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“No, it’s personal, against you,” Sarah sighs. “Boone is out to get you, and he won’t quit. Also, I made it worse.”
“That’s not possible,” I say, wanting to defend her, even from herself.
“No, it’s true. I called Boone a horrible person who enjoys hurting people. Then I said he and Maddie deserve each other or something close. Also, I said he’ll eventually do the same to her.”
“Princess, reach out to her. You can repair friendships.”
Sarah turns, curling into a ball and snuggling against my shoulder. “I said she’s as horrible as he is, and it’s not true. Boone is the horrible one; she’s the one trying to make it all better. After that, I returned to my office and felt sorry for myself.”
“Then you quit.”
“Then I quit, and you know what?”
“Tell me.”
“It felt right. I started this morning with no plan to do it, but once the idea came, it felt right. So, I resigned, and now my brother and best friend don’t like me anymore.”
I’m unsure of the correct response, so I pull her closer, tightening my grip on her waist and shoulders. “They don’t feel that way,” I say, knowing it’s a feeble response. “They both love you very much, I’m sure of it. Talk to them.”
“No, I won’t. If Boone forces me to pick sides, then he decides for me. He doesn’t like you.”
I snort at the simple honesty of her statement.
She keeps going. “It’s only because he doesn’t know you. Well, off the track, he doesn’t. You two will be competitors forever; nothing we do will change it. Boone decided he knowswhat’s best for me, and I won’t let him.”
“Then don’t.”
“He did it to Matteo last year. Have you met him?” I shake my head at the unfamiliar name, so she says, “He’s one of Boone’s mechanics, or he was. Boone discovered his driving talent and tried to convince him to race. Matteo wasn’t interested, so Boone forced him. Matteo told me what happened afterward; he said Boone threatened to fire him and would destroy his career if he didn’t do what Boone wanted. That’s my brother.”
I whistle, genuinely surprised at his action. “What’s this guy up to now?”
“He’s racing in one of the lower circuits. Julian says he’ll be ready to move up in another year or two. You know, the strange thing is, I asked Boone about it afterward. He said he never threatened to destroy Matteo’s career. It doesn’t matter, though, because Matteo still heard it.”
“I hope he moves up one day. If Julian Murphy says so, he has the talent for it.” Anything else can be left unsaid because I understand Boone’s position, and sharing that with Sarah would be unhelpful. He’s competitive and demands that same attribute from everyone around him. You need to demand the best of yourself to win; if they don’t feel the same, they don’t belong.
“I only know he won’t talk to Boone despite working for him. So, that tells you what we can expect from my brother. He’s decided what’s best for me, and that’s all there is to it. Maddie is going to marry him, so she’s caught in the middle, even though I claimed she was the same as him, even though she’s not. I shouldn’t have said that.”
Her friend sent Julian Murphy to check on her at Talladega. She also coordinated with Sarah at the go-kart race to diffuse any problems. Those are the actions of someone who won’tgive up on a friendship.
“From all I’ve learned of her, you two can make up,” I say, confident that those are the right words. “You know that saying about never going to bed angry?”
“That’s for married couples,” she corrects me. “We’re friends.”
“Soon-to-be sisters, and from what I’ve learned, you spend nights at her house pretty often. Even if it is for married couples, it’s terrible advice. Sometimes, it’s better to go to bed angry if all you can do is fight. You wake in the morning; you get a new day and new perspective.”
Sarah finally moves, resting her elbows and forearms on my chest to look down at me. Her poking elbows hurt a little, but I don’t say a word. Some discomforts are worth helping her feel better.
“How did you get so wise?” she asks me.
“I helped raise four little sisters. You forget Boone isn’t the only older brother in your life.”
“You agree with him?” she says. There’s an edge of testiness in her voice this time.
“No, not in the slightest,” I say carefully. “He feels protective of you, and I get that. It doesn’t mean he’s correct.”
Sarah nods, satisfied. “Because I’m always right.”
“So far.” She shoves a grape between my lips, and I let her before turning serious again. “As for your job, all it did was change your timetable. Our new business will keep you busy, and I make enough to take care of you.”
