Page 12 of Pedal to the Metal

I laugh and let her pull me from the bed. As she’s ushering me into the bathroom she tells the boys to have a seat on the bed and watch the movie while we get ready. Once the door is shut and I’m looking at the outfit I ask Farrah and Alivia, “What is Jagger doing here with you guys?”

, “Well, he was hanging out at JamesTown and I had just tried calling you for like the thousandth time when Connor came in followed shortly after by Creed and Alivia. I told them I was coming here to check on you and they all just followed," Farrah says with a shrug making her blonde curls bounce.

“And Jagger just came?” I ask hearing the shock in my voice.

“Jagger just came," she clarifies. While I absentmindedly put on the clothes they’ve brought I try to figure out why he came with them. Maybe when I leaned in to kiss his cheek he thought it meant more than it did. I’ve been over that decision multiple times and every time I try to tell myself it was just because he had been nice and listened to me but in reality, there was more to it. There was some odd connection I had with that bad boy racer sitting on my fluffy pink bed on the other side of the door. While Farrah and Alivia went to work on my hair and makeup I tried to make sense of everything else.

****

Jagger

In the car on the way to Londynn’s house I try to figure out why I had come. I really had no reason to be here other than I was curious. I was curious about where Londynn came from and what she was used to. As we pull up to the obscenely large white mansion I get a sickening feeling. The place is huge, way bigger than I had imagined. There was no way Londynn’s family had needed a house this big. Once we stepped into the foyer I realized that the outside seemed small compared to the inside. Seeing the inside only confirmed my idea that there was no way Londynn’s family needed a house this size. Hell, my family didn’t even need a house this size.

Farrah leads us up the grand stair case to what I assume is Londynn's room but along the way it dawns on me that I haven’t seen one personal thing in the house so far. No family photos or any reference to the people that live here. It’s so clean and white that it almost reminds me of a hospital. It’s so sterile feeling that it almost seems cold. I search for family photos as we continue down the hall but there is nothing besides art that I’m sure wasoverpriced and some mirrors. Seeing this place almost makes me feel sad for Londynn having to grow up here.

When Farrah stops in front of a door I’m not sure what I was expecting but I was not expecting Londynn’s bedroom to be the size of the entire house I grew up in. With every step I’ve taken through this house tonight it’s made clearer and clearer that we come from two completely different worlds. Of course, I already knew that, but I don’t think I realized just how different until now. Londynn’s room is all pale pink and white, it’s something that I’d expect for a child that loved to play princess but not the nineteen-year-old girl she is now.

Once the girls disappear into the bathroom I look around the room. This is the first place I’ve seen actual photos in the house. Londynn’s bookcase is crammed with books, a stereo and photos. As I scan the photos I notice they are all contain just four people Farrah, Alivia, Creed and an older, gray haired lady who I’m assuming is Vivienne. No mom, no dad, no Duke and no Ryce are in the photos and again I feel sad for her. I can’t imagine not displaying a picture of my parents somewhere in my room but then again, I have a feeling our parents are about as different as our homes.

The wall next to me is full of shelves and all of them are stuffed with awards, trophies, ribbons and pictures from dancing competitions and what not. From the looks of things Londynn was one hell of a dancer. Londynn being a dancer explained her gracefulness and it made me wonder what it would be like to see her dance. Creed must have noticed me staring because he leans over and whispers, “It’s a shame she doesn’t dance anymore because she was something to see.”

“She doesn’t do it anymore?” I ask trying to figure out why she would quit something she was clearly great at and seemed to like.

Creed shakes his head and sighs heavily, “No she doesn’t. Her family had other plans for her but Londynn loved it so much. It was her passion and it showed.” The bathroom door opens, and Creed sits back up. While Farrah and Alivia are beautiful, Londynn is drop dead gorgeous. She is literally breathtaking with her honey colored hair, tan skin and deep hazel eyes. The white lace dress she has on makes it look like her skin is showing but if you really look at it there’s just a nude colored material under it. The neckline though is very low cut with just two strings that tie around her neck. Her long lean legs, dancer legs now that I know that, look even longer in the short dress and the white wedges. Her hair is down and loose with just a few curls. Her hazel eyes meet mine and I have to remind myself to breathe. Thank goodness Connor keeps his wits about him because he reminds us that we need to get to the races. As we head downstairs it becomes clear that Londynn is riding in the car with me. My mind is already racing from seeing the way her body moves as she walks in that little dress being in an enclosed car for any period of time could prove to be impossible.

****

Londynn

Being in such an enclosed space with Jagger was making me feel like I was sixteen again. I don’t know why since nothing has ever happened with a Jagger and nothing can ever happen with him. We would never work besides he always has this love them and leave them vibe coming off him but for whatever reason the car is full of tension or maybe I’m just imagining things. Maybe, it’s the smell of his cologne and the way he switches gears that has me imagining things I shouldn’t.

As we pull up to the races I notice how close were cutting it, the races will start in less than three minutes. Jagger is already out of the car and the crowd that has been paying attention tothe people buying into the race is now facing us. I’m about to open my door when Jagger pulls it open and extends his hand to me. I place my hand in his and let his warmth surge through me, the butterflies in my stomach grow. Once I’m out of the car he turns to me and whispers in my ear, “Damn I’m luckiest the man here.” When he pulls back he has that smile on his face, you know the one that makes all the girls swoon, to top it off he winks at me. I shake my head as he walks over to meet the other drivers.

I scan the crowd as Farrah, Alivia, Sadie and Kynlee make their way over to me. Ryce is glaring so hard that I swear he’ll burn holes through my skull if he doesn’t stop. Farrah asks me what’s wrong and I mention Ryce to her. Of course, Farrah’s first bit of action is to flip him off. Axell calls who will race who and as the crowd disperses Ryce says, “No! I want Jagger.”

Jagger who was in mid step heading back towards us stops and turns around. “What didn’t get enough last time?”

Ryce stalks towards Jagger and before I know it I’m moving to get closer in case Ryce decides to swing. I don’t want Jagger getting hit because I rode here with him but before I get halfway there a hand clamps around my wrist. “You don’t want to do that babe.” I turn around and see its Ace who has my wrist. “Turn back around and go back to the girls, we got this. Even if Jagger couldn’t handle this on his own I’d have his back, but Jagger can. However, if I let you get in the middle of that” he says motioning towards Jagger and Ryce who are now nose to nose with one another, “Jagger wouldn’t let me forget that. So, do me a favor and go back to the girls.” After contemplating what Ace says I turn around and walk back to where the girls are. As soon as I’m close enough Farrah grabs me and doesn’t let go.

“You want to do something besides bitch and moan?” Jagger asks Ryce in an eerily clam voice.

“Yeah I want to race you and I want to know why you always go after my seconds?” Ryce asks.

Jagger throws his head back and laughs out loud. “I don’t go looking for your seconds they come looking for me. What bothers you more that you lose or that you lose tome? The boy from the wrong social crowd.” Ryce stands completely silent and still for what seems like forever. Axell, Bowie, Ace and Connor have all moved in behind Jagger just to be safe. The rest of us hold our breath while we wait to see what will happen next. To my surprise Ryce turns around and starts to walk away but suddenly he turns back and throws a punch at Jagger. It catches him off guard and sends him a few steps back. Thankfully, Jagger is quick because before Ryce can get in another punch Jagger has landed two to his jaw. Axell grabs Ryce and Connor grabs Jagger, Bowie and Ace are standing between the two now.

Bowie looks between both, “No cage matches here. You have a problem you settle it on the black top. Pedal to the metal?”

Jagger smirks at Ryce, “Pedal to the Metal.”

Ryce works his jaw back and forth a few times then spits out some blood, “Pedal to the metal.” Jagger and Ryce are released and while Jagger is heading this way I notice Ace stepping up to Ryce. His mouth is moving, and I see Kynlee moving pretty quickly for a girl in six-inch heels towards him. Before either of us can say a thing Ace lands one hell of a punch on Ryce, one that lands Ryce on the ground. When Ace turns around Kynlee is there, he drapes his arm around her shoulders and they walk off.

I must look spooked because Jagger asks me if I’m okay I shake my head and he runs his hands up and down my arms. “You must be cold, you have goosebumps," he says stepping around me and pulling a black leather jacket from his trunk. He holds it out to me and as I step into it I’m surrounded by the smell of his cologne and whiskey. I love the smell of his colognethe whiskey not so much. “Sorry, the last time I had it on was at work in Vegas.”

“What’d you do there?” I ask my curiosity getting the best of me.

He chuckles, “I was a bouncer at a strip joint.”

After that admission we both fall quiet, but my mind should have guessed he’d worked in some place like that. I can’t help but feel so young and naïve next to him now. Not to mention every stripper I’ve ever seen has an amazing body. Their all curves and sexy, not slim with barely any boobs and the girl next door clothes. As if I didn’t already have my doubts before. He stands right beside me until it’s time for him to get in line to race. “What about a good luck kiss?” He asks in a teasing voice.

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