Page 93 of Danger

I don’t know how long I sit in the booth, but night falls over the city like a blanket, covering me from the sadness I feel deep in my bones.

“More coffee?” the waitress asks, holding the pot of black coffee over my mug.

“I think I’ve had enough.” I get up, and leave the diner, unsure what to do next. Before I even make it home, my father sends me a text, asking me to meet him at his house.

When I arrive, it’s late.

“What happened?” he asks me the second he sees me.

I step through his front door, moving right into his study, over to the liquor cabinet, and make myself a strong drink.

I suck down the amber liquid, letting it burn my throat all the way down. “Danger.”

He smiles, wheeling up beside me to make his own drink. He drops a few ice cubes, and they clank inside his glass. “I see the way you two stare at each other. You’ve fallen for him, right?”

I sit on the sofa, taking another hefty sip of my scotch on the rocks. I nod. “Yes, I have. But, he doesn’t feel the same way.”

My father finishes making his drink and studies its contents before speaking. “I think he does feel the same. Maybe he’s scared.”

I shake my head. “No, he isn’t scared.”

“Monterey, Danger’s just had his life turned upside down. Things he wanted to keep hidden are now public knowledge. I’m sure that can’t be easy for him. I’m sure he’s not thinking clearly.”

I stare at my drink, thinking about how selfish I’m being. I’m sitting here expecting Dylan to come to terms with how he feels about me when his whole world is currently crashing down around him.

I feel like an idiot.

“I know you didn’t call me here to talk about Danger.”

My father smiles. “I’ve made up my mind, the engine is in motion. I’m retiring after the season’s over, the team will be yours to take over.”

My chest floods with a warmth of pride and joy. “This is the best gift ever, Dad, it’s unbelievable.” I smile, setting my drink down. I walk over to my father and lean over to give him a hug. “Thank you for trusting me.”

Once I’m settled back down on the couch he swirls the ice cubes in his glass around. “I’ve always trusted you. I know how much you want this. I know how important this team is to you.”

I nod. “It is.”

“And I can see your dedication to the sport and the drivers.”

I take another sip of my drink, letting it warm me up. Ever since Dylan walked out on me, I’ve had this chill in my bones no amount of alcohol or coffee could possibly warm. “Thank you, Dad.”

“I just want you to be happy.” He stares at my mother’s ring on my finger. “Did I ever tell you how happy she was when I put that on her finger.”

I stare at my left hand, watching the diamond sparkle in the dim light of the room. “No, you never told me.”

He smiles, casting a faraway look on his face. “She told me she’d never met anyone like me before.” His eyes meet mine and I can see the sadness there. “She was like an angel, Monterey. She was my very own angel.”

I want that sort of happiness more than anything too. But, I know the only thing that will make me happy right now is having Dylan by my side. I don’t let myself think about anything too hard as I smile back at my father. “Thank you.”

“Now, we have a race to win.”

We go over a few strategies and last minute race day accommodations until it’s late and I decide to head home.

“You can always stay here,” my father says. “You did suck down that drink.”

I smile. “Ok, sure.” I head upstairs and am ready for this night to be over with.

I need Dylan to know how I feel about him, even if it pushes him further away. I want him to know how much I care about him.

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