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I pause the race a second time. “She’s with her friend Maddie right now, and I’m gone as soon as she sends a text.” My phone dings, and I don’t even bother to look. “That’s my signal.”
“Hold up, Jake.” Yeah, there’s no mistaking Derek’s tensionthis time.
“What’s wrong?” I turn the TV off and try to hide my impatience. “Is this aboutBP Racingclosing down? We’ll figure that out; it’s not a big deal.” I smile at him, hoping to provide some relief. Spotters usually follow drivers, although there are exceptions to that rule. Plus, Derek was shockingly mellow when he first heard the rumors.
“Bert told me you have a spot withFront Rowif you want it,” Derek says without preamble. “He told me like he expected I knew.”
“He told me about the offer last week. Hold on a minute.”
Sarah: Come with dessert, or don’t bother showing up.
Jake: Be there as soon as I can.
Shit. Shit. Based on our talk, I figured Bert would stay quiet. He meant to reassure Derek about the company closure, assuming we would stay together.
Oops.
“I should have told you.” I don’t offer a smile this time because it’s true. Keeping it from Derek when he’s also facing a job loss is a shitty thing to do to a friend. “That was a bad call, and I’m sorry.”
“You going to take it?” Derek asks instead of responding to my apology.
“If I have to.”
He raises a hand, confused. “If. That word is doing a lot of heavy lifting.”
I hoped to tell him everything as if it were a done deal. All we need is some capital investment and one person to get us over the edge, and it’s happening.
“Okay, I’ll let you in. No one atBP Racing, not even Bert, knows this. I plan to buy a charter and launch a team on myown. I want to useFront Rowas a manufacturing partner. They can help build our cars until we can build out capabilities on our own.”
“DoesFront Rowknow this?”
“No, it’s still on paper until I find the funding.” I wipe my face. This feels like a sales pitch, a strangely uncomfortable one. I’ve worked with plenty of sponsors and can charm them pretty damned well, but a business pitch? This is unfamiliar territory. “I’m very confident it will happen. We already have people scheduled to approach.”
“You’re talking like there’s more than one of you, which means this has been in the works for a while.” Derek frowns.
“The beginning of the season,” I say, and Derek’s eyes bulge. He sits forward, agitated. I’d be annoyed if my coworker hid this from me as well. “I originally wanted a stake inBP Racing, even if it was limited to five or ten percent. Rumors about it going under started before I got the chance. This is plan B. My partner is Sarah Rivers. She’s helping make it happen.”
“Sarah Rivers, the chick you’re secretly doing.”
Yeah, okay, now it’s my turn to be pissed off. “The woman I’m going to marry.”
His slow nod makes his opinion clear. “So, it’s like that. Did this woman you’ll marry tell you her brother just offered me a job?” I lean back in my chair. Derek catches my reaction and says, “Yeah, I didn’t think so.”
Boone Rivers threatened me after I wrecked him. Derek is a fantastic spotter, one of the best, and plays a massive role in my success. Without him spotting for me, how good would I be? The other big question: How much does Boone realize this?
A hell of a lot.
“What was his offer?” I ask, not wanting to know.
It’s enough to tempt Derek.
“Pit chief, and a promise to drive four races in the Xfinity series. More if funding is secured. I’ve been wanting back in the seat for a while now, Jake.” Derek’s tone changes from a mild threat to nearly pleading by the end. It’s also a bid for understanding.
“You’re tempted,” I say, not even asking if it’s true. He is, and I get it. “This means Pete is moving on to something else.” Pete Webb worked for Boone’s father, Tom Rivers, until he retired. I want to ask Derek if he knows about Pete’s plans, but I stop myself. He probably doesn’t, and it’s not the right time to ask.
“I’m very tempted. I didn’t say yes because I’m keeping my word and coming to you first.”
“Thanks, I appreciate it,” I say. It’s true, but it also leaves me gutted. “Can I ask what would convince you to stay with me?”
