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The hallway creaked and approaching footsteps made us both look over toward Ash’s bedroom door. Shelby appeared in wrinkled pajamas, fists on her hips. “You were supposed to wake me up, a-holes!”
“We were just about to,” I said, looking toward Ash. “Weren’t we?”
“Yep.” He grinned and ran a hand down his mouth.
Shelby shook her head. “I’ll just pretend you’re totally not cuddled up right now, looking like you have no intention of getting me.” She walked to the middle of the room and sat on the floor, sinking her chin into her hands. “Okay, tell me everything. What goes on in the pits when no spectators are there? Any celebrity racing gossip yet?”
“I gotta pee,” Ash said, rising to his feet. “But then I’ll tell you everything, Shell. Be warned though—there’s really not much to tell.”
Shelby was quick to grab my hand once Ash slipped into the hallway. “My brother is totally in love with you.”
I flinched, even as her words sent a chill through my heart. “We’ve been dating a month. He doesn’t love me.”
Her shoulders lifted. “He doesn’t not love you.”
“Keep it down!” I whisper-yelled, my eyes going wide. “He can’t hear you say that or he’ll—”
“He’ll what?” she said, punching my knee. “Love you more? Please, he’s not going to care. My freaky twin connection is telling me all I need to know. My brother loves you. You’re going to be together forever and have little perfect babies who are great on a dirt bike and have your little pointy nose.”
“Tell me more about the freaky twin connection,” I said, leaning forward but keeping my eyes on the door.
She shook her head. “It’s hard to explain it, but I know it when I feel it. Ash has dated a few other girls, but he never had feelings for them, not really. Things are different with you.”
I brought Ash’s blanket up to my knees, pressing my lips into it to hide the sheer giddy excitement that I was certain was painted all over my face. “I hope you’re right. I like him a lot.”
She leaned back and crossed her arms over her chest. “Trust me, Hana. I’m right. You’re going to be a part of this family for a long time.”
Chapter 4
I wake up to the stench of freshly-brewed coffee and the trill of Molly’s laughter. I glance over to my window and notice that it is, in fact, the butt-crack of dawn, like I had assumed. On a Saturday.
Shit!
I throw off my comforter and check the time on my phone: six-ten. With a groan, I drop the phone back on my nightstand, pretending I don’t care that I have no messages or social media notifications, and rush into my bathroom to get ready.
Since I’m finally home for the summer, I’d promised my step-mom that I’d be the one to take breakfast to the track this morning. I was supposed to be downstairs ten minutes ago. I jump into a pair of jean shorts and tug on a Mixon Motocross Park shirt—the kind they sell to fans, not the stupid purple polos—and grab my running shoes before bolting out of my bedroom.
“Molly, I’ll be down in a second!” I call out as I do the dance of trying to put on my shoes while walking down the stairs at the same time. Probably not a smart move, but I hate letting people down. I need to get down there immediately.
Molly leans against the kitchen counter, her eyes crinkled in laughter as she talks on the phone. She gives me a little wave when I walk in. Either she expected me to be late and be a huge disappointment, or the person on the phone is too exciting for her to care.
I point to the basket of foil-wrapped breakfast burritos on the counter and lift my eyebrows as if to ask permission to take them now. She shakes her head and holds up a finger. “Mags, I need to go. Oh, totally . . . yeah we’ll talk later. Love you!” She sets her phone on the counter and ever the forgiving, kind woman she is, she doesn’t complain that I’m late. “You still like extra cheese and no onions, right?”
“You know it,” I say, scanning the basket for the burrito with my name on it. Ugh, I love being home. The food is so much better than college food. “I think my Freshman Fifteen went the opposite way. I’m going to gain more weight being home with you instead of at college.”
“Not if Jim has his way,” Molly says. “He’s short staffed and will be working you like crazy. I’ll do my best to keep you fed, though.”
Working like crazy used to make me shudder, but I could use the distraction from my aching heart. “Thanks. Do they need anything else before I go?”
She shakes her head but then her lips slide to the side of her mouth and she leans toward me, as if sharing a secret. “Your father might throw a fit up there, but try to tell him it’s for his own good.”
I lift an eyebrow and she lifts her shoulders. “I made the burritos with whole wheat tortillas and turkey sausage. I’ve been saying I’m going to start cooking healthier, and he keeps refusing to eat them, but he’s just going to have to make some changes.”
“Turkey sausage?” My once loving gaze at the basket of delicious burritos turns into a grimace. “Are you trying to torture us?”
She chuckles. “Yours and the boys’ are normal sausage. Jim needs to pay attention to his cholesterol. His doctor has been complaining for a while now, so I’m making his food a little healthier. Just tell him to suck it up and eat it, okay?”
My lip curls. “Okay, but if he tries to murder me, I’m telling him I had no idea you switched out his food.”
