Page 83 of Away We Go

“Tacos!” Serena and I say at the same time, after creating an impromptu ‘pros and cons' list. The line at the taco truck was the deciding factor. It was a mile long: evidence of quality food we couldn’t overlook.

“Wow, these are amazing,” I groan through my first mouthful. On a whim, I’d ordered a fish taco, never having had one before, and was one hundred per cent happy with my choice.

“Yep.” Serena devoured her first taco in three bites and was already halfway through the second. We’ve paired our food with a spicy margarita, while Patrick opted for a beer.

“So,” Patrick says after he demolishes his fifth and final taco. “Tell me about Nicky as a kid.”

Since joining theVortex Motorsteam, people had occasionally tried to pry for details about what he was like growing up. Mostly, they say they can’t ever picture him as a child. He’s got that way about him.

I swallow the last of my tacos, half tempted to go back and get one more. “I didn’t know him as a kid. He was eight when I was born, so in my earliest memories he was already a teenager.”

“I bet he was a superstar, even then,” Serena says with a warm smile.

“He was to me,” I admit. “He was always my hero.”

“Still is,” she points out.

I nod. “Yeah.”

The silence stretches across the table.

“So, are the rumours true then?” Patrick blurts out, earning a slap across the head from Serena and a heated glare from me.

“Of course not!” I splutter.

“Well, I know you’re saying there’s nothing there,” Patrick concedes with a cheeky grin. “But from where I’m standing, the man is smitten with you.”

Nicky, smitten with me?My heart goes thumpity-thump at the thought of it.

“You’ve got it all wrong. He’s just like that with me. Always looking out for me. Like a big brother.”

The words ring false even to my ears and Patrick snorts in response. “That man does not look at you like a big brother.”

My eyes bounce between the two of them, waiting for someone to fill me in.How does he look at me then?

“It doesn’t matter, anyway. He’s asked for space, for me to keep my distance.” I scrunch up my rubbish and stand, signalling an end to this conversation. “I’m feeling pretty tired.”

Serena and Patrick look at each other and then at me. “Okay, let’s go.”

I smile, grateful to get away and back to my room. The only place I’m truly safe from interrogation.

We stroll back to the hotel, Serena with her arm around my shoulder, offering silent comfort.

“Well, I think you two crazy kids will figure this out,” Patrick announces as we enter the lobby.

I stop and squint at him, earning only another cheeky smile in response. “And in the meantime, you have us to hang out with while you do it.”

My heart flutters and I link my arm through his, grateful for both of their friendships. “Thanks, guys.”

Serena drops a kiss on my head while Patrick squeezes my arm. “And for what it’s worth, I think Nicky is a lucky guy.”

I don’t respond to this; I can’t respond to this. It doesn’t matter if there ever was something there between me and Nicky. Something more than the friendship we’ve developed over my lifetime. To protect me from the big bad world, like he’s been doing my whole life, Nicky has decided it’s best for us to be apart. And now all I have to show for our almost relationship is a bruise on my face and an even bigger bruise on my heart.

• • • • •

Nicky

How are you?

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