Page 54 of My Return to the Walter Boys
The two shook hands, and after a quick introduction for my benefit, they dove straight into dissecting the race. Cole wanted to know if the engine was pulling better at the end of the straightaways—was thateven English?—and Carter’s rapid-fire response was chock-full of terms that went over my head, so I just smiled politely and pretended to know what they were talking about. All I knew for certain was that Carter was over the moon about his performance; Cole commented on how unfortunate it was that his rebuild hadn’t secured a victory, but Carter wouldn’t hear of it.
“Stop being so hard on yourself,” he said, slapping Cole on the back. “This was my best race ever. I’ve never placed on the podium before, and I couldn’t have done that without you.”
“You sure?” Cole asked, a seed of doubt lingering in his voice.
Carter nodded. “Absolutely. You can expect a call from me next time I need help.”
I smiled to myself as Cole stood a bit taller.
“I look forward to it,” he replied. His cheeks were pink with pleasure.
“Well,” Carter said, glancing at his watch. “I need to go pack my trailer, but let me know next time you’re here for a race. I’ll see if I can get you pit passes.”
“That would be amazing,” Cole said as they shook hands again.
Before we parted ways, I held up my phone. “Do you guys want a picture together?”
Eleven
I was avoiding the conversation I needed to have with Nathan. After meeting Paulette and learning that he stood up the band without a word, the concern I’d felt for him since returning to Colorado bloomed into full-blown anxiety. Something was wrong, and I needed to get to the bottom of it…but Nathan had been in a foul mood since Saturday, trudging out of the house each morning for our run as if he were being punished, dodging attempts at conversation with one-word responses, and hiding in the loft whenever possible, so I decided to allow him some time to calm down.
That was a week ago, and I still hadn’t said anything.
As I stepped outside for our run, I told myself that enough was enough. It didn’t matter how cranky Nathan was when he showed up; I needed to confront him and figure out what was going on. Decision made, I began my stretching routine and waited for him to join me.
Five minutes passed. Then ten. By seven o’clock, I knew he wasn’t coming.
A flush scalded my cheeks. I leaped to my feet and swept inside the house, screen door slamming shut in my wake. If Nathan didn’t want to run with me anymore, the least he could do was tell it to my face. I was officially over letting him blow me off. Along with giving him plenty of space, I’d told him about my issues with Cole, and while he didn’t owe me anything in return, our friendship was starting to feel one-sided. It made me wonder if I’d done something to piss him off.
Someone’s cleats clattered down the steps as I stormed upstairs, but I didn’t turn around to pick them up. I barged straight into Nathan’s room, too angry to care if I woke Alex as well. Enough morning light had seeped past the curtains for me to see that Nathan was still sleeping, so I strode over to his bed and yanked the covers off.
“Time to get up,” I announced. Even though I was fuming, I kept my voice calm.
He groaned and rolled over. “Jackie? What are you doing in here?”
I put my hands on my hips. “Waking you up, obviously. You’re late for our run.”
“I’m not going,” he said, pulling his comforter back up.
“Yes, you are.” I rifled through his dresser and selected a long-sleeved undershirt and running joggers, then tossed the clothes at him. “We have some things to discuss.”
Nathan jerked into a sitting position and glared at me. “Can’t you take a hint?”
My bravado faltered at his tone. “Come on, Nate,” I pleaded. “It’s me. You can tell me anything.”
“Did it ever occur to you that maybe I don’t want to?” He spat out each word like he’d been trying to bite them down, but they were too poisonous for him to keep inside any longer. “You’re so overbearing, Jackie. Stop trying to act like my sister. I have enough older siblings who think they know best. I don’t need another one.”
Sharp, bone-cutting hurt cleaved through my chest, and for a split second, I couldn’t breathe. Besides the ringing in my ears and Alex’s soft snoring, the room was silent. I swallowed, and my throat clicked.
“Wow, okay,” I said, blinking back tears. “Message received.”
***
Alex and I were making our way to the truck when the Buick rumbled up the drive. Cole parked behind Katherine’s van, cut the engine, and slowly heaved himself out. His leg must have been bothering him—sometimes it got stiff when he worked long hours—because he winced and took a moment to massage his thigh.
“You okay?”
Cole’s head popped up at the sound of my voice. When he spotted me and Alex standing together on the front walk, he frowned. “I’ll be fine.” He paused for a beat, his gaze assessing. “Are you two going somewhere?”
