around her when she’s holding sharp objects.”

I want to ask more about Mac’s reaction, but I decide against it. Grabbing my drink, I say, “Let’s go back to the table.”

He nods and slaps me on the back. “It’ll be okay. I’m sure no one else will figure it out.”

For most of the evening, that would be the case. The girls have had far more than we have. I drink less than Cassie in hope that when it’s time to go home, she comes with me.

But then the shots are brought over. Hendrix is carrying a big tray of them.

“Bitches, we’re doing shots!” she calls out.

I sigh and shake my head. I think it’s time for me to head out, while I can still drive myself, but a glass is thrust into my hand.

“We toast,” cries out Mac.

“Yes!” yells an enthusiastic Cassie.

I really want to take the liquid from her now and throw her over my shoulder. She should just come home with me, but I’m not sure she sees it that way yet.

“Toast,” Amelia calls out.

“Oh, fuck, you girls have gone and gotten sloppy drunk again.” Danny laughs.

“I guess we should get them home soon, huh?” I say quietly to Danny.