AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Welcome home, peanut.”
Without hesitation, I wrap my arms around his thick chest and hug the shit out of him.
Mending my relationship with Dad is another reason why I came home to Fallen Brook. Too much has been taken from me, and it’s past damn time I take it all back.
“Something smells really good,” I comment when we pull apart.
His cheeks heat, and he fidgets with the hand towel, twisting it into corkscrews.
Stepping out of the way so Adeleine and I can come inside, he replies, “I, um… I made supper. I hope you’re hungry.”
“Starving.”
As soon as my foot steps over the threshold, a tidal wave of emotion crashes into me. I’m really home.
“Anything in the car you’d like for me to bring in?”
He silently waits while I take a look around, noting the changes he’s made. New paint adorns the walls, a muted sea green with gray undertones that reminds me of the color of the Atlantic Ocean on a rainy day and good memories. Every year after school let out for the summer, Mom and Dad would take me and Parker to Topsail Beach for a week-long family vacation. My favorite days while there were the ones where we’d play on the beach when it rained. Thunderstorms were even better. We weren’t crazy enough to go out in those, but we’d sit under the stilted breezeway and watch the lightning as it streaked across the sky and hit the water’s surface.
“Just a couple of suitcases. I’ll bring them in later. Let me go wash up.”
The car journey from CU takes only two hours, but I’d like to change into something more comfortable. Unless Dad boxed and stored my old clothes, there should still be something in my dresser drawers for me to wear.
As if reading my mind, Dad says, “Your room is how you left it. I’ll go get the food plated. Eat outside on the back deck?”
Popping on tiptoe because he’s so tall, I kiss his gruff cheek. “That sounds lovely. Thanks, Dad.”
He blushes again and heads toward the kitchen.
Adeleine’s arm wraps around my shoulders. “He may not be able to say it, but he’s missed you.”
After we graduated high school, Adeleine stayed in Fallen Brook. She attended community college to get her associate degree in nursing while also working part-time as a receptionist at Dad’s private practice. Once she became a practicing registered nurse, Dad moved her from receptionist to full-time staff. Adeleine has been keeping an eye on him while I was away at CU, something I’ll never be able to thank her enough for.
I drop my head on her shoulder. “I’ve missed him, too. Come help me find something to wear.” Grabbing her arm, I pull her down the hallway toward my bedroom. If I’m going to see Tate again tonight, it’s going to be with me wearing something sexy and tight and a little slutty.
FOUR
TATE
When I turn onto the dirt road that leads to The Fields, I’m not surprised by how many cars are already parked along the sides of the road. With Knox racing tonight, there’s sure to be a large crowd from Fallen Brook and Highland, the town adjacent to Fallen Brook where Knox is from.
The Fields is a local dirt track where every kid or adult in town with a fast car or a dirt bike comes to race. Friday night races have been a staple in the community for as long as I can remember. Ryder grew up racing here. So did Knox, Parker, Pax, and me. So many good memories are tied up in this place.
It takes me several minutes to find a space to park my truck. When I hop out, I can feel the charge in the evening air. The excitement from the gathered crowd surrounding the illuminated track. The rev of engines rumbles and shakes the ground beneath my feet, adding another layer to the anticipation of the races to come.
“Yo, Tate!”
I turn my head at hearing my name called and lift a hand when I see Knox. He hasn’t been around the garage much lately, and this is the first I’ve seen him in two weeks. He’s been training non-stop and will head out to Pala, California, next week to compete at Fox Raceway for the first leg of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship.
“Hey, man,” I say when I reach him where he’s standing next to the long trailer that his KTM bike is strapped to.
We do our usual back-slap hug in greeting.
“Ry mentioned you’d be coming. Glad you’re here, brother.”
“Glad I came,” I reply, meaning it.
After clocking out at work, I went to see Parker. His dad must have visited before I arrived because there were fresh, if wilted, flowers set in front of his gravestone. Dr. Marley and I are usually passing ships in the night because of our busy schedules. I try to drop by at least once a month to check on him and help with anything that needs done around the house.
