Page 93 of Midnight Racers

Neither of my parents had ever talked about their breakup. When they were together in a room, it was obvious to everyone that they were still in love with each other, and neither had had a relationship after their divorce.

“Is that what happened with you and Dad?” I asked.

She poked her dessert several times with her spoon before she raised her eyes to mine. “He was nearly killed in a race. They airlifted him to hospital and I sat for weeks beside his bed, never knowing if he would wake up. I told him to choose, me or his cars, and you know the answer.” Her smile was shaky and her eyes filled with sorrow. “He loved his cars more than he loved me.”

“Which is why you never wanted me and Dale in the business,” I said, finally understanding. “Flynn is a racer too.”

“Maybe Flynn will have more sense as he gets older and step aside before the circuit claims another life.”

The health and safety involved in car production had become paramount in recent years, but freak accidents happened, and you couldn’t account for every single variable out there.

“And if he chooses her over me?” I asked, my heart clenching in my chest.

“Then that baby is raised by the best mum in the world and an adoring grandmother.”

I had to grin at her furious expression. Mum was a badass who had never evolved out of the protective momma stage of her life. The fact that she re-mortgaged her home to help Dale spoke volumes, and I knew she would do the same for me in a heartbeat.

“Come on and I’ll take you shopping because we both know you can’t live in leggings forever and that baby isn’t going to get any smaller.” Mum waved the waiter over to pay our bill, and then we were on the road and off shopping.

I tended to buy only essentials, but Mum was the queen of frivolous, and shop after shop added to my wardrobe until I had to beg her to stop.

“I really need to go home, Mum,” I pleaded. “All this excitement has exhausted me, and I need to pee.”

She insisted we find a toilet before the drive home as she reminisced about her frequent toilet visits and how I sat on her bladder. It all sounded slightly disturbing, and I had visions of me sitting crossed legged inside her womb bouncing up and down every time I found her bladder.

Standing in front of the mirror in the bathroom, I took my phone out and turned it on, scanning all the messages from the past week or so. Flynn’s started off in his normal tone asking where I was, then they became increasingly desperate and irritated. The last was from last night.

Flynn:We need to talk. You’ve got everything wrong. Phone me.

What did he mean? My heart beat faster and butterflies erupted into flight in my stomach. Maybe Mum was right and I needed to speak to him.

She stopped off at her office to pick up some files on our way home since she’d been working from home the past few days. The carpark was underground, and the coolness helped me to relax as I’d been too warm in the shops.

I took out my phone and stared at Flynn’s messages again, debating what I was supposed to do.

Me:I’ll phone you tonight.

I hit the send button before I could talk myself out of it. A few moments later, my phone pinged.

Flynn:Where are you?

It was typical of him. He always worried about everyone, even those not under his protection. I rolled my eyes.

Me:I’m fine. Just heading back to Mum’s.

Mum had just settled herself in the car and we were emerging into the sunlight when my phone rang. I wasn’t going to answer it, but Mum saw the name on the call.

“Maybe just say hello to him,” she coaxed.

I hadn’t time to speak when I put my phone to my ear, as he was already shouting. “Where are you? Go somewhere public right now! There’s chat on Craig’s phone that they’ve found you and are sending men to your location.”

“What?” I grasped the edge of my seat. “Mum and I are leaving her office now to go back to her house.”

“Jordan, they’re leaving your office block. Yeah, I’m heading to her now. Right, bye.” His voice sounded distant for a moment or two before it nearly deafened me. “Jordan and I are on our way. Stick to the main roads and if you see anything suspicious, go to where there are people.”

“You’re scaring me,” I whispered.

“I know, baby, but we’re on our way.” He hung up and I stared at Mum, fear cramping my stomach, even as my hand moved over it protectively.

---