Page 81 of Boss and Brat

Carter couldn’t help it—he laughed. “Yeah, I saw it. You were damn incredible.”

And as Ethan beamed at him, dirt on his cheeks, eyes shining,

They were both starving by the time they peeled off their gear. The adrenaline had worn off, leaving that good kind of exhaustion—the kind that settled deep in the muscles and made everything feel earned.

The park had a little food stand near the entrance, nothing fancy—burgers, fries, cold sodas. Carter ordered for both ofthem because Ethan still looked too buzzed from winning to form full sentences.

They sat at a picnic table under a crooked umbrella. Ethan tore into his burger as if he hadn’t eaten in days, eyes bright, cheeks still flushed from the race.

Carter watched him for a second, unable to help the small smile tugging at his mouth. The kid looked… happy. Really happy. The kind of happy that made Carter’s chest feel too tight.

“You wanna come back next month?” Carter asked, taking a sip of his soda. “They run another amateur heat around the same time.”

Ethan looked up so fast he nearly dropped his fries. “Yes. Absolutely. I mean—yeah, that’d be awesome.”

Carter chuckled. “You look like you’re trying not to smile.”

“I’m not,” Ethan said, smiling anyway. “I just… I didn’t think I’d ever get to do something like this again.”

Carter felt that hit him somewhere deep. “Well, you can. And you will.”

Ethan ducked his head, but the grin stayed.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

They finished eating, tossed their trash, and headed back to the truck. The sun was starting to dip, painting the sky in soft oranges and pinks. It’d be a long drive back—two hours of open road and quiet stretches of farmland—but Carter didn’t mind. He liked the drive. Liked the company even more.

Ethan climbed in, still buzzing with leftover energy. “I can’t believe I won.”

“I can,” Carter said, starting the engine. “You’re damn good.”

Ethan beamed, and Carter had to look away before he stared too long.

They pulled out of the park and onto the main road. The music from the track faded behind them, replaced by the hum of the engine and the soft thump of tires on asphalt.

After a few minutes, Ethan asked, “What’s tomorrow look like? Work-wise?”

Carter rubbed his trimmed beard. “Gotta take my truck into town. Pick up supplies, hay, some feed. It’ll take a few hours.”

Ethan nodded. “You want me to come?”

Carter shook his head. “Nah. I need you on the ranch. Plenty to do. And…” He paused, choosing his words carefully. “I’m trusting you to stay clear of trouble while I’m gone.”

Ethan’s brows lifted. “Trouble? Me?”

Carter shot him a look. “Don’t play innocent. You attract chaos like a damn magnet.”

Ethan laughed, leaning back in his seat. “I’ll behave. Promise.”

Carter hoped so. Because the truth was, leaving Ethan alone—even for a few hours—made something uneasy twist in his gut. Not because he didn’t trust the kid’s intentions. But because the world hadn’t exactly been kind to him. And Carter wasn’t used to caring this much about someone’s safety.

He glanced over at Ethan, who was watching the passing fields with a soft, content expression.

Yeah. He cared. More than he should.

The road stretched ahead of them, long and quiet, the sky fading into dusk. Carter didn’t mind the drive home. Not with Ethan beside him, humming along to the radio, dirt still smudged on his cheek, victory still glowing in his eyes.

The sun had dipped low by the time they pulled up to the cabin. Carter killed the engine, but something in his gut tightened the second he stepped out. The air felt… wrong. Too still. Too quiet. Like the woods were holding their breath.