Page 143 of First in Line

“Talk about a supportive father.”

“Yeah, he’s alright,” he says, walking into the bathroom. I listen as he showers, scrolling through Pinterest. When he returns, he has a towel hanging low on his hips and a toothbrush in his mouth.

“If you want to sleep in tomorrow, I can call a taxi, you know,” he offers, barely understandable.

“No, it’s okay. That way, I’ll beat the traffic and be back in Cañon City early.”

“Smart.”

Once he’s done brushing his teeth, he returns, throws his towel on a chair set in the corner, and joins me in all his naked glory.

When his greedy hands tug me close, I let out an exaggerated gasp. “Mr. Reyes… in your parents’ house?!”

“I bought it for them. I’m allowed.”

I don’t fight him as he peppers a series of kisses along my neck. “Remember how we both skipped our afternoon periods one day so we could finally have sex on a bed while your parents were at work?”

“Of course.”

“So much better than doing it in your car.”

“It was definitely an upgrade.”

“Until your mom came home early,” I recall. “And I had to sneak out your window.”

“I don’t know why we were so worried. I’m pretty sure they knew we were having tons of sex.”

“Gosh, I hope they never realized it wastonsof it.”

“We were teenagers in love with too much freedom. Of course they knew.”

His hand has found its way into my nightgown, and he’s fondling one of my breasts. When he twists a nipple, I hum approvingly.

“When do you think you’ll be back?” I ask, arching my hips into his.

“I’m not sure. I have two races back-to-back. So, after Hungary.”

“I’ll miss you so much,” I pout.

His lips are right by my ear when he whispers, “Then come with me.”

He doesn’t wait for an answer, returning to his feverish kisses. With my leg thrown over his hip and my arm holding onto his shoulders, I allow myself to think about it.

The conversation I had with Cynthia during her birthday has been replaying in my head over and over. She was right. Following Jackson around isn’t about putting his career before mine. It’s about putting him,us, before my job. It’s definitely one of those scenarios where I can’t have my cake and eat it too. I have to decide if I would rather protect the peace I’ve built for myself in Colorado or take a chance on a life with him.

I gave him until the end of the season to prove to me that we could make this work. But it doesn’t have to be his responsibility alone. I, too, can make concessions and help make this new adventure possible.

I owe him that.

His fingers are trying to sneak into my panties when I decide, “Okay.”

He freezes against me, lips on the swell of my breast. “You’re coming back to Europe with me?” he asks, looking into my eyes.

I nod.

“Really?”

Another nod. “Not in Belgium, though. I can’t… I can’t watch you race on that track. And I don’t want to go back there. But I’ll come to Hungary. And then stay for as long as I can.”