Page 22 of Rivals

Now, it’s my turn for my eyes to nearly bug out of my head. “What? Do you think something will happen?”

She laughs. “Yeah, most definitely. It’ll be just the two of you the majority of the time. You guys will be in a different city, different hotel almost every night. Something will definitely happen. We should go shopping before you leave.”

“Why? Revv-It will have an onsite stylist for every event that will dress me,” I tell her, as I attempt to stand up.

Evanna waves her hand in dismissal. “I’m not talking about regular clothes. I was referring to what you’ll have on under the clothes.”

“Aw hell,” I mumble as Evanna helps me get to my room. She laughs. “I don’t know if we’ll even kiss again.”

I fall back onto the bed and Evanna gets busy helping me strip my clothes off before slipping a t-shirt over my head. “I know you two will.” Once I’m tucked in, she heads out of my room, turning off the light as she goes.

“Evanna, I’m sorry for making you worry tonight,” I call out to her.

She smiles back at me. “It’s okay. It was worth the worry to see that smile on your face. Get some sleep because we are going shopping tomorrow!” She rushes out of my room as I groan and roll over to find a comfortable spot in my bed. As I drift off to sleep, I think about tonight and Rathe. I kind of hope Evanna is right and we do kiss again because I could live off Rathe McCall’s kisses alone.

Twenty-Three

Rathe

It’s been two days since I’ve seen Sutton and I can’t even lie: it’s driving me crazy. She’s been on my mind every minute since that kiss outside of Pat’s. She’s consumed me. I’ll see her today...finally. We’ll be leaving for Detroit to kick off our press tour for Revv-It Racing in a couple of hours. I’m packing, last minute of course. The doorbell rings three times and I hear the echo as the door swings open and Maxton calls out, “Honey, I’m home.”

I shake my head. “Upstairs dumbass.”

About a minute later Maxton enters my bedroom with a shit eating grin on his face and two large cups from the local drink stop. “You wound me with your words when I come bearing gifts for you.”

Rolling my eyes, I reach out and take one of the cups from his hand. The fizzy soda loaded with vanilla and lime hits my tongue and soothes my growing nerves. I’m not even sure why I’m nervous. It’s ridiculous because I’ve been around Sutton a lot these past few weeks, but things are different since we kissed. “You’re so dramatic. You might as well be a girl. No wonder you and Ryann get along so well.”

A look flashes through Maxton’s eyes but it’s gone as quickly as it appeared, so I let it slide. “Are you ready for the press tour?”

I shrug. “As ready as I ever am for these types of things.”

“I can’t even imagine. Listen, Ryann is worried about Sutton and this tour. Apparently, Evanna told her that Sutton is really nervous about all of it so can you, I don’t know, be nice to her for a change.” Maxton gives me the look that reminds me of a father.

He has no idea how nice I was to her a couple of nights ago. I start to feel defensive even though I shouldn’t. I mean, Maxton wouldn’t be lecturing me if he knew I’d had Sutton pinned to the side of the building, exploring her mouth like some unknown land. “I’ve been nice lately.”

Maxton rolls his eyes at my response. “Yes, for the most part. Could you be extra nice to her then?” I don’t even reply as I turn around and head back into my closet to gather the last few things I’ll need over the next couple of weeks. “What aren’t you telling me?”

I take my time gathering the things I think I might need and even some I’m pretty sure I won’t, but it gives me more time to school my features. “What are you talking about?” I ask him, as I come back out into my room.

“Don’t play around with me dude. Something is going on so you might as well tell me now or I’ll just find out later,” Maxton says, with that cocky grin on his face. I mean technically he’s right, but I don’t want to tell him that. “So, what’s her name?”

“Why do you think it has to do with a girl?” I ask. Defenses back up.

Maxton laughs. “Because you’re Rathe McCall, of course, it has to do with a girl.”

“You’re wrong,” I tell him.

He rolls his eyes at me. “If that’s your story.” Maxton’s phone goes off and he fishes it out of his pocket. The grin that crosses his face catches me off guard. Maxton stands up abruptly. “I’ve got to get going but just remember to be nice to Sutton and keep your clothes on and your tongue to yourself while you’re around her.”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” I ask. My tone is harsh, but I don’t really care.

Maxton holds up his hands in surrender. “Just that I know you and I’ve seen how you look at Sutton but she’s off limits, man.”

“First of all, no one is off limits to me unless she says so. You don’t get to dictate that. Second of all, I don’t need your input.”

I’m stalking away from him, towards my ensuite bathroom when I hear him clear his throat. “First of all, back the hell off man. I wasn’t trying to give you my damn input. Also, Revv-It Racing can dictate what happens between the two of you.”

“What?” I ask, as I turn back around to face him.

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