Chapter 13

AirplaneMode - BONES

When the guys and I pull up to the house, I find Sayshen's bike parked in the driveway with both helmets resting neatly on the seat. The team all file in behind me, shutting down their bikes and stepping off to stretch. The ride from the track to the beach house isn't long, but after we lost the race Sunday, Coach forced us all to stay at the track for a few extra days to practice, leaving our bodies pretty much done. Which is awesome considering we have to be back there tonight to prepare for this weekend"s races.

Dad didn't buy the story I gave Andre. He might not have made the drive down here himself to check on Sayshen, but he knows something is up. Sayshen and I have never missed a race, and we've been sick for plenty of them. The team has just always come first. Exactly like he wanted. It's how he raised us. So having Sayshen sit out this past weekend, and not even be at the track to spectate and cheer for the guys definitely raised some concerns with Dad.

I have no doubt that is exactly why, even though the race ended Sunday, Dad is still hanging around the pits and planning to stay until this weekend"s races are over. He made special arrangements with work just to be able to stay here. He even had his girlfriend drive him up a bag of clothing and their little pop up camper so he had somewhere to stay. Which means I need to get Sayshen back to the track as soon as possible.

We have barely spoken since he left with Bexley on the back of his bike, and though the track was relatively quiet with no more altercations with Christian, I still have this gut feeling it's not the end of it. Can't even say I'd blame him for starting shit. I'd be pissed too if I lost a girl like Bexley.

"Damn, I'm pumped to hit the beach," Reign adds as he pulls his helmet off his head before placing it on the seat of his bike."You think it's cold?"

"Shit, I don't even care. Ain't no way I'm not hitting the beach before we head back, bruv," Thorne adds, nudging Reign with his shoulder. Wolfe and Reign take off up the stairs, pushing and shoving each other excitedly along the way.

"Baby Shaw, Daddy's home! Where you at, man," Cruz coos, as he heads up the narrow staircase to the upper deck dragging Lena along behind him. Shaking my head with amusement, I climb off my bike and rest my helmet on the back before following them up.

"I'll be up in a minute. Need to make a few calls for Ma about some issues at the restaurant," Draygon explains before strolling down the long palm tree lined driveway with his phone pressed to his ear. His parents moved here from Korea when his mom was pregnant. They opened up a small Korean restaurant in downtown Tampa using all his mom's old family recipes and surprisingly, though downtown Tampa is a difficult place to start out for restaurants due to competition, it took off. Now, it's one of the busiest restaurants in the city. Since they don't speak much English, Draygon is left to handle most of the business side of things. He bitches about it, but secretly, we all know he actually loves it. That guy fucking loves his food.

The salty ocean breeze blows past me as I make my way up the narrow staircase to the deck, and when I take that last step I'm thrown back by what my eyes find. Laying on her stomach in one of the long black wicker lounges, is fucking Bexley Larson.

She's wearing what has to be the tiniest neon green bikini I think anyone has ever worn. The way it hugs her curves should be fucking illegal. Her thick dark hair is pulled up into a messy bun on the top of her head with a white scrunchie. A pair of aviator glasses cover her deadly hazel eyes as she lies sprawled out in the sun with the same sketchbook she dropped at the track. Drawing away like she doesn't have a care in the world. My eyes trail along her, taking in each inch of her perfect body. The deep purple bruising left by Christian is barely visible in the sunlight.

Fucking hell, she is gorgeous. So much so that I have to turn my eyes away from her and toward the ocean to keep myself calm. But what is she doing here? I thought I told my brother to bring here here just until shit settled down, and then he could take her to her friend Cece's? I don't know why I am even surprised he didn't listen to me. I should've expected this with how badly he has wanted her, and I handed her right to him. I should've known he'd never let her go.

Maybe I did. Maybe that's why I did it. After all, though I don't want to admit it, part of me is happy to find her here. Because since the night I found her, I haven't been able to shake her from my thoughts. Shit, maybe in some twisted fairytale in my head, I sent her with Sayshen that night because I knew this is exactly what would happen.

Exactly what I wanted to happen.

But why would I want that? After all, the more she's around, the less Sayshen or I will be able to focus on racing, and we can't afford to not be focused. Especially with Dad at the pits waiting for us and now having to watch our back for retaliation from Christian. Which means she has to go, and she has to go as soon as possible.

"What are you doing here?" I spit, trying to sound annoyed by her presence. The rest of the guys have all taken seats around the deck. Some joined Bexley on the wicker patio set, others leaning over the railing while they look out at the beach.

She lifts her eyes to mine, clearly thrown off by my question. Looking down on her, I can't help but notice how good her ass looks in the thin thong bottom of her bikini. The neon green color is almost a perfect match to the Demons team logo color, and the perfect compliment to her sun kissed skin.

Averting my eyes, I clear my throat. "I said, what are you still doing here?" I ask again.

"Talon, chill man. Leave the girl alone," Cruz chimes in from one of the chairs across the deck. Lena eyes me from Cruz's lap as she swirls the golden hair at the nape of his neck between her fingers.

I know my issues with Bexley are not something the team shares. They all think she's good for Sayshen, and maybe in some ways she is. But she's not good for his racing career. She's not good for the team, and she sure as fuck isn't good for me. Especially when she's lying about in barely any goddamn clothes.

Sitting up, she places her notebook down on the chair beside her and pushes her glasses up to rest on her head, "I thought you knew I was here? I mean, you sent me away with your brother after─"

"Yeah, well, I didn't know that meant you'd be residing with us. I thought he'd keep you for a night and be done with it."

She scoffs. "So you thought you'd get me away from my abusive ex, hand me to your little brother, and he would what? Just bring me back to this adorable beach house, woo me for a few hours, and I'd spend the night riding his dick before he dropped me off in the morning. Is that it?" she adds with an accusatory tone.

I don't answer her. Because, for once, I find myself unsure of how to respond. She's not necessarily wrong. Part of me has always thought that most likely that"s exactly what Sayshen would do, though he has always denied it. I think I always just assumed that yeah, maybe he thought she was different, but the moment he finally got a taste of her, he'd realize I was right all along and drop her. It would be like she never existed.

Clearly, what he's been telling us all these years, is the truth.

Which means I shouldn't want her.

Yet, I can't stop thinking about her.

Sayshen and I have shared girls before. But never a girl that ever meant anything. None of them ever mattered. The more I push Sayshen away from Bex, the more I'm starting to see that she does genuinely mean something to him. And though she is a distraction to both of us, I can't honestly say that I don't feel the same way. There is just something about her I can't shake, and I don't know if I want to.

"What's going on?" Sayshen asks as he makes his way out onto the deck in only a pair of swim trunks. He runs his hand through his hair as he brings himself to stand next to me.

"What the hell is she still doing here? Is she why you haven't been back to the track for practices this week? You know we lost, right?" I ask, stepping close to my brother.

"Yeah, I know we lost. Reign filled me in. It's not a big deal. It was the first race of the season. Now we at least have a better idea of who to watch out for on the track," Sayshen replies.

I laugh, crossing my arms over my chest. "Do we? Because you haven't been there to watch, to study anyone's movement or lines. You've been too busy playing house, apparently."

"Talon," he hisses, clearly pissed off . "Can I talk to you inside? Alone." Sayshen opens the door to the house, gesturing for me to follow him inside. Everyone's eyes seem to have fallen on me, and they don't look pleased. They're looking at me like I'm the asshole, and maybe I am, but I find myself confused about how one girl made an entire team forget about their goal.

Winning.

Reign sits on the lounge next to me and picks up my sketchbook as Talon and Sayshen head inside. His hood is pulled up over his head to shade his buzz cut from the radiating sun. He pulls off his thick black Oakley glasses and hangs them on the collar of the oversized tee he has on underneath as he flips through the pages.

"Damn, Larson. You got some serious talent," he explains in an effort to break the awkward silence that seems to have taken over the deck.

"Thanks. They're nothing special," I reply, appreciating that he's trying to make me feel more comfortable.

"So what, are you like a designer then?" he asks as he continues flipping through the pages.

"Well, not yet," I laugh. "But I hope to be, one day."

"Is that what you take in school?" Cruz shouts from the chair where he and Lena are sitting. "Baby Shaw mentioned you were in college, but never said what for."

"Yep," I nod. "This will be my second year."

"That's sick though. Good for you, girl." Reign adds with encouragement. I'm thankful for his genuine support. Thankfully, despite everything, the team and Lena have been nothing but kind to me. Well, that is except for Talon. His hot and cold behavior confuses the fuck out of me.

Sayshen did tell me Talon isn't my biggest fan. He's even told me why, but I'm not sure why he seems to think I'd ever allow myself to be a distraction for Sayshen. After spending the last few days with him, and catching up, I know how important racing is to him. To his team and to his family. I'd never want to be the thing that changes that. What"s confusing is I've never done anything to him or his brother for him to think that would be my goal, so I'm not sure where his hatred for me stems. I mean if he hates me so much, why did he step in that night. Why bring me right to Sayshen afterward?

Something in me feels like his hatred is an act. A front to hide feelings he doesn't want to admit. Maybe it's because of how Sayshen feels about me, which I could understand. I definitely don't want to be the cause of tension between them. Especially right at the start of the race season. All I know is that night, when Christian had me pinned against the trailer, and my eyes locked with Talon's, I felt something.

And I thought he did too.

"No, really. I mean it. You got skills, girl," Reign laughs, pulling me back from my thoughts. "It's clear you have an eye for it. I wouldn't be surprised to see your designs on the runway next to that dude's," he adds, trying to play it off like he knows the name of any designers, as he hands me the sketchbook and rises to his feet.

Thorne laughs loudly as he pushes off the railing and sits next to Wolfe on one of the couches. "Bruv, you wouldn't know fashion if it sat on your face. Stop chattin' shit and leave the girl alone, ay."

"I wanna see!" Lena shouts excitedly. Her long, beachy blonde hair swaying behind her as she makes her way over. The cute jean shorts and white bikini top she chose to wear today reveal the ink that paints her tanned skin. Lena has a certain aura about her. She's confident, kind but also super badass, and to be honest I kind of envy her. To be so sure of yourself, so comfortable in your own skin, is a true blessing.

Sitting beside me, she takes the book from my hand and flips through the pages. "Oh, I love this one," she explains as she points to a small short and blazer set I designed for one of my student projects last year. "Reign is right! Your designs are all so cute." Her bright blue eyes lift to mine, and I can tell her responses are genuine. "If you ever need a model, or anything, I'd love to help. I mean I don't know much about fashion either, but I'm willing to learn. That is if you ever want to guide me and give me some pointers," she laughs.

"Yeah, I'd love that," I add feeling hopeful. Having Lena be so kind toward me is something I'm thankful for. Especially with her being the only other girl in the group. They've all been so welcoming to me, just like Sayshen said they would. Well, all except Talon.

"Yo, let"s hit the beach. I'm fucking melting out here," Reign shouts.

Cruz laughs, "Maybe cause you're the only idiot wearing a fucking hoodie today, dick weed."

"Well, I'm ready to hit the beach," Wolfe adds in. "I saw some top notch babes heading down that way when we first got up here, and let me tell you…so fucking hot."

"Well, if Wolfey boy here has a shot at some pussy, how can we say no?" Cruz replies as he grabs Lena and tosses her over his shoulder. She screams playfully and pats his back, cheering him on as he hops from foot to foot. "You coming, Bex?"

"Hey, all I said was babes, I didn't say fuck all about them having pussies," he replies with a wink. I didn't know Wolfe was bisexual, but I can't say I'm surprised. After all I have seen him checking out Thorne once or twice, though I seem to be the only one who notices it.

"I think I'll just hang around here for now, I want to finish this design while it's fresh in my mind," It's a lie. I don't want to head down to the beach, not without knowing how things are going with Sayshen and Talon inside. I know their fight is about me, so taking off to swim at the beach just doesn't feel right.

"Suit yourself. But don't let their little quarrel keep you from enjoying yourself today, okay? They'll figure it out. They always do," Cruz adds. "To the beach!" he shouts, throwing his fist up to the air before he takes off down the stairs with Lena still draped over his shoulder.

They all take off down the stairs to the driveway and toward the beach. Rising from the large wicker lounger, I make my way to the railing and watch as they all run off toward the ocean. All accept Sayshen and Talon of course. Guilt-ridden, I turn, focusing my attention inside to where I know they're arguing. Because of me.

Clearly, though I've been welcomed into the circle by most of the team and into the house by Sayshen, Talon still has something against me and that is only causing problems for them. Right now, the best thing for me to do, for everyone, is to pack my bags and go stay with Cece.

It won't be easy, and it could very well be a dangerous move if Christian ever decides to pop in there looking for me. But it's better than causing problems for the team, or for Talon and Sayshen. It doesn't matter that I've grown to feel safe here, or that honestly, this is the only place I want to be right now.

Heading inside, their voices echo through the empty beach house, but I do my best to ignore them as I quietly walk across the open living space and up the stairs to Sayshen's room. The door clicks closed behind me, and I grab the bag and start to pack my things.

Well, it was fun while it lasted.