“We should hit up a movie this weekend and be miserable together.”
I laugh. “Sounds like a good idea. If I ever get off babysitting duty, I’ll call you.”
He nods, then opens up the wallet he’d set on the counter. “It’s ten bucks on Fridays, right?”
I wave my hand at him. “Today’s ride is on the house. Go ride until you’re not as sad anymore.”
He grins. “Thanks, Key.”
“Aww man, did I miss D’andre?” Jett asks a few minutes later. His sudden voice startles me since he’d came up from the back hallway and not the front door where I’m facing.
I turn around and see him staring out the window to where D’andre is driving his truck toward the back part of the track.
“Yep,” I say, throwing my arms around Jett’s strong torso. “And I forbid you to go chase him down and talk.”
“Why’s that?” he asks with a chuckle.
I press my cheek to his chest, inhaling the scent of his cologne. I’m immediately jealous that anyone on the plane sitting next to him will get to smell the same scent. “Because I want to stay right here holding you until your Uber gets here.”
His hands slide down my back until his fingers slip into my back pockets. “Sounds like a plan. I’d rather cuddle with you than D’andre anyhow.”
We have to break apart a minute later when another customer arrives. I check him in and then as soon as he leaves, I turn back to Jett, finding him sitting on the stool behind the computer, a dejected look on his face.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
He lifts his shoulders. “I’m not feeling too confident about this race. I got like, zero practice this week.” He shakes his head, his neck muscles tight. “I’m just worried about it.”
“Well, you won the first three races so you’re allowed to not win this one. You’ll still be better ranked than the other guys.”
His tongue slides around the inside of his cheek and he stares off at nothing instead of looking at me. “I know it won’t technically matter, but I have this—like,dream—of having a total winning streak for this series. I’d be the first rookie to do it. With something like that under my belt, I’d be open to even better sponsorships and opportunities next year. I could finally be the guy the articles brag about.”
I give him a look. “Babe, you’re already bragged about in magazine articles.”
He shakes his head. “No, I’m always the subject of articles called ‘Is this the new rising star of motocross?’ or ‘Jett Adams is the Rookie to Look Out For’.”
He rolls his eyes. “I want an article called, ‘Jett Adams is the Best Racer of the Year.’ No speculation, no watch lists. Just a definite, real, truth to it.”
I lean forward and wrap my arms around him, pulling him against my chest. He makes this pleased noise when his face presses against my boobs, and I laugh. “Baby, you are the best. Think of how many guys would kill to have any article written about them! You’ve got tons of people talking about you, and it’s all good stuff.”
He sighs. “I know you’re right. But that doesn’t stop me from worrying about this stupid race.”
“So don’t worry about it,” I say, running my hand through his dark hair. “Just take life as it comes and see what happens.”
His lips quirk up in the corners. “I love you.”
“I love you more.”
He shakes his head. “No possible way.”
We kiss and I hold onto the moment for as long as I can, but soon his phone beeps.
“My car is here,” he says, frowning just before he kisses me on the nose. “I’ll miss the hell out of you.”
“I’ll miss the hell out of youmore,” I say with a teasing grin as I walk him to the door where a red Ford Escape is waiting for him. We get one more kiss and one lingering hug, and then he’s gone again.
Later, when The Track is finally closed and I’ve given Elijah a bath so Mom can relax a bit, I dress my little brother in the cutest onesie ever. It’s blue and slightly fuzzy, and has monster eyes all over it, making him look like a monster baby. Very, very cute. I kiss his head, which smells like baby powder, and sit in the rocking chair in his nursery, holding him tightly swaddled up in a blanket while I rock him to sleep.
Elijah’s bedroom is like a child’s dream come true. My parents had it designed with this huge built in fake tree. The branches rise up the walls and to the ceiling where it’s covered with silk leaves and little fake birds and animals. The main trunk of the tree is in the corner of the room, with a hole at the bottom where you can crawl inside and have your own playhouse. When Elijah gets older, he’s going to absolutely love it. I can already imagine the books I’ll read to him while we’re inside that tree with little Christmas lights strung up for ambiance. His life is going to be an absolute dream.
