AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Over the years, I’ve met a few drivers who enjoy racing andthen go on to some other adventure. Heck, there are a couple who drop off the grid. Others attach themselves to the sport they love because it’s all they know.
He’ll never admit it, but we made that possible for him. I’m glad because he saved a sixteen-year-old boy once, and now it’s my turn.
“It’s time for our next step,” Bert says. This time, his voice grows louder, and his cheeks are rosy. “We need to decide on a company name.”
He rubs his hands together.
37-Jake
The house is quiet, with no sign of Sarah. Instinct leads me to pull a bunch of grapes from the fridge and place them in a bowl. She’ll need them.
I find her lying across the bed, wrapped in a blanket. It’s the same quilt I offered after finding her on the side of the road months ago.
“Princess? What are you doing?” I ask.
“Turning into a burrito,” she says.
“I’ll join you then.” I unwind the blanket, crawl beside her, and tuck the quilt back around us.
Guilt strikes me. She broke two pieces of news during today’s lunch meeting. The meeting was a success, but her inner distress was noticeable. We quickly chatted in the parking lot before I returned to work. We may be starting a new company, but my present one still requires me to prepare for races.
“You want a grape?” I press one to her lips.
Her favorite treats are tiramisu and fruit. There’s no dessert, but plenty of other options. If grapes don’t work, I can offer pineapple or honeydew.
“You can’t fix me with treats,” she says, understanding my plan.
“I can try. Will you tell me what happened today?”
“Yes, I turned in my two weeks’ notice today because my brother is a meany pants.”
“Meany pants. That sounds serious.” It sounds hilarious.
“Don’t make fun of me. I’m unable to summon good insults right now.”
“Then tell me how he earned the title.” I gently press my lips to her forehead. “Take another one.”
She eats another grape. “I learned your spotter accepted his job offer and then found out Boone extended offers to two more on your team like he threatened he would.”
“Do you know who?” No one submitted their resignation, so that gives me some relief. If this keeps up, Boone Rivers will take my entire team.
“I have no idea. No one will tell me anything, not anymore.” Sarah cranes her neck to see me. “I confronted him, and he didn’t deny it.”
There’s more. The last time I saw him, she tried to avoid and diffuse the confrontation, holding on to hope everything could be fixed. Now, Sarah’s wearing one of my old shirts and lying on the bed. Misery radiates off her.
“Then what?”
“He said it was a business decision. He expected I would believe it, like it was some impersonal choice based on a balance sheet. Then he called me a child.”
“That’s when you decided to quit.”
“Oh, no. It gets worse.” Her arms go flying to emphasize how much worse it is. One hits my thigh. “Also, how stupid does he think I am?”
I wisely don’t answer that, choosing to hand over another piece of fruit. “Is it possible he meant that? My old team is closing down; it’s not a shock, especially if he has expansion plans. Julian is there because you signed a contract.”
“His company was going out of business. It’s different.”
“So is mine.”
