You actually care?
Just like Remy to say what he was thinking. I was just asking. It has to be hard to not qualify.
He’s not around. Took off for his trailer as soon as he got out of the car.
Not good at all. Do what I said about the springs, and I guarantee you guys will qualify the next race.
“You just save the day?” Scarlett asked quietly.
I gave her a small smile. “I’m hardly a hero, Scar. Just gave Remy an idea on what he could do.”
She draped her arm across my shoulders and pulled me into a half hug. “You need to get back there, Frank. We all know working at SRK or Lee’s is not what you were meant to do. You’re meant for bigger things than working for your brothers.”
I had always thought that, but lately, I had doubted being as good as I thought I was. Working for four months without any recognition and an occasional pat on the back had screwed with my confidence. But it had also pissed me off to no end. It was a strange thing to know you’re good, but no one recognizes it. “I know I’m not meant to work here, Scar, but I don’t know if working for Brooks is what I’m meant to be doing.”
“You sure about that?” she asked quietly.
I wasn’t sure about anything. I had been, but then Brooks had flown in and screwed up everything I thought. “Stop Dr. Philing me, would ya?” I didn’t need Scarlett all up in my head trying to tell me what I should be doing.
She gave me a gentle squeeze. “Just do what makes you happy, Frankie. Even if that means you have to go back to Cummings Racing with your tail between your legs for a couple of seconds because you left in a blaze of glory.” She sighed and leaned close. “Just so you know, if there is footage of you throwing that wrench at Brooks, I will pay good money to see it.”
I laughed and shook my head. “You were sounding like a normal person, and then bam, your Jensen side came out.”
She shrugged. “Hey, after spending so much time with your three brothers, you can’t really expect not to pick up a few of their weird quirks.”
“No secrets,” Mitch yelled. He crooked his finger at Scarlett. “Whatever you’re whispering to her, you better be whispering to me tonight.”
I sat back onto the couch and smiled. “Man, you two sure are kinky. Who would have thought you liked Scarlett talking to you about Brooks Cummings when you’re in bed? Different strokes for different folks and all of that.”
Mitch flipped me off. “I hate you.”
“You walked right into that one,” Scarlett giggled.
Mitch grumbled about not getting any respect anymore while Scarlett said Brooks’ name in every accent she could manage.
Violet looked over at me and laughed. “If you don’t leave, you have this to look forward to every weekend.”
While I loved spending time with my family, this wasn’t what I wanted to be doing. I wanted to working on dragsters.
I wanted to be the person who knew the secrets to make the car run perfectly.
I was that person, but I didn’t have a team to work for. I did, but I was going to have to swallow my ego and go crawling back to Cummings.
Not exactly my ideal situation, but if I wanted to be happy, I knew what I needed to do.
*
Chapter Eleven
Brooks
“Non-stop. One way.”
Harlyn looked up at me from her computer screen. “Huh? One way?”
I nodded. “Yeah. That’s what I want.”
“From Chicago to here?”
“That’s what I said.”
She warily examined me. “You really think this is the best idea?”
I had to tamp down the way my dad raised me and demand to know who she was that she thought she could question what I was doing. “I don’t have any other choice. I need to talk to her again, and I can’t leave home right now. Just send her the email with the flight info and my phone number.”
“Uh, that’s all you want me to send her?”
This was my last ditch effort to get Frankie back to Cummings Racing.
Remy had told me he talked to Frankie right after the race, and she told him what was wrong with the car. There had been no way in hell we would have been able to figure that out.
“Yeah. If she has any questions, she can call me.”
Harlyn clicked a half a dozen times and smiled. “You do know if she calls you, she isn't it going to talk to you. It’s more like she’s going to rip your balls off through the phone and shove them down your throat.”
I slapped my hat on my leg and settled it on top of my head. “Is it weird I’m looking forward to it?”
Harlyn busted out laughing. “You might be a glutton for punishment, Mr. Cummings.”
“Call me Brooks, Harlyn.”
Her eyes dodged to her dad’s closed office door. “Uh, I think I’ll stick to Mr. Cummings.”
“Brooks? Is that you?” Roc’s door swung open, and he stood on the other side looking shocked as hell to see me. “I was just trying to call you.”
“Must have left my phone in the car. Something you need?”
He stepped to the side and opened his door wide. “Just a couple of things to go over. I also have a few applications for the car chief spot.”
“Later, Harlyn,” I muttered. I walked into Roc’s office and closed the door behind me. “The car chief spot isn’t open.”
Roc sat down in his chair, and I sat opposite him. “What do you mean?” he asked. “You find someone without telling me?”
Another time I had to tamp down the attitude my dad had pounded into me. This was my race team, and my name was on the car, but it didn’t run without Roc, and Roc was in charge of the crew. “Not anyone new. Frankie will be here Tuesday.”
“Tomorrow?” Roc looked at me uncertain. “Are we talking about the same person here?”
I nodded my head. “Yeah. I might have to do a bit more talking, but she’s back.”
“Is this her saying she’s back, or you saying it?”
“A mixture of both.” Things had changed when I had left last Friday. Granted, it might have been the fact that Frankie was drunk, but even before she downed four beers, I could tell that she didn’t hate me anymore.
“Well,” he grabbed some papers off his desk and dropped them in the garbage can next to him. “That takes a little stress off of me. I won’t have to interview these guys anymore.”
Perhaps he shouldn’t throw those away just yet, but I didn’t want to jinx the fact that Frankie was coming back. “What else did you want to talk to me about?”
“We’ve hit a snag with using two different springs. I talked to Croft to bring them on as a sponsor, and they said they won’t as long as MaxLite is on your car.”
“That’s shit.”
He shrugged. “I don’t know what to do. Frankie said we needed to use those two springs, but if we can’t get these two to agree to be on the same car, then we’re going to have to choose one.”
I shook my head. “That isn’t an option, Roc. You saw the car in Allenton. We used only MaxLite, and I about hit the wall every run.”
“I know, I know,” he agreed. “We need to use the two springs because the difference is what we need.”
I sat back in my chair and sighed. “Can we talk to one of them and see if they have something similar to the other spring? Try to find something close?”
Roc grabbed a pad of paper and scribbled something down. “I thought of that. MaxLite told me that wouldn’t be possible, and I’m waiting for a call back from Croft to see what they say.” He ripped the piece of paper off and stuck it on a stack of papers. “I do have another idea, but I’m not sure if it’s even a possibility. You get Frankie back in that garage, it might be more possible.”
“What are you thinking?” I asked.
He shook his head. “Not saying anything until I run it by Frank. This all started from her, so I want to make sure what I’m seeing is what she’s seeing.”
I sighed and leane
d my head back. “Do you have any idea how hard it is to not demand to know what you’re thinking?”
Roc busted out laughing. “So that’s what the hell has been going on with you. You’re trying to turn over a new leaf, but old Brooks still wants to come in roaring every now and then.”
“You have no idea,” I groaned. “The ol’ man bred me to be a raging asshole, and losing my car chief has taught me I can’t be the type of guy he is if I want to have a crew that likes me.”
“Some drivers would tell you they don’t care if their crew likes them or not as long as they’re winning.”
“Tried that. Almost ended up in the wall because of it.” Being that close to the wall wasn’t anything I wanted to experience ever again. “We need Frankie back. The way she sets that car up is going to help me win.”
Roc sat back and crossed his arms over his chest. “Not gonna argue with you. You get her back, I can guarantee we’ll win the next race.”
That's what I wanted to hear. I knew Frankie was good, but having Roc verify she was the key to us winning was what I needed to hear. “She’ll be here.”
“Good, good.”
“Anything else you need from me?” I had a few things to take care of before Frankie arrived tomorrow, and I needed to get to them as soon as possible.
She was going to get my full attention even if I had to lock us in a room and throw away the key.
Frankie was coming back to Cummings Racing, and I wasn’t going to take no for an answer.
Not anymore.
*
Chapter Twelve
Frankie
“What is this?”
“Uh, what?”
I pulled my phone from my ear and looked down at the email Harlyn had just sent me. I put my phone on speaker and glared down at the phone. “A plane ticket.”
“Yes.”
Argh. She wasn’t going to give anything up. “Why do I have a plane ticket in my email, Harlyn?”
“Because I was told to send you one.”
“And whose phone number is this?” I demanded. I had a hunch who it was, but I was having a hard time even wrapping my head around the fact that he had just sent me a plane ticket.
“Mr. Cummings.”
“Brooks?”
“Well, certainly not Reginald.”
If it had been the old man’s number, I would have shit myself then and there. “Let’s go back to the reason why I need a plane ticket.”
“I’m assuming it’s because Mr. Cummings would like to see you. If you need any more information than that, then I suggest you give that number a call.”
“I don’t accept this, Harlyn.” I knew she had nothing to do with this, but I was still pissed she had listened to Brooks and sent the damn thing. “You should have told him you booked me a ticket but didn’t really.”
“You don’t think he would realize I didn’t buy you a ticket when you didn’t show up?” she asked.
“By the time he would have figured out you didn’t send me a plane ticket, I would have been halfway to Alaska.”
Harlyn sighed. “I’d love to go to Alaska one day. I’m not meant for the hot, humid heat of Leeds Square.”
“You live in Kentucky, Harlyn. It’s not like you live in the third ring of hell like Florida or Texas.”
“I’d also like to go to Texas, too. Can you imagine all of that cowboy goodness?”
“Say what?” someone shouted in the background.
“Oh shit,” Harlyn hissed. “Remy just walked in. I’ll talk to you tomorrow when I see you.” She hung up before I could tell her she wasn’t going to see me, and I tossed my phone down on the bed.
“What the hell are you yelling about?” Luke stood in my doorway and leaned against the doorframe. He crossed his arms over his chest with a smug look on his face.
“Nothing.”
“Really? Sounded like you’re going on a trip.”
“Nope, you must be hearing things. I’m not going anywhere.”
Luke walked into the room and sat down on the bed next to me. “Well, you may not, but your car is.”
“Uh, what?” I drawled.
“Your car got picked up about twenty minutes ago on a car hauler.”
“What in the hell are you talking about?” I demanded. “You better be joking right now, Lucas Jensen.” I ran out of my room and to the living room window.
My car was gone.
I had gone to the gas station today to stock up on energy drinks and parked it on the side of the shop. I had even locked it because I knew being home anything was fair game when it came to my brothers. “Get it back here,” I yelled.
Luke strutted into the living room and plopped down on the couch. “No can do seeing as I’m not the one who paid to have it picked up.”
“Well, where did it go?” This had to be the work of Kurt. He knew the one thing that would absolutely piss me off would be messing with my car.
“No clue. I bet it says on this piece of paper though.” Luke pulled a yellow piece of paper out and unfolded it.
I dove the six feet between us and snatched it out of his hand. I rolled onto the floor, and held the paper in front of my face. “Are you fucking kidding me?” I whispered.
“I have to admit, the guy is pretty good. I mean, he took your car, and the only way you are going to be able to get it back is if you go there.” Luke tsked. “The guy could go up against Kurt and possibly win.”
“Win what? Being the biggest asswipe?” I could not believe he had done this. His signature was scrawled at the bottom of the sheet, and it was dated yesterday.
“Yeah, that sounds about right. I have to admit, I really didn’t think the guy had it in him. He must really need you back.”
I balled up the paper and tossed it in the direction of Luke. “I can’t believe you actually just let the guy take the car.”
“How could I not let him? It was fucking brilliant.”
“You know you’re my brother, right? You’re supposed to be on my side with this.”
“But your side is wrong,” Luke insisted.
“Says the guy who didn’t have to put up with the shit I did.”
Luke stood up and looked down at me. “Was it really that bad there, Frank? You were working on a NHRA pit crew. Living the life you dreamed of the past eight years.”
“I wasn’t getting credit for any of the work I was doing, and he didn’t even know my name.”
Luke shook his head. “And now you don’t have a job, and before you know it, he’ll hire some other car chief. You’ll just be a memory of the chick who couldn’t get along with everyone.”
“I got along with everyone except for Brooks. He can’t act like his car magically fixes itself after every race.” I shot up off the floor and stood toe-to-toe with Luke. “I don’t need my name in lights, but a damn thank you now and then would be nice.”
“Did you tell him that?”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “In a way.”
“You mean in the way you tossed a wrench at his head?” Luke chuckled and shook his head. “I know you think Mitch, Kurt, and I don’t have your back in this, Frankie, but we do. We get this guy was a dick for not recognizing you, but you need to give him a second chance.”
“Why?”
“Because the guy flew here. Hung out with you. Worked side by side with you. He told you he made a mistake with the way he treated you. He can’t say anything else. Now it’s time he shows you that he’s changed, but he can’t do that with you living in your old room and working here.”
“Some people don’t deserve second chances,” I growled.
“But some of them do,” Violet called.
Just great. Now she was going to be a part of this. “I need to get my own place.”
“You have a place in Leeds Square,” Luke pointed out.
Violet walked into the living room holding two cups of coffee. She handed me one and sat down on the couch. “You remember that day I picked you up in the
pouring rain and took you home?”
“Yeah, I looked like a drowned rat and was frozen.”
She nodded. “Yep, that is true, but do you also remember how Luke treated me?”
“He was an ass.”
“Yep, he sure was. I vowed I would never see him again because he didn’t talk to me nicely and he treated me like an ass.”
It was hard not to remember that day. My life changed after that day. Once Violet began hanging around, Luke started to realize he needed to be more present in my life instead of just throwing money at me and hoping I would leave him alone. It was a hard time for all of us when Mom and Dad died. Violet came in and made things better. “Yeah, but you did.”
“Yep, I did after he showed me that he wasn’t an ass.”
“I might disagree with that,” I mumbled under my breath.
“Well, he’s not always an ass,” Violet amended.
“Hey,” Luke scoffed. “I’m in the damn room.”
“We know, honey, but hush for a second. I’m trying to make a point, and you letting your ass tendencies come out isn’t going to give me a leg to stand on.” She took a sip of her coffee and patted the couch next to her. “Sit.”
“Is she talking to you or me?” I whispered to Luke.
“I’m not sure, but I think one of us should sit just to be safe.”
“Rock, paper, scissors?”
Luke nodded, and we both shook out fists at each other.
“Woo, I win! You always pick paper, sucker.”
Luke hung his head and went to sit down next to his wife. “Yeah, well, you always used to pick rock, and I kicked your ass every time.” He put his arm around Violet and pressed a kiss to the side of her head.
“Funny how the student becomes the master,” I smirked.
“Can we get back to moral of my story?” Violet butted in.
I waved my hand. “Yes, though I know where you’re going with it.”
She sighed and looked at Luke. “Why must you always do that when I’m trying to make a point? You do the same damn thing with the kids. I try to teach Ash a lesson, then you completely blow it out of the water and end up watching racing with him.”
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