Page 122 of Happy Hour

“There’s so much I wanted to say and do in this moment but...I froze. Now I don’t know what to say,ordo.” He whispered into my hair placing a kiss on the side of my head, his voice riddled with repentance. “I’m sorry.”

“Let’s just sit here for a little while.” I suggested.

I didn’t want to go back inside right away. Fresh air would do me some good. For one, if I saw Charlie, I would burst into tears again and two, I had no desire to see the Lucifer twins. It was also evident by my appearance and the spinning; I had a little too much to drink.

Jameson noticed quickly when I hiccupped. “Have you been drinking?”

I must have been swaying more than I thought. “Just a little,”

“How much is a little?” He asked slightly amused, slightly confused and maybe a fraction concerned.

“Couple shots,” I told him. “Half a bottle,”

“There’s a big difference between a couple shots and a half bottle, Sway.”

“Could have been a whole bottle,” I said glancing towards the road as Patrick, our neighbor, arrived home. “I don’t really know. Alley stole it.”

He hummed in response but said nothing coherent.

We sat there for what seemed like days but really only around an hour before the sun started setting. The cool air felt good against my flushed cheeks, a relief from the intensity surrounding me.

I decided we’d sat here long enough without speaking and on top of that, my ass was soaked from the wet grass or I peed myself. I was certain I’d know if I pissed myself. I’d been downthatroad before.

“Are you just taking over ownership because Charlie asked you to? I mean...you don’t have to. I know how much responsibility you already have.”

I felt him shake his head. “No, Iwantto. I don’t...” he paused, drawing in a shaky breath. “I can’t leave this all to you. I want to be there to help you and I don’t want the track in the hands of just anyone. I became who I am today right here in this town,with you. I can’t just turn my back on it now.”

It made sense. If Jameson or even Jimi didn’t take over ownership, we’d have to sell the track. I couldn’t do it by myself and Mark couldn’t either. Knowing this, Charlie had thought the decision through. Jameson was young, determined, and business savvy. He was perfect for the job.

“I didn’t...I didn’t leave with Chelsea to upset you.” He told me. “She had the title transfer I needed to sign,well, so I thought she did.”

“So you didn’t sexually assault her?”

“No,” he balked. “Well, I pushed her off me, but nothingsexualhappened.”

I nodded but didn’t say anymore.

Jameson shifted drawing me into his warm comforting arms. Turning, I faced him looking deep into his eyes.

I saw it then, for the first time. The regret, the love, the quilt, the stress, everything that defined him was there. It was where that restlessness and that vulnerability stemmed from. He carried so much on his shoulders at such a young age. How was track ownership going to help any of this?

“Jameson, I don’t think you should take over. Maybe Jimi—”

His warm calloused fingers silenced me. “It’s already done, Sway.” He shook his head soberly as though he never entertained the idea ofnottaking over. “I’m the new owner of Grays Harbor Raceway as of two o’clock today.”

“Jameson,” I breathed. “How is this going to work? I—”

His fingers silenced me yet again, he blinked slowly not liking the reminder that this was a difficult situation. Then, with the same slow blink, the pain in his eyes hardened into that fire I always saw in him. That determination to prove to everyone he could be more than Jimi Riley’s son; was there again. Only now, he was determined to run with what was handed to him. “Icando this...but I can’t without you, honey.”

“What?”

“Ineedyou...I know that I’ve made some mistakes...okay that’s a lie. I’ve fucked up big time but I can’t breathe without you next to me. It literally fucking hurts without you.”

“You’re so romantic.” I laughed once at his use of the “fuck” word.

“I know...” he agreed with a small smile.

“I need you too.” I replied softly. I wasn’t lying. I needed him now more than ever.

---