Magnetic Shift
Page 22
Eventually, I gave up and cleared my throat. “What’s a girl gotta do to get some attention around here?”
Dylan slid out from under the chassis, eyes wide. “Well, look at you.” He jumped to his feet and scooped me into a hug. “Welcome home.”
“Hey, Lex, welcome back.” Jimmy waved from behind the open hood.
“Hey.” I walked around and gave him a hug. “Any of you seen Colton around?”
Jimmy jutted his chin and glanced over my shoulder. My heart thudded painfully as I slowly turned around.
There he stood, his arms crossed, leaning against the doorway. His ball cap was dipped low over his shades as the sun beamed down behind him, giving the illusion of a golden aura around him. Corny, I know, but he was beautiful. Hopefully he was still mine. I took a few steps toward him. He removed his shades and hooked them to the front of his shirt.
“Are ya lost, little girl?” He smirked.
“Who are you calling a little girl? Little man.” I heard Jimmy stifle a laugh behind me.
Colton shrugged, stepping closer.
“You shouldn’t speak of what you don’t know.”
I ran my tongue over my bottom lip. “Maybe I’m lookin’ to find out.”
He hooked a finger in my belt loop and tugged me closer. “Come here.” The smile fell from his lips. “I missed you,” he whispered so only I could hear him.
I swallowed and met his stare. “I’m never going to be normal, Colton. You know that, right?”
“Lexi, you wouldn’t be you if you were.”
I could see his parents in his mismatched eyes, his mother’s kindness and his father’s determination to succeed. Having lived with the Taylers, having gotten to know them and little Robbi, it felt like I’d known him forever. “I love you, Colton,” I whispered. “I wish I would’ve had the guts to tell you sooner.”
He smiled again, a soft, content smile. “I love you back, Lexi Adams.” He pressed his lips against mine. I wrapped my arms around his waist and kissed him back with my whole heart and soul.
He knew who and what I was, and he still loved me. I could’ve only dreamed of such a thing a few months ago.
The crew clapped, cheered, and whistled behind us, making my cheeks flare with heat. Colton reached down around my waist, lifted me high up off the ground, and lowered me back down slowly as I nuzzled my face in his neck. He smelled like Axe and Lorna’s baking.
I couldn’t wait to see her and Annabelle again.
Dean came in behind us and tapped Colton on the shoulder. “Sorry to interrupt the reunion, but you think you’re up for another practice run?”
Colton leaned his forehead against mine.
“Let’s go do this thing.”
acknowledgements
Kristi Cook. What can I say? Without your kind words when I first started this crazy and amazing journey, I would not be where I am today. You were my first critique, my first author friend, and now my work’s biggest fan. This story could not have found a better editor. You and the Spencer Hill/Midpoint family have given Magnetic Shift a home and the love it needed and for that I will forever be grateful.
To Jenny Adams Perinovic for the amazing cover art. Wow! Just wow.
Brittany Booker. I would not have made it this far without you. From the bottom of my heart I thank you.
To the many speedway staff members and industry professionals who took the time to accommodate my visits or entertain my barrage of questions. Without your combined knowledge and expertise of how things work behind the scenes, I could not have given my story the dose of authenticity it needed. Much respect to you all and thank you so much.
To the great author/writer friends who have mentored me over the years and to my friends and family who have motivated, inspired, and supported me, I will never be able to thank you enough.
And last but not least, to the most amazing person in my life, my husband Daniel Briand. You have been my rock, my anti-anxiety coach, and the biggest reason why I’m writing these acknowledgments right now. You rode this crazy roller coaster ride of publishing with me, the ups and downs, the panic attacks, the reading and re-reading chapters to appease the doubt that constantly nagged my brain. It wasn’t easy, but you managed to make me believe I could do this and for that I am truly grateful. I love you most.
about the author
Lucy D. Briand lives in Ottawa, Canada with her comic book fanatic husband and her nonchalant Siamese cat. By day she works full time as a public servant for the Government of Canada, but by night her creative mind takes over and conjures up young adult gear-head romance stories with supernatural twists.
When not working, reading, writing, or watching way too much TV, Lucy likes to cosplay, attend ComicCons, go on road trips to Walt Disney World, and play ridiculous amounts of board games. She’s a geek to the core but is also a huge NASCAR Cup fan.
Table of Contents
Cover
Copyright Page
Title Page
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Acknowledgements
About the Author