Page 41 of That Summer

“You need to tell her,” Aurora said, throwing her hands up in the air. “It’s not going to get better or any easier.”

He turned away from her and paced the length of the living room. “I know, I know, but tonight wasn’t the right night.”

“Why?” She interrupted his walk and stood in front of him. No way was he going to shirk away from telling his mom. If he needed someone in his corner, she was going to back him one hundred percent.

“Bill was there.”

“Bill?”

“The track owner.” Lucas rolled his eyes. “Apparently, they’re pretty serious.”

A high-pitched gasp escaped her. “How serious? Like could he be your step-dad?”

His shiver made her laugh.

“Maybe. I hope not, but maybe.”

“Isn’t that a conflict of interest?”

“No more than Nate dating Marissa.” Disgust rang through his voice.

Ugh.

A lightbulb went off, and her heart plummeted. “They were there tonight too, weren’t they? I thought they’d all be out at the track? ItisFriday.”

He dismissed her first question with a wave. “We’ll go early tomorrow morning. Nate needs to fix something under the beast, and it’s easier here where there’s a lift. Are you ready to go?” He checked the time on his watch.

“Stop hiding it. Tell me. She was there, wasn’t she?”

“What difference does it make?” He walked through the eating area, over to the door.

She balanced her weight on her left foot. Her right hip was still sore from a gruelling round of physio that afternoon. “If they’re serious, then this big plan of mine is going to fail epically. What am I supposed to do? Show up at the track and beg him to dump the bitch and choose me instead?”

“I’m pretty sure it won’t last.” He opened the door. “C’mon. We need to get going.”

“The plan? Or those two?”

He cocked an eyebrow.

“How can you be so surenow? You’ve been saying that for weeks.”

“Something about the way he kept brushing her off tonight. He seemed on edge.”

Sounds like everyone was on edge. Must’ve been a helluva supper.

Lucas interrupted her thoughts. “Hey, we can hope for the best.”

“That they break up?”

“That’s the hope. She’s such an evil bitch. Nate had it so much better with you.” He winked. “Now come on, let’s go. I have a plan to put into motion. Timing is crucial.”

Raw fear coursed through her bones. Lucas wore his excitement like a florescent shirt, bright enough for all to see and blinded by. She only wished she could mirror that. The only part of tonight she prepared for was the drive. Everything else was a complete mystery. And that was nothing to get super excited about.

That mystery danced in Lucas’ mischievous expression. “Let’s go,” he said

She followed him out, shaking her foot as she locked the door.

“Why are you limping so much?” he asked.