Page 15 of Black Flag

Interviewing driverswho would be driving my car at my favorite track was not exactly a pleasantexperience for me. It was like interviewing men to take your wife on a date. Noone would be good enough in my eyes.

Justin drove the car atIndianapolis and did exceptionally well for never being in a cup car before,finishing thirteenth. Unfortunately, his prior commitments wouldn’t allow himto race the car at Watkins Glen and Michigan so here I was interviewing.

Kyle handed me aresume. Scanning it cursorily, I turned my head lazily to glance at himsideways. “I hate doing this.”

“This next guy isracing on the World of Outlaws for QuincySaller.”Kyle told me ignoring my poor attitude. “Sway actually recommended him toJustin. They’ve been racing together for the last year.”

My eyes shifted whenthe driver walked into the race shop. I wasn’t sure what I was expecting whenhe walked in. I guess appearances don’t dictate a driver’s ability but this guylooked like a total douche to me and belonged in a boy band. His shaggy blondhair looked like he tried to create the just woke up look.

Please.If you have to try todo it, you shouldn’t.

Besides the hair, whatsent me into a state of complete raging lunacy was when I heard him tell Kyleand my dad his name.

Mike Tanner.

I may not have the bestmemory in the world but I rememberedexactlywho Mike Tanner was.

And Sway had thefucking nerve to recommend him?

I felt the twinge ofjealous rush through me that this was the guy she’d slept with last. I wantedto kill him. I didn’t care if this guy is the best fucking wheel man around. Hewas not racing my fucking car. That much I did settle on during the thirtyminute interview. I didn’t hear a word dad and Kyle said to him.

Unfortunately for me,an hour later, I found myself escorting him through the shop to fill out abackground check.

“How long have you beenracing?” I asked coldly unlocking the door to the office. The keys clankedtogether breaking the silence.

It was clearly a dumbquestion considering I had his resume in my hands—hands that were currentlytrembling as I tried to control my raging anger. All I could focus on was thathe slept with Sway.

“Since I was nine,”Mike answered following closely.

I nodded. “I hearyou’re on the Outlaw tour?”

“Yeah,for the last year.”We passed by my office heading toward the main office atthe end of the hall. “I was racing outlaw later models prior to that.”

“How...” my voice faded when I didn’t hearfootsteps behind me.

Mike had stopped by thedoor to my office, gazing toward a photograph of Sway and I that I had framedin the hallway. It was from my last win in Loudon on my birthday.

When I cleared mythroat, Mike began walking again.

“How long have youknown Sway Reins?”

“A while,” I answereddryly.

“I’ve gotten to knowher over the years.” He told me with a confidence I wanted to wipe from hissmug face. “We’regoodfriends.”

“I doubt that,” Imumbled. My jaw clenched tightly when his arms crossed over his chestinsolently. “Is this about racing or Sway?”

“I think you know it’sabout both.” He had the nerve to reply with.

I shook my head andglowered at him, my body tensed. “Sway isnoneof your concern.”

Mike laughed darklyappearing relaxed. “You know...”he stepped toward me and gestured with a nod at the photograph. “I can see howa small town girl like Sway Reins was able to tameRowdy Riley.” Hewinked at me. “She gives good head.”

I lunged for him,broken bones an all.

I had every intentionof kicking the living shit out of him. I curled my one good fist tightly, whichwas tough considering I was left handed, and landed a punch into his jaw thatcracked loudly.

Now it wasn’t a fairfight at all. There I was; broken ribs, broken collarbone, broken arm, and awrist that was in a cast.

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