by J. L. Wyer
“No kidding. That car is awesome. Want to give it a spin?”
“You serious?”
“You’re the only one I would trust with it.”
“Well, then heck yeah. When and where?” I’m one of the first drivers up tonight to race so don’t have time for a test drive. I’m also not stupid enough to take an almost one-million-dollar car out on a dirt track in the middle of a field.
Fallon twirls his keys around his index finger and slips them in his front jeans pocket. “I’ll set something up for this weekend.”
“Sounds good."
“So,” — he leans lazily against my car as I continue to look at my engine under the hood — “you’re up against Marshall tonight.”
My head jerks up and I almost smack it against the underside of the hood. “What idiot set that up?”
Fallon takes out what looks like a joint and then puts it back in his pocket when he sees Elijah’s dad. “Me. Why? You worried?”
“No. I can drive circles around that douchebag with my eyes closed.”
And I can’t really complain about it. Fallon did get Marshall to back off and not press charges against Jay after the fight. Or the fact that Fallon was able to get the video taken down so quickly and made Marshall quit the Highland High soccer team. And Fallon made sure that Jacinda stayed away from Elizabeth. A lot of people think Fallon is a rich, spoiled a-hole who only cares about himself. I know better. That's why we're friends.
“That’s what I figured.” He chuckles. Fallon tilts his head and stares at Elizabeth. She’s still watching us and she cocks her head to the side imitating Fallon and stares right back.
I frown at him. “You keep staring at Elizabeth, you and I are going to have a problem.”
“She’s a fascination, is all. Hot, too.”
“Fallon,” I warn, my voice low and serious.
“Chill out, Ry. I know she’s hands off.” He slaps me on the back and walks off. “You’re up in ten, my man.”
I close the hood of my car. Fallon stops in front of Elizabeth and leans in to whisper something in her ear. I see her tense up and then he walks off whistling.
She and I meet halfway. “Want to tell me what that was all about?”
“That was Fallon just being Fallon. Is it time?”
“Looks like it.”
She wishes me good luck and walks away to Jayson and Julien.
Elizabeth
I don’t think my nerves can take it. Why is Ryder racing against Marshall? Julien is just as confounded as I am. Jayson, doesn't seem to care. I watch as Ryder drives his car up to the start line, Marshall coming up next to him in his Mustang. I’m chewing my nails down as I watch. Julien grabs my hand and holds it to help calm my jitters. Fallon already has me worked up with his “secret for a secret” nonsense again that he whispered to me earlier. I refuse, however, to let Fallon know he intimidates me. He stares and I stare right back.
Fallon walks out on the track but doesn’t do his usual performance of pumping up the crowd to announce the start of the race. Instead, he stands in front of the cars. He lifts his arms up and the engines rev loudly like rolling thunder. He aims a finger at Ryder. "Ready!" He repeats the same pose using his opposite hand toward Marshall. “Get set.” I can see Ryder’s left hand clenching the steering wheel, amber eyes hard and focused. Fallon throws both arms down. “Go!”
Dirt flies up as the tires of both cars spin and then they are off like rockets. It’s a two-lap race and I am jumping up and down, holding on to Julien’s hand, hollering to Ryder to go faster. I watch as Marshall clips the back end of Ryder’s Dodge at the driver’s side back corner, denting and scraping it. I may have screamed when Ryder spins out into a 180, but he recovers quickly and catches back up to Marshall.
Ryder goes wide to pass him on the straightaway, but Marshall tries to sideswipe him. That dirty cheat. I’m shouting and so livid with anger at the crap Marshall is pulling. He could seriously hurt Ryder, crash his car, or worse. What would I do if anything happened to Ryder? The only thought tunneling into my brain is I can’t lose him. As Ryder flies past the finish line well ahead of Marshall, all I see is red.
I don’t remember running out to the track. I don’t hear Jayson or Julien calling my name. I don’t hear Ryder yelling at me as he gets out of his car. I don’t remember much of anything until I am at Marshall’s car when he gets out.
“You son of a bitch!” I shout at him, pulling back my clenched fist and punching him in the face. The sound of a crunch like when someone snaps a piece of celery in half is audible above all the noise of the crowd, but I have no clue if it belongs to him or me because, holy smokes, that hurt.
I yelp, shaking my hand out as Marshall yells, “Are you crazy?” while cupping his nose, blood dripping between his fingers. Did I break his nose? Part of me is really impressed at myself. Then my eyes widen in fear as Marshall lunges for me. To my downright shock, Fallon is the person who jumps between us and pushes Marshall away from me.
“You do not touch her or I end you for good this time,” Fallon threatens him.
I’m yanked backward by several pairs of strong arms. “Jesus, Liz,” Jayson pants, breathing hard. He folds me into his body and holds me tight, hand gripping the back of my head. Julien takes my injured hand to inspect it. My knuckles are already swollen and bruised but I don’t care. I would break every bone in my hand and do it all again.
Julien releases his hold on me and wraps around me from behind, so I’m now sandwiched between him and Jayson. “Why did you do that, Liz? What the were you thinking?” Jayson asks me, clearly upset.
I don’t answer. My anger is too vibrant right now and I know I need to calm down before I do something else crazy like attack Marshall again. The urge to do so is very strong. I want to give him two black eyes to go with his bloody nose.
I hear Ryder angrily threaten Marshall. “You come anywhere near her again and I will pound you into the ground."
Elijah’s dad and the other deputy sheriff who are here tonight make their way over to our chaos to figure out what’s going on.
“Everything okay here?” Elijah’s dad asks me, Jayson, and Julien, then looks at Ryder, Fallon, and Marshall.
No one says a word other than yes, everything’s fine. We know to keep our mouths shut. If the adults and parents in town think fights and trouble are happening at the Fields, they may shut it down, and that’s something we will not allow to happen. This place means too much to all of us.
“That’s what I thought you’d all say.” He looks at me. “Do you need medical attention?” I shake my head no. He then looks to Marshall. “What about you, Son. Looks like you broke your nose.”
“No. I’m good. I’m leaving anyway.” Fallon shoves Marshall back into the car.
“Alright, then. I think that’s enough excitement for tonight kids. Pack up and head home. Races are over for the evening.” The crowd groans and mumbles but everyone turns around and heads to their vehicles to leave. “I’ve got an ice pack in the first aid kit of my car. Elijah will bring it,” Elijah’s dad says to me.
“Got a mean right hook, kitten,” Fallon remarks as he walks by. Ryder grabs ahold of his arm and stops him.
“Did you know he was going to pull that stuff tonight?”
“No. But I can promise you, Marshall will pay for it. He’s used up all his good graces with me. Send me a bill for how much the cost is for the damages to your Hellcat.” Ryder nods agreement and lets go of Fallon's arm.
Jayson eases up his hold on me and I start to shake from the adrenaline crash. “Liz, let’s get you home and get that hand looked at. Julien, can you grab the blanket from the back of my truck and bring it for Liz?”
“Yep. Be right back.” Julien kisses my temple and leaves to get the blanket.
Elijah jogs over holding the ice pack from his dad’s car. “That was the most awesome thing I have ever seen. You are such a badass, Liz.”
Jayson responds to that in exasperati
on. “If I wasn’t so mad at you right now for taking thirty years off my life by scaring the shit out of me, I would agree.”
I lift my head up to peer up at Jayson. “I don’t regret it one bit. He tried to hurt Ryder.”
Ryder interjects, “Elizabeth, I’d rather he hurt me than you. If Fallon hadn’t been there, Marshall would have hit you.”
I turn around in Jayson’s arms and step away from him. As I near Ryder, I jump up and hug his neck. “No one will ever hurt you or take you from me. Ever,” I tell him vehemently before releasing him and grabbing hold of Jayson’s outstretched hand to make the walk back to his truck and head home.
Chapter 23
Present Day
Jayson
You ever think to yourself after you’ve experienced one of the most hellacious days of your life, “I wish I could go back in time and have a redo?” How can your morning start out so normal but the day end in the worst nightmare imaginable? If I knew today would be that day, the one that forever alters your reality and scars you in a way that you know you will never recover from, the one that shreds every part of you into jagged, fragmented pieces and then burns them to ashes, I would never have left Liz’s bed this morning. I would have held her tight, kissed her long and hard, and told her that I loved her over and over again.
So that’s how my morning starts — a slice of normal. I reluctantly leave Liz's bedroom through her window so she can get ready for school. I know she’s excited about her upcoming music competition, but I'll be glad when it’s over with. I hate her early morning practice days because it means I don't get to see her until first period. I love waking up next to her. I don't think I'll ever get tired of waking up to her gorgeous smiling face, her soft kissable lips, her light green eyes I willingly fall deeply into.
I was serious when I told her about wanting us to move into an apartment together when we go off to college. I only have to wait a little over a year before we graduate and then, if things go as I have planned, we'll all be at CU. I'll have us moved into an apartment off campus as soon as we get there, which benefits me because I’ll get to wake up to her every morning and fall asleep with her every night. I love Liz so much. I know she loves me too, and am sure all the plans I'm making for us will be her dreams as well.
Before I head back home to get ready for school, I clean and bandage Liz’s injured hand. As upset as I still am with what she did, I can't help but be impressed with the way she sucker-punched Marshall last night. It was a beautiful sight to behold. Pride swells in me at my fierce princess before it turns to fear. Marshall went after her in retaliation and I wasn’t close enough to stop it. Thank God for Fallon — words I never thought would ever leave my mouth.
On the way to school, Julien, Ryder, and I stop at Ruby’s for breakfast and I make sure to get Liz’s favorite coffee and scone to bring with me. I have a smile on my face knowing I’m going to see my girl soon. Even a minute away from her is too long. After we get to first period, my smile falls when Liz sees a text from Jacinda on Julien's phone meant for me. Jacinda is manipulative and thrives on causing trouble. Why she would think I would want her to text me or send me pictures of herself boggles my mind. I have zero interest in her and wish she would leave me and Liz alone.
Then Ryder has to open his big mouth about what went down at the bonfire and of course, nosy Darrel has to turn around and confirm it. Ryder warned me to tell Liz what happened, but I was a cocky enough to think I could protect her by keeping it from her. On top of all that, for some unknown reason, Hailey skips out of school and Liz is worried about her.
Now, I'm sitting in the library waiting for Liz to get off of work. I decided to stick around and use one of the library’s study rooms to finish up my homework while I wait for Liz to get off at six. I text Julien to let him know I wouldn’t be home until seven since I plan to take Liz to dinner when she clocks out. Ryder’s at the garage working on getting out the dents and scratches Marshall put on his Challenger during last night’s race. I really can't stand Marshall. Great, now I’m angry again.
“I hope I’m not the reason for that scowl.” Liz is propped against the door of the study room, purse hanging from her hand, looking like the most beautiful girl ever to exist on this planet. She slays my heart just looking at her. Every. Single. Time.
My scowl turns to one of perplexity. I look at my watch. “It’s only five. Are you on break?”
She pulls away from the door and walks to where I’m sitting at the large circular table. “Nope. They’re letting me off early today.”
When she gets close enough, I pull her in between my bent legs because, once again, my hands can’t stop touching her. I take my time rubbing my hands up and down her back and then curve around to wrap around her waist.
“You know we need to talk about the text and what happened at the party, right?” she says.
“There are better things we can talk about. Or not talk at all.” I tug her closer and she places her hands on my shoulders looking down at me in the chair.
“Jayson,” her voice is soft but commanding.
I sigh and lean my forehead to press against her flat stomach. “I know.”
I stand up and spin us so she’s sitting on top of the table. Grasping the back of her neck, I angle her face so I can trail a line of kisses up her neck to her ear.
“No necking in the library,” a voice calls from outside the room. We turn to see Mrs. Peters walking by the window.
“Yes, ma’am,” Liz giggles. I grab Liz’s bag and take her hand. “How about we head on home and I cook you dinner while we talk.”
Liz’s eyes brighten. “You had me at cook dinner. Let’s go.”
Fifteen minutes later, we’re back at my house and parked on the driveway. My parent’s cars are not here,but I see Elijah’s. Once we step up onto the porch, I tell Liz I’m going upstairs to change and will meet her in the kitchen. I don’t see Jules or Elijah in the living room so they’re either upstairs or out back. I’ve already stripped my shirt off by the time I get to the bedroom door which is closed. I hear Julien’s voice as I open the door and freeze.
“What. The. F—!”
Elizabeth
I’m taking two sodas from the fridge when I hear Jayson’s booming, angry voice, so loud it makes me jump and drop one of the sodas. The can explodes on impact spraying my legs and feet.
I go to grab the paper towels to clean up the mess when I hear Julien say, “It’s not what you think Jay. Let me explain.” Oh, no!
I run as fast as I can up the stairs to see Jayson’s rigid body blocking the doorway.
“Elijah, get out of my house right now!”
“No, Elijah,” Julien replies back. “Stay where you are. We’re not hiding this anymore. He needs to know.”
I reach Jayson and grab his arm. “Jayson, please. Calm down. Just sit and listen to Julien. Please.”
If I thought I saw Jayson angry before when he was beating on Marshall at Fallon’s party, this is much worse. And it’s directed at me. “You knew about this?” his voice is cold, hard.
I swallow convulsively wanting to tread lightly with how I answer his question. The truth is the only option I have. “Yes,” I answer, nodding slowly.
“You knew about this!?” he shouts at me this time. I startle backward. “How long, Liz? How long have you known?”
Julien and Elijah are holding hands as they face Jayson, but he’s not looking at them because he's glowering down at me. Julien steps closer to Jayson breaking his brother's angry stare.
“Jay, let’s go downstairs and sit down and talk. We owe you an explanation.”
Jayson doesn’t say a word. He hastily puts his shirt back on and stomps downstairs leaving the three of us looking at his retreating back.
“Julien, I’m so sorry.” Tears are streaking down my face. Julien pulls me into his side and kisses my hair.
“You have nothing to apologize for, Liz. Nothing. You hear me? He’s just in shock. Once he calms down
and we talk things through, I’m sure he’ll understand. If it’s anyone’s fault, it’s mine. I should have told him a long time ago.”
Julien takes my hand in his and reaches back to take Elijah’s. We make our way downstairs to the living room. Jayson is sitting on one of the armchairs, knees splayed, forearms resting on top. His hands are pulling at his hair and he’s breathing hard.
Evening is falling. The living room is decorated with dark shadows with an orange hue from the setting sun. The mood is somber and quiet. I go to stand next to Jayson, but he bolts up out of the chair the moment I’m next to him. I reach out and he forcefully pushes my hand away.
“Don’t,” his gravelly voice warns me. His angry rejection increases the tears that fall down my face. I don’t know what to do, so I stand there waiting.
“Jay, sit down so we can talk. Please,” Julien begs his brother.
Jayson goes to the opposite side of the room from where I’m standing and sits down on the sofa. My heart breaks as I want to hold him so badly right now. Give him comfort.
“I’m here. So talk,” he says to Julien.
Elijah and Julien sit down, hands clasped with one another’s, a show of solidarity. I’m so proud of Julien right now. I know how scared he must be and how hard having this conversation with his twin brother is. Julien doesn’t waste time and jumps directly to the matter.
“I’m gay, Jayson. Well, actually, if you want to be technical about it, I’m bisexual. And I love Elijah. I have for a long time.”
“How long?” Jayson murmurs, his voice barely above a whisper.
“How long have I known I was gay or how long have E and I been dating?”
Jayson looks up at him.
“We started dating after my soccer injury. But I knew I liked him before that. Liz was the first person I told.”
“When?”
“When?” Julien looks up at the ceiling and then at me before moving his gaze back to Jayson. “Um, I told her last summer when we were at the beach for July fourth. I haven't told anyone else. Elijah and I have kept out relationship a secret.”