Page 66 of That Summer
Nate cocked an eyebrow at him.
“You know what I think you should do?”
Nate shook his head. The retirement weighed on him, adding years to his expression.
Lucas felt sorry for him.
How to keep his heart in tonight’s race? Because it’s not over, it just seems that way.
The lightbulb went off. “I think you should go out tonight and race for these people. Give them their monies worth and go out a winner. Make that ridiculous incident from two weeks ago seem like it never happened.”
He gave his big brother a squeeze.
God, that was a friggin’ embarrassment.
“Go out there and show the people what they want to see. Some hard core racing.” With a gentle kick to the car, he continued, “Give ‘em hell, but not too much, you just got the beast back together.”
A secret he’d kept from Aurora. She’d be devastated if she knew Nate had been in aminorpileup last weekend.
“Have you seen Mom? I wanted to let her know I’m going up to watch from the stands.”
“Really?” Nate threw a towel on top the toolbox. “Kind of odd.”
“Nah. You don’t need me down here tonight. The beast is perfect. You’re gonna kick ass and tonight will be a night you won’t soon forget.” Pride radiated from him.
Nate slumped against his car. “You’re telling me.”
He patted him on the arm. “I can promise you, it’ll be great. I’m off to find Mom.”
By the time the moon rose, Nate’s class of cars were readying. Aurora twisted in her seat, drumming her fingers on her lap.
“You’re doing great.” Lucas wrapped an arm over her shoulders. “You’ve managed fantastically so far. You should be proud of yourself.” He gave her a comforting squeeze and caught himself when he lingered a bit too long. Tonight was for her. For Nate. “Don’t watch if you don’t want to.”
“I think it’s important that I do,” she said.
It took amazing restraint on his part to not lean back and simply stare at her. Her concern made her nail picking endearing. The way she nibbled on her bottom lip made her cute. The way she fought her demons to make it to the track and win the man of her dreams was what made her beautiful.
Nate’s a lucky guy.
Nate drove well. Fantastically well. At this rate, he really would go out a winner. Baring an incident like the one a couple of weeks ago, a podium spot would be his.
“I thought you said Nate’s heart wasn’t in it?” She nudged Lucas, a nervous smile edged the corners of her lips.
“Maybe he changed his mind for his final race. You know, go out a winner and all?”
Leaning back, he was torn between watching the race and watching her. Each lap, she inched forward, threatening to fall off if the race lasted much longer. Her focus seemed to glued to the board, but shifted slowly onto the cars; her head following the circular movement of the track.
Marissa clipped the second place holder, causing her to spin out, and narrowly avoided the racer.
Aurora gasped, and he rested his hand on hers. It was cool to the touch, and she trembled beneath his grasp.
The caution flag dropped, and the race slowed to a crawl.
He snuggled closer. “It’s all good. Remember, we watched all those videos?”
“Uh huh,” she said, unable to remove her focus off Nate’s car.
His heart skipped a beat. Not for any reason other than he knew the end was near. His time with Aurora finished. The race would be over in seven short laps. A podium spot was guaranteed for Nate. Along with the trophy, Aurora would be his too. Too bad that after the race, he’d go back to just being the little brother.