Page 4 of Happy Hour

Spencer Riley looked very different from Jameson with black hair. The same intensity marked the eyes but with bright blue instead of green. I saw the similarities in the crooked grin too, the one that had me blushing.

“It’s nice to meet you both.” I shook both their hands.

They both smirked when I did that, which made me want to punch them in the face, especially when Jameson winked at me.

He was the most beautiful boy I’d ever seen with bright grass green eyes counteracted the rust color in his wavy hair that curled out into loops at the ends.

I wasn’t much into boys at eleven-years old but he was one pretty boy. I’d met Nancy, Jimi’s wife, once before so I recognized that Jameson resembled his mother rather than the Riley side with black hair and blue eyes.

“You did good out there tonight.” I said to the pretty boy knowing at that point my face was a pretty cherry red color, much like my red rope.

“Looks like you follow in Jimi’s footsteps.” My dad added putting his arm around my shoulder. I looked down embarrassed but quickly look up when I heard Jameson chuckled.

He smiled widely at us. “Yes, but I’m better.” He nodded his head arrogantly while my dad and Jimi both start laughing at the suave confidence of the cocky little eleven-year-old.

By the end of the night, I was running around Grays Harbor Raceway with the Riley family.

I think the bigger picture here was what happened that night where the clay met the rubber, as Jimi would say. A racer was born in the sense that his dream came alive that night while racing on the edge.

Making my way from the plane, I managed to make it through baggage claim without bitch slapping anyone. Balancing my purse on top of my suitcase, I made my way down the escalator into the Charlotte Airport.

I heard Alley and Spencer before I saw them, bickering as usual. Those two fought more than Ali and Holyfield back in the day.

Only a few seconds before I made my way off the escalator Spencer, Jameson’s older brother, had his arms locked around me in a steel trap as he hugged me.

“Whew, I’ve missed you, Sway!”

“Hands off shit head.” I muttered trying to pull away from him.

Spencer was the type of guy you always had to keep your guard up around. With his unpredictable primate behavior—you never knew when he’d strike and you’d be the brunt of one of his sadistic pranks. For a reason unbeknownst to me, I was one of his favorite targets and always had been. After spending more than a few minutes around Spencer, you’ll understand why zookeepers give most animals toys.

If you keep them distracted, they’re less likely to attack. I honestly believe this theory works on children as well. Why do you think their toys are shinny? Distractions, it’s all about distractions.

Always keep Spencer occupied was my number one rule. If he was allowed time to think of any predatory attack, you would un-doubtingly regret it. I loved Spencer like a brother but the fact that he had to repeat the third gradetwiceshould give you an inclination as to the type of behavior he possess.

If you didn’t know any better, you’d think he was raised by a pack of wild animals in the jungle.

I stopped trusting Spencer years ago—around the time when he allowed me, while camping in the woods, to wipe my ass with poison ivy knowing damn well it was poison ivy.

“Spencer, for Christ sakes you’re going to squish her.” Alley grumbled beside us. “Put her down.”

“Jameson is so excited to see you.” Spencer finally let go to set me securely on the ground. “He actually cracked a smile this morning.”

I stumbled for a second, finding my footing while tugging my underwear out of my ass. “How is he?” I was trying to hide my excitement that he implied Jameson was excited but my voice had a certain beseechingly dismay to it.

Before Spencer could answer, Alley grabbed my suitcase and began lugging it with her. “We have to be back at the track in an hour. Get your ass moving.” she turned to wink at me once.

Alley, Spencer’s wife now, was the team manager for Riley Simplex Racing and Jameson’s publicist for good reason. She didn’t put up with bullshit from anyone, including Jimi. She loved her job, even though it met babysitting Jameson and his team most of the time.

I finally caught up with Alley and her long ass legs when we made our way into the parking garage.

“It’s good to see you again.” Alley teased throwing one scrawny arm around me. “You ready for this?”

“What does that mean?” My eyes shifted anywhere they could to avoid her questioning steel blue eyes. “Is there something I should know?”

Suddenly I was worried.

What if he had a girlfriend he didn’t tell me about?

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