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∞∞∞
“You need to stock microwave popcorn in this place,” Derek says when I climb into the RV. “What else do you eat during a movie?”
“Literally anything,” I say, taking in him stretched on the RV’s sofa, dirty feet on the table. “Make yourself at home. Can I cook you dinner or rub your feet?”
“If you’re offering.”
“There’s a can of soup that expired a year ago. Help yourself,” I say, and Derek chuckles. “Pierce Boylan hasn’t been to a race this season. Do you think that’s strange?”
Derek turns down the volume to give me his full attention. “I don’t think so. He doesn’t come to every race, although now that you mention it, he hasn’t been to headquarters either. Why are you asking?”
I relay my brief visit with Bert.
“Bert was a Bloody Mary in a past life,” he says. “His yelling could be nothing, or it could be huge. Should we be worried?”
I’m being ridiculous. I worry so much about future plans that it’s making me see problems that don’t exist. “No, nothing like that. Two bad races are making me paranoid.”
Despite my earlier comment, I make a turkey sandwich for both of us. Some drivers go out the Saturday night before racing or join one of the nearby parties. I’ve done none of that since first meeting Sarah. Usually, I’m in bed before ten.
I quickly answer my phone when it rings. “Hey, Mom. I’m sorry. I meant to call you earlier.”
“Mom said I can’t get a part-time job,” a shrill voice says. “It’s not fair.”
“Hi, Josie,” I say, correcting myself. Derek glances at me and goes back to the movie. “What job?”
“I applied for a job at the mall, and Mom said I can’t do it,” she says.
Josie is my youngest sister, still in her teens, with two years of high school left.
“Did she say why?”
“My grades,” Josie says. She’s determined to express her opinion on the matter. “It’s not fair.”
She almost flunked the previous school year. “You need toconcentrate on school. Improve your grades and then get a job. Those are the rules.”
“You had a job. They let you race cars, even when you were flunking.”
I wasn’t that horrible a student. “That was different,” I say, failing to summon a better response. Racing meant money, and we needed that more than we needed me on the honor roll.
“It’s exactly the same. You got to make a ton of money, while my allowance is barely enough to go out with friends.”
I sigh into the phone. Josie was too young to remember those days. I focused on my career because we needed the money. My father died to give all this to me, and the entire family paid the price. “I’ll talk to Mom tomorrow. Maybe there is a compromise. Either way, I’ll double your allowance. Time with friends is important.”
Josie hangs up after muttering a quick thanks.
“Still playing parent, huh?” Derek asks.
I’m the closest to a father they’ll ever have. “Family is important to me.”
Derek doesn’t push, and we return to the movie, but I don’t pay any attention.
I took the second pole, which will put me in the first row tomorrow. It’s fantastic news, and it doesn’t matter. I pick up my phone, planning to bring out my alter ego.
Jake: Are you in your room? I want to see you.
Sarah: Why? This feels suspicious.
Jake: No hidden motive, promise. Can I come over?
