Page 19 of Fast Break
“I’ve driven my grandparent’s car a few times,” he tells me. “And Trey lets me drive around the block.”
“Okay, cool. Go ahead then,” I prompt.
He’s so freaking adorable as he shifts the car into drive, gripping the steering wheel in the ten and two positions. He’s cautious as he moves the car forward but he’s steady and calm. I feel myself slowly relaxing.
He drives around the carpark a few times and then we try a few manoeuvres. He only freaks out when he tries a reverse parallel park. I end up with my hands over his on the steering wheel, guiding him through the steps and hoping like hell he doesn’t feel the rapid beat of my pulse from the touch of our hands.
“There. Perfect,” I say, my voice a little too husky for my liking as JT completes the move.
“Huh,” he says, looking around at his near perfect park. I cautiously withdraw my hands from his, trying not to draw attention to the movement. I don’t miss the way his cheeks have flushed. I force myself to look away. “I don’t think I could have done that without you.”
“You want to try it again?” I ask.
“Yeah,” he agrees, clearing his throat. “Maybe you could help me one more time?”
Do not read into it—do not read into it,I drill into my head as JT moves the car back into position and I slide my hands onto his again. His skin is warm to the touch and his fingers are smooth and I like it way more than I should. JT completes the reverse parallel park with no hesitation. He smiles as I move my hands back to myself and I can’t help grinning back.
“That was perfect,” I encourage.
“I think I’m getting the hang of it,” he agrees, green eyes catching the fading light. “Thanks again for this, Quinn. I really mean it.”
“It’s no trouble at all.”
“You have such a great car,” he adds, glancing around at my wheels which I am admittedly quite proud of.
“A guilt present from my dad.”
JT swivels in his seat, attention fully on me now. I don’t mention my dad all that often, if ever, and I’m not even sure why I did just now.
“Where is your dad? If you don’t mind me asking,” JT asks. This is a question I am well versed in shutting down but for some inexplicable reason I find myself swivelling towards this boy I hardly know and yet feel so drawn to that I know I’m going to tell him everything. Things even my closest friends don’t know.
“Just the usual story of abandonment,” I shrug, aiming for casual. “He walked out on my mum and me when I was ten.”
“Shit, Quinn,” JT says, his tone so genuine I glance up into his big green eyes. “That sucks.”
I scoff out a laugh. “Yeah, it sucks. It sucked even more when he moved straight in with his affair partner.”
“Serious?”
“Yep. They ended up moving across the country to Perth and I’m pretty sure he has a few more kids now. I don’t know though. I don’t keep in touch with him much and if we ever do talk I don’t ask questions.”
“Really? You never see him?” There’s so much concern on his face and the sincerity of his interest strikes something deep.
“I’ve seen him maybe four or five times in the years since he left,” I shrug. “But he’s never missed a child support payment, and he still sends money to me even since the court order lapsed. He bought this car for me too. I walked out of the house on my sixteenth birthday to find a tow truck leaving it in the driveway.”
“That’s … wow. I’m not sure what to say about that,” JT mulls, expression thoughtful. “I mean, it’s cool that he cares enough to make sure you are provided for, but I guess that’s not really what a kid wants.”
“Got it in one,” I agree, liking how insightful he is. “But I hardly know him now so I don’t feel his loss like I did when I was younger.”
“Yeah, I know but still. That really sucks for you.”
The car is silent, the heaviness settling between us as JT chews on his bottom lip, clearly bothered by my story. I am at peace with it now though, have had enough years and expensive therapy to close that chapter on my life.
“Sometimes I wonder whether I’d be happier in a broken home,” JT says, his voice pitched so low I have to strain to hear him.
“Why, JT?”
“I don’t know,” he shrugs. “I feel wrong saying this to you since you actually live it. I know I should feel grateful for being in a family like mine.”
