Clutch by Tess Oliver

Author:Tess Oliver [Oliver, Tess]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2013-11-04T23:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 15

Clutch

I downed the water bottle in one long series of gulps. “You could have bought me the bigger size, Cheapskate. It’s hot tonight, and there’s no breeze at all.”

Barrett had been uncharacteristically silent while he waited with me for my race. He looked around a few times as if he was worried about running into someone.

“Who are you looking for?” And then it dawned on me. “Shit, Rett, did you hit on some guy’s girlfriend out here? One of these days you’re going to pick up on the wrong girl and—”

“Stop, jeez, sometimes you drone on like Dad used to whenever I failed a test. And I didn’t hit on any girls, at least none that were attached to someone.”

I walked around to inspect the tires for a second time just to be sure. I’d felt off all night as if I shouldn’t race. I’d managed to laugh off the feeling until now, yet somehow, Barrett’s nervous demeanor had made me feeling even less confident. But the Chevelle had been running tight, and there weren’t that many serious, hardcore racers in the mix tonight. Once again, I pushed the uneasiness down into my gut. It was the last thing I needed and the surest way for things to go awry.

Rowdy, the event organizer, walked over. “You’re up next. You’re going up against Stanton in the Nova.”

I nodded and Rowdy walked away.

“Is that good or bad?’ Barrett asked.

“I like the car but hate the driver. He’s a blowhard, but it’s not like we’re going out on a date.” I rubbed a tingling sensation out of the back of my neck.

“What’s wrong? You don’t seem that thrilled to be here tonight.”

“Yeah, I guess I’m not in the mood to race tonight. I should have just stayed home, but too late now.”

Barrett leaned against the side of the car and checked his phone.

“Expecting someone?” I asked.

His face shot up, and he nearly dropped his phone. “No. Why?”

“Hell, you’re as skittish as a rabbit in a wolf’s den tonight. I thought you mentioned something about Gus coming, that’s all.”

He put away the phone. “Nope. Not expectin’ anyone.”

Rowdy waved which was my cue to head to the staging area. I rolled down the window. “See you at the finish line, Rett.”

I rolled into the staging area and gave the dashboard a hearty pat for luck. The motor rumbled beneath me like a gigantic purring cat, and my earlier apprehension had vanished. “Here we go, Sweetheart. Let’s win this again.”

The seventy Nova reached the staging area too. The tires were watered, and the smell of burning rubber filled the air. I stared at the lights on the tree, and the familiar rush of adrenaline coursed through me. Then something caught my eye. It was just a flicker of movement in a sea of people, but my gaze was drawn to it like a magnet. Taylor was standing in the crowd with Barrett’s friend.

Tires screeched. The light had gone green, and I’d missed it. Without thinking, I overcompensated by slamming my foot treacherously hard on the pedal.

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