Page 10 of Rear View

Xavier

Ryah didn’t call.

It’d been three damn days since the hospital and every time I left training, or the track, I checked my phone like the sucker I was. But nothing. And every time, it hit a little harder.

Alec and I sat in the rally car, our racing suits on.

They were black with a shit ton of patches from each of our sponsors.

I flexed my grip over the shifter while we waited between takes as we filmed a commercial—our first ever.

It was bizarre as shit, which was good, ’cause I needed the distraction.

“How’s it feel?” I asked him.

He adjusted his harness. “Cool as hell.”

The rumble-pop of the engine sounded out where we waited in the middle of a watered-down gravel lot.

Cameras lined the perimeter while key and boom lights lit the vehicle from all sides.

They reflected off its sharp angles, and neon-green shade, highlighting those black and purple accents.

The new logos were bigger, wrapping around the hood, up onto the roof and over the doors and quarter panels. The thing looked epic .

A WRC sign hung backlit on the makeshift wall thirty feet away. My chest inflated. Alec and I’d worked long and hard to get our licenses. Then trained our asses off, putting in the hours to make the rankings. We weren’t at the top yet, but we were on our way.

The crew bustled around us, spot-wiping the vehicle, and repositioning the cameras, when Earl sauntered over, a woman in her mid-twenties at his side. Her hair was red, skin tanned. She was put together—heavy makeup, sharp black dress and heels. And she stood out like a fox in a henhouse.

The window motor hummed as I put it down.

“Xavier, Alec,” Earl said. “This is the publicist I told you about.”

Right. I’d totally forgot. I gave her a nod.

She tucked a leather folder under her arm. “I’m Trina. I’m here to help you both see your potential and navigate your rising popularity.” She grinned and gestured to the set around us. “You’re about to start getting a lot of attention!”

Was that good?

“Earl tells me you’ve been filled in about the car show Sunday. That one’s easy, just a meet and greet for the public. I’m also in the process of lining up interviews, getting you on some question panels.”

“Sounds alright,” I said.

“I’ll forward you the details later today.” She reached into the car and set a palm on my forearm. “With your looks and talent, you’re very marketable. You’ll be an easy sell.”

Alec turned away to hide his laugh.

I fought a frown when I slid my arm back. “Thanks.”

Earl tapped the door with a knuckle. “How’re you liking the mods?”

I tipped my chin up and ran a rough hand over the dash. The thing was badass. The torque killer. “Great. Car feels tight. This sponsor shit’s panning out.”

“Good.” He stepped back. “Alright. Trina and I will leave you both to it, then. Call if you need anything.”

I gave a salute and Trina smiled.

My phone buzzed and I tore it out. Be you, dream girl. Come on, be you.

Mom: Enjoy today, my boy. You’ve earned it.

I punched my response.

Me: Thanks, Ma.

Another text came through and when I saw the name, I fought not to chuck my phone out the window. How he’d got my number, I had no clue, but Derek Bosch, my old man’s brother, was just as dirty and cut from the same cloth.

Uncle Prick Face: You hear the news about your dad? He’s gonna need Lorelei’s info.

Ain’t happening.

Me: Lose my goddamn number.

“That Ryah?” Alec asked.

I turned my screen his way.

He ground his jaw and glanced around. “You tell your mom about the parole board?” he said, his voice low.

My gut locked tight, and I cinched my hand over the wheel. “Not gonna worry her until there’s somethin’ to worry her about.”

He dipped his head in a slow nod. “The family’s been asking about you,” he said, veering the conversation away.

My brow ticked up. “How they doin’?”

“Mom’s knee-deep in wedding stuff with Sheila and Dad’s just counting down to retirement.” A sly smirk pulled his mouth. “Sean got a job working for the government.”

“Yeah?” A member of the production crew wheeled a hose out and watered down the lot. “Doin’ what?”

“Information security analyst.”

Narrowing my stare, I asked, “The hell’s that?”

He crossed his arms over his chest, his smirk growing wider. “Keeping hackers out.”

I barked a laugh. “You’re shittin’ me.”

He shook his head.

Yara cut through the set and aimed our way. “Hey, jackasses!”

Alec chucked his chin at her. “What’re you doing here?”

“This was too awesome to miss.” Ducking down, she stuck her face through the window. “We still taking the snowmobiles out next weekend?”

Alec nodded. “I’m down for Saturday. Sheila’s been after me to get her out for a while now.”

They eyed me.

I shrugged, voice flat when I said, “Yeah. Sure.”

Yara’s face twisted. “What’s wrong with you?”

“Nothin’. Why?”

She flicked a finger at my face. “You’re a shitty liar.”

Alec adjusted the collar of his suit. “He’s still waiting on a call from Ryah.”

Blowing one of her short, black curls back from her face, Yara said, “Then call her.”

He snickered and ran a hand over his twists. “Idiot didn’t get her number.”

I flipped him off.

Yara rolled her eyes. “Just find her online.”

I shook my head. “I’m not stalkin’ the girl.”

Her gaze narrowed on me as if I was an idiot. “It’s not like you’re watching her through binoculars while she showers.” She nudged my shoulder. “It’s the internet. The whole concept is people being accessible.”

My hand twitched over my phone, my heart pulsing a mile a minute. I’d held back ’cause if Ryah wasn’t calling, I just figured she didn’t want to. But…what if she’d lost the paper?

I tapped the wheel.

Fuck it.

Bringing up my Instagram, I plugged in Ryah Nolan.

No matching results. Alright. Something else, then.

I hopped over to Facebook. Nothing. App after app I opened, the more nothing I found.

I frowned deep. That couldn’t be right. I typed her into a general search engine.

Digital goddamn crickets. Not a profile, a picture or even a reference. It was like she didn’t exist.

My chest constricted. You’re killing me, dream girl.

She probably had a boyfriend. The blond, preppy dick from the hospital, no doubt.

Some educated guy who was actually in her league.

Smart, and good-looking, with a punchable face.

Someone who was going somewhere. Not that I wasn’t on the upswing, but my path hadn’t exactly been conventional.

Or distinguished. I loved what I did; the speed, the rush.

I liked being good at something. Still, I was an ex-con, for shit’s sake.

Not that she knew that, but if she did, would she look at me different? Would she look at me at all?

I’d been smart with my cash. Had my own house. Vehicle. Career. Had everything except…someone.

I was gonna have to give it up. My girl wasn’t calling. I scrubbed a hand over my hair.

“I’ll have to ask you to step off the set, ma’am,” a crew member called to Yara.

“Dammit!” She gave Alec and me a sharp wave. “See you bitches later,” she called over her shoulder and left.

My phone vibrated with an inbound call. A blocked number flashed on the screen.

Raising it to my ear, I answered. “Hello?” The loud screech of a mic near speakers filled the area. “Gimme a sec,” I said to whomever was on the line as I put my window back up. “Sorry.”

“Is this Xavier?” a woman’s soft voice asked like she was nervous. Unsure.

“Sure is. Who’s this?”

“It’s, um. It’s Ryah.”

My body locked up and I froze. Fuck me. She’d called. She’d fuckin’ called. My chest inflated and a grin pulled at my mouth. What took you so long, dream girl?

“I’m sorry,” she said, flustered. “You’re busy. I didn’t mean to interrupt anything.”

Shit, X. Say something! I shook my head. “All good.” The crew outside started pushing back from the car. I cleared my throat, then raked a hand up the back of my neck and over my scalp. “How ya been, darlin’?”

Alec punched my knee and grinned.

“Sore with some ugly bruises, but otherwise, I’m good. Back to classes tomorrow, so that’s a start.”

“You were out this whole time?” I said, fightin’ not to grit my teeth. I clenched my fists, pissed at myself for not knocking the shithead courier out—or at least a few of his teeth.

“It’s fine. Gave me a break I’ve needed.”

She was too goddamn nice. “Nah. Was a dick move on his part. He doesn’t deserve a pass.”

There was a pause, then some shuffling. “I wanted to thank you. What you did—”

“It was nothin’.” And it was. For a girl like her, I’d have done a hell of a lot more. I leaned back, then lifted my arm, bracing it against the roll bar overhead.

“It wasn’t nothing.” She inhaled. “I just…thank you.”

I straightened my fingers, then flexed them. “You’re welcome.”

“So,” she said, a smile in her voice, “you’re a rally driver.”

“I am.” My lip tugged up. “Wouldn’t have pegged you as a fan.”

She laughed, the sound high, before she taunted, “I watched some videos on the internet. Does that count?”

Curious about what I do, dream girl? Or interested?

I stared down at my feet, my tone low when I said, “You tell me.”

“I haven’t decided yet.”

I huffed a laugh. Alec pointed at the commercial’s director. I raised a finger, telling him to hold up a sec.

“We’re a feature in the car show this Sunday. Why don’t you come by?” I told her. “Check it out. See if I can sway you.”

“Yeah?” she said, her voice silky, with a hint of something else I couldn’t place.

“Yeah.” You’re a stranger, man. Make her comfortable. “Bring whoever you want.” Preferably not a boyfriend.

Say yes. Please, Christ, say yes.

“Say yes!” someone loud-whispered in the background. Someone who sounded a whole lot like Zoya.

There was a smack like she’d been slapped, then a snicker.

“That sounds fun,” Ryah answered.

I thumped the side of my fist against the roof. “You need a ride?”

“I can catch one there.”

My nod was sharp. “I’ll text you the address.”

“I suppose you’ll be needing my number, then.”

My smirk was cocky as shit and twice as proud. “Sure do, darlin’.”

That smile in her voice again as she gave it to me.

“Let me know how many people are comin’. I’ll leave tickets in your name at the door.”

“Okay.”

And Jesus, if the softness in her answer didn’t just about kill me.

She stole my goddamn focus. Yeah, she was gorgeous, but it was more.

I was pulled to her. The girl was a war of layers.

Smart and playful. Brave and shy. Strong and…

delicate. While I was her complete opposite. Broken and rough around the edges.

“I’ll see you then, yeah?”

“See you then.”

The call ended.

Alec jabbed my ribs. “Fuck yeah, man.”

I smacked the wheel, programmed her contact info and fired off that text. No waiting. Nothing subtle. She could read into it as much as she wanted, ’cause I sure as hell wanted her to.

Me: The car show’s downtown at the Olympus Civic Centre.

Dream Girl: It’s cute you think I know where that is.

I huffed a laugh as I grinned like an idiot at my screen. A sense of humor. I liked that. A fuckin’ lot.

Me: It’ll be the place with all the cars.

Dream Girl: A place in the city with cars. Check!

Me: Knew you were slick.

I forwarded the address.

Me: We’re there from noon to five.

Dream Girl: Can’t wait!

My pulse kicked into overdrive as I slid my phone away. Eyeing the director, I gave him a thumbs-up.

He nodded and raised his hand, counting down with his fingers. Three. Two. One. His arm cut through the air.

“Go time,” Alec said.

I punched the gas, shifting the car up a gear, then popped the e-brake and cut the wheel sharp. The scent of oil and burning rubber filled the air when the ass end swung, tires catching gravel as we spun a 360. Water and rock flew in a wide, badass arc as I hit the gas harder.

The weekend couldn’t come fast enough.