Page 127 of Promise

And just hearing Max’s name accelerated my heart rate.

Met a guy named Max Larsen tonight. He works for a race team named Velocity.

That Max Larsen guy I told you about . . . he thinks I have potential as a driver.

Trin, what would you think about moving to Florida? Getting a fresh start?

I want to be a racecar driver. Come with me.

This time, I didn’t want to tell him no. He wasn’t asking me to move or give up my life, he simply wanted a date night . . . at the track.

I was even a little excited to see what he loved so much. See the enthusiasm on his face.

But so much happened at once.

Meeting Max and the drop of those damn keys into Dart’s hands. That Jumbotron welcoming him. The fans seeking photographs and autographs.

I was so damn proud of him, so thankful for getting a glimpse of his world, but I was still conflicted inside.

Dart’s overall excitement was so much more than I expected.

And I could never ask him to give that up. To give up something he loved so much. That made him feel so special.

He missed it. His quiet yeah haunted me.

As we drove to the event, Dart was silent at first, but then he grew more vocal, sharing race stories and shenanigans from the circuit. Not like I hadn’t heard tales before, but this was different. His animation grew with every mile, and I wanted to be just as enthusiastic for him, but I couldn’t seem to settle the unease in my gut.

Was he happy at home? Was he happy with us? Was he happy with Mirabelle?

Dart revved my engine, but was revving enough?

When we pulled into that lot, cold shivers of dread chilled me.

An intuition that something lingered around the bend of the dark road ahead.

Dart’s love for the sport.

Dart missing it.

I had to set him free. I couldn’t take any of that away from him, that sense of purpose he felt, he deserved.

I wanted him to fly through life, like I said. Not just float.

I shouldn’t have left like I did, but I also couldn’t sit there and watch the race. Watch the expression on Dart’s face shift between love for a sport and the pain of losing it.

I had no doubt Dart loved me. Loved Mirabelle.

But I knew who I was. I’m a nurse, a mother, a homemaker. Those things bring me joy.

I couldn’t take from Dart something that brought him so much pleasure.

After a quick text to Dart, once the ride share picked me up, I return home. The ride was long, time added because I initially had to wait. The canyon wasn’t exactly on the edge of a town.

Mirabelle was with Mom, and I should have gone to collect her, but I needed more time alone.

I’d walked away from Dart.

I’d severed my own heart to let his be free.