Page 138 of Promise

“Family always comes first,” Max said. “You make it your number one priority.”

“What can I do for you?” I ask the kid. “But a better question is, what are you doing with my car?”

I stare at the lean machine, almost afraid to approach her. Max gave me the keys the night of the race, but my only focus had been on chasing Trinity.

“Thought I’d personally deliver her to you. And then ask a favor.” He slips his hands into the back pockets of his jeans, like he’s anxious while excited at the same time.

“What do you need?” I’m not saying yes or no, just curious.

“I was wondering if you could train me.”

I pause, pulling my gaze from the sleek lines on the wide hood of the Chevy. “Train you?”

“Yeah.” He’s still sheepish. “How’d you like my race the other night?”

The kid Max wanted me to watch. Number eleven.

I scratch at the back of my neck. “Sorry, kid, but I didn’t end up staying for the race. I had a family emergency.”

“Oh.” His face falls. He only has a speckling of scruff on his jaw. He looks so young. A guy in his twenties with dreams.

“Everything okay? With your family?” He nods toward the porch, and I see Trinity standing on it, holding Mirabelle on her hip.

At six months, our baby girl is healthy and lively, showing us every day even more of her individual personality.

I give Trin a reassuring smile before turning back to him. “It’s perfect.”

My girls are the most important people in my life.

“So, Max sent you here to ask me to train you.” I pause a beat. “Do you need training?”

He shrugs, squinting in the morning sunlight. “I guess so. He said you were local but a legend.”

I choke out a chuckle. Good old Max, always embellishing the truth. “I don’t know about legend.”

“He said you hit the circuit at forty. A midlife crisis redemption story.”

My face falls. “Well, that makes me sound like shit more than a hero.”

He laughs. “Yeah, well, I don’t want to wait until I’m forty.” There’s a quiet confidence to him. A little cocky as one is in their twenties.

I get it. I totally get it. And I appreciate his candor. He has a goal and wants to act on it. He’s already smarter than me.

Then I check myself. We each take our own path, setting our own pace. Some race to the finish line, like Trin, knowing at a young age who she wanted to be. Some of us need more time. Either way, it’s okay to change course. Adjust the speed with which we achieve our dreams and complete our goals.

“What would training you look like?” I hadn’t ever considered being part of a crew. My position was always behind the wheel. But that didn’t mean I couldn’t teach this kid a thing or two.

“Watch me race. Maybe give me some pointers.”

“Play Doc Hudson to your Lightning McQueen?”

He stares at me. He can’t be so young that he hasn’t ever heard of Disney’s Cars, right?

“Sure,” he eventually says, appeasing me.

I glance back at Trin. “I’d have to think about it.”

When I look back at Ryder, he’s looking at Trinity and the baby. “Sure. I get it.”