Page 21 of Wrecking Boundaries (SteelTrack Racing #2)

Rivers Motorsports Headquarters, North Carolina

Jake: My go-kart idea was genius. Admit it. We can be public this way. Are you ready to talk yet?

My wish for time was sincere, while Jake believes that translates into an evening or 24-hour period at most.

I need time to think, even though I’m unsure what to think about it. Everything was perfect, right up until the moment it wasn’t.

Boone’s office door is ajar, but I still knock first before entering. He’s where I expect him to be, lying on his couch. He doesn’t fit.

“Move over.”

“I can’t. This is my thinking couch,” Boone says, protesting like always.

“So if you move, your brain stops working?” I tilt my head. He’s past due for a sibling putdown. “More of the status quo. You’ll be fine.”

“Harsh,” Boone says as he moves over. “You’ve been prickly since we returned from Martinsville.”

A prickly princess, that’s what Jake calls me. It always comes with a teasing grin and compliments.

“I’m my usual cheery self. Living my best life.”

Boone clicks his tongue, and a dimple pops out. “We see that. You’re a giant bundle of rainbows and puppies.”

“What’s going on?” Maddie asks from where she sits behind the desk.

The two technically share an office, but she’s the only one who uses the space as intended. Boone works in bursts wherever he happens to be.

“The Racing Today site published an article less than five minutes ago confirming the BP Racing rumors,” I say.

“We already knew the rumors,” Maddie says.

“This is different. BPR’s official statement when asked for comment was ‘no comment.’ If there were no truth to it, they would outright deny it. It’s happening. My guess is we’ll see press releases confirming their closure in the next two or three weeks. A quieter notice to other teams will go out immediately after, advertising a fire sale.”

Boone’s eyes shine as he sits forward. “I’m going to enjoy this.” He doesn’t smile, but Boone never smiles.

I’ve been miserable since his wreck, and Boone talks like we’re going on a pony ride. He wrecks out and then engages in a verbal brawl with the man who claims he wants to marry me. Is it any wonder I’m prickly?

“What the hell, Boone?” I snap. He could be a little less pleased. I’m stuck in a conflict, and he’s getting ready to go candy shopping. “People are going to lose their jobs. This isn’t meant to be funny.”

“Who’s laughing? Most of them will follow their driver and land somewhere else. There’s a good chance at least a few will end up here, especially since we plan to grow some of our manufacturing capabilities. My glee is for one man.”

“I didn’t know that,” I say.

Feud or no feud, could he be a little less pleased?

I was so sure Boone would understand once we came clean. I’m much less confident after that wreck and the fight between them. Boone threatened his career, and Jake attacked Boone’s biggest insecurity. How do you come back from that?

Boone ignores me. “Who spots for Jake Knowles’? He’s one of the best.”

“Derek Sanger,” I say, feeling sick. “He raced for a couple of years.”

“He’d make a good pit chief and help free Pete for other responsibilities,” Boone says.

I am going to throw up all over my brother. “He’s very loyal to Jake Knowles.”

“It doesn’t hurt to ask.”

“Is this about your vendetta or the company?” I ask and glare at him.

“The company first. Jake Knowles is only a bonus.”

I don’t believe him.

“Since there’s no further action we can take today, let’s move on to the next topic,” Maddie says, instantly defusing the tension between Boone and me. “We should talk about the upcoming go-kart charity event.”

Boone glowers over the mention. “He played me with that.”

My heart skipped a beat when Jake announced our partnership for the charity event during a live interview. It would be the perfect occasion for us to go public and help mend the wounds between him and my brother. Then Boone relayed their argument, and Jake confirmed it via text.

What am I supposed to do now?

“However you feel, he has a point,” I say. “You’ve paid two fines so far because of him. Keeping your competition on the track will make you look like the bigger man.”

Boone’s glower sharpens until Maddie chimes in with her agreement. “I vote with Sarah,” she says. Boone’s features relax. “It’s a charity event. Save your rivalry for later.”

How does she do that?

“What about Julian?” Boone asks. “He needs a partner now if you aren’t available. ”

An idea hits me. “I know who we can ask.”

∞∞∞

“Have you made a decision yet?” Maddie asks.

“I told him to give me time, and he’s accepted that. Mostly,” I say. Guilt pricks me. She’d been frantic with worry over the race. No doubt images of Boone in a hospital or severely injured were filling her thoughts. “I’m sorry about what happened. He asked me to pass on his apologies to you directly.”

“That’s very kind of him,” she says. Maddie hardly says anything mean about another person. If she does, then you know it’s well-earned. “Am I the reason you took a break?”

She’s one of many reasons. Neither shared details, but Boone mentioned how upset she was that night. She’s witnessed serious wrecks before, but never one with Boone. They’re all a potential tragedy, but it hits differently when someone you love is in the car. The fear starts in the stomach and then spreads through your body while you watch on, completely helpless.

“It’s for me. Considering everything between us, it seemed wise to take my time before deciding on the next step,” I say. Any other answer would cause her guilt, and she doesn’t deserve it. It’s also a truthful one. “We’re not broken up. I’m making sure the pace is right.

She stares briefly before her expression clears. “Let’s check with Pete then.”

∞∞∞

Pete Webb is Boone’s pit chief and is regarded as the best. He worked for my father until Tom Rivers’ retirement and continues with Boone.

“You want my daughter with the company seducer?” Pete asks.

I wince at the old-fashioned phrase. He’s a protective father, which is understandable, but his daughter, Lily, is also a grown woman.

Maddie speaks before I have a chance to argue. “He’ll be on his best behavior, I promise. Plus, she’ll be with us most of the time. Sarah and I have looked forward to getting to know her since your birthday party last year. This is the perfect time.”

Pete relaxes. He picks up his weathered trucker hat to scratch at his thinning hair. “If you say so.” His hat goes down. “Tell him if he so much as touches her, I will skin him alive and make him run the next race bare ass naked.”

“He would be dead,” I say. Madelyn pokes at me. “He’ll be a perfect gentleman.”

“Julian Murphy is many things, a great driver among them. A gentleman is not one of them.” Pete’s face twists, and if we were anywhere but the company garage, I would swear he was about to spit onto the floor.

“This particular charity event is going to be a unique experience,” I tell Maddie as we depart for our respective offices.

∞∞∞

“You’re putting me with Lily Webb?!? She’s Pete’s daughter,” Julian says, slamming open my door without knocking. “Did I mention she’s Pete’s daughter?”

“I know who she is. I also know you’ll be on your best behavior.”

“Well, of course, I will.” Julian starts pacing despite the lack of room. Three steps and turns. Three steps and turns. It’s dizzying. “Don’t you remember her?”

“Very well. What’s the problem? Also, please stop moving. You’re giving me a panic attack.”

Julian collapses into the chair opposite me. “Look, it’s fine if you want to do this with your boy toy.”

“He’s not…that.”

“Sure. Lily Webb makes me uncomfortable.” Julian says. The last word is so quiet it comes out as a hiss. “I said something, and she heard me.”

“What did you say?”

He stands. “I may or may not have said something about her being weird.”

“She’s shy. If anyone could help, I would guess it’s you.”

Maddie has repeatedly stated Julian keeps people at a distance. Nothing serious and no commitment. He’s friendly with everyone and friends with no one. He’s probably closer to me than his own family. Of course, that may not mean much, considering how he came to be a driver for Rivers Motorsports.

“She’ll spend most of the time with Maddie and I. You’ll hardly need to talk with her,” I say reassuringly.

“Thank you,” Julian says and leaves.

I rub my temples. One charity event should not warrant so much office drama.

My phone chimes again. I pick it up, knowing it’s Jake, and don’t respond. Instead, my fingers go to the dating app. My DM history with Martin sits there. We haven’t interacted in a few days, not since Martinsville.

I had planned to end it. We never even worked up to a coffee date, and it wasn’t right to keep speaking to him, not when Jake and I were growing serious.

My laptop sits open, reminding me there’s a job requiring my attention. Plus, no matter what happens between Jake and me, I’ll keep my promise to help him.

I open my spreadsheet and resume his financials. Jake needs more capital, which is obvious. He can work with one of the bigger teams for parts so that the problem is easily solved. It’s the finances that I can’t make work.

My phone dings again, and I ignore it, grabbing a folder instead. One of my notebooks fall out, and I scan it only to realize it’s the scratchpad I used to help visualize my ideal life.

I’d forgotten about it since picking things back up with Jake.

I pick up my phone and open the dating app. It’s time to do something either very brilliant or idiotic.