CHAPTER THIRTEEN TABATHA

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

TABATHA

I stand next to my dad as I watch Dash work his way through the sharp turns of the raceway. It makes me nervous. What if he wrecks? What if the bike runs over him? I don't know much about racers on bikes, but I've seen crashes before on the internet—they are not pretty.

I smile like an idiot as I think back over our last two nights together. They were amazing. I just wish we didn't have to keep it a secret, but I don't want to jeopardize his future. He doesn't think my dad would kick him off the team, and maybe he wouldn't, but there would still be consequences and I'm trying hard to prevent that.

I look over my shoulder when I hear a car pulling up, thinking it's Jackie. She called me an hour ago and said she was coming up here with Blake. I frown though when I see a girl get out of the car who I don't recognize. She has a tiny skirt on that looks to be three sizes too small and a shirt that a six-year-old would be seen dressed in with no bra on.

"Valerie," my father says turning around to greet her.

"Hello, Mr. Knight," she says walking over to us. "How is he doing?" she asks as her eyes look over the track.

"He's doing great. Just like I knew he would," my father responds.

I stand stiff as a board as my eyes move back and forth between them wondering who in the hell this woman is and how she knows my dad.

Her eyes finally land on mine, and her smile drops off her face when she reads my shirt. "I didn't know you already had shirts made," she says looking back to my father.

"Hmm?" He looks over at me and smiles. "Oh, I just realized that," my father says with a chuckle but doesn't respond to her question.

"I'm Tabatha," I say reaching out my hand to her, trying to be polite, but I can already tell that I don't like this woman. Maybe she is Dash's sister? He did tell me that he was an only child, though.

Her smile returns, but it looks more evil than friendly. "I'm Valerie." She pauses. "Dash's girlfriend."

I stare at her waiting for her to laugh or to say she's kidding; there's no way she is Dash's girlfriend. He doesn't have one. Does he?

"Girlfriend?" I choke on the word. Have I been sleeping with a man who was unavailable in the first place? If so, where in the hell has she been?

"Yes, sweet pea," my father answers as he looks down at me with a look of concern for my hearing. "This is Valerie. She was with Dash the day I picked him up."

She laughs. "You mean the day you had us arrested."

"What?" I ask getting more and more confused. "When did you arrest him?" Her eyes narrow on mine as I have no concern that she was arrested, only Dash.

"It was no big deal. I called in a favor from the cops," my dad says, waving off my concern. "Dash was a hard man to get a hold of."

She looks over at my dad. "He was so excited. He ended up throwing a party that night at his parents'," she informs him, and I feel my heart stop.

Party? Parents? He had just been with her earlier that day and then with me that night? I think I'm gonna be sick.

"Does he know that you were coming up here today?" I can't help but ask. They look at me like I've lost my mind. Like I'm asking questions that I shouldn't be asking, but I need to get some answers because obviously Dash hasn't been telling me the truth.

"He does," she says slowly as she eyes me skeptically. "I've been out of town for Spring Break, and I text him early this morning."

I swallow nervously. Early this morning? His phone only went off once before he told me he turned it off—he had said that it was Blake. Another lie!

"Will you excuse me?" I mumble before I lower my head and start to walk to my car. I've been sleeping with her boyfriend. Hell, I spent two days in bed with him, naked.

I take a deep breath as I run my hand through my hair. This can't be happening! I feel my eyes start to fill with tears and my throat tighten. I'm not that type of girl. I would never get with someone who has a girlfriend.

I hear the sound of his bike nearing my father and Valerie as he finishes his last lap, and I angrily brush the tears off my face.

I walk around the concession stand and make my way to the parking lot when I'm grabbed from behind and shoved up against the brick wall.

My eyes narrow as I look up at Dash. Sweat covers his forehead and he's breathing heavy. He's still wearing his riding leathers, but he has them hanging off his hips. "I can explain."

"I don't need any more of your lies," I shout.

He looks over his shoulder to see if anyone is around to hear us before returning his eyes back to me. "It's not what you think. She's lying to you."

I fist my hands down by my side. "So, my father is also lying to me?"

He takes a step back from me giving me some breathing room as he runs his hand through his long dark and sweaty hair. "He thought she was my girlfriend when he arrested us. I didn't correct him," he says angrily.

"Why was she even with you?" I demand. "Did you sleep with her that day and then sleep with me that night?" I take a step toward him and place my hand on his chest shoving him out of my way, not even caring to hear his answer. I already know it.

I walk past him, and he grabs my upper arm before yanking me back. "No," he growls. "I didn't sleep with her that day and you're the only girl I've been fucking," he snaps.

My eyes widen at his words then they narrow. "You are nothing but a lying son of a bitch," I spit in his face.

"I'm not lying," he shouts as his dark gray eyes bore into mine.

Lie. "So that really was Blake who text you this morning?" I already know the answer. Why would she have lied to me? She doesn't have any reason to lie to me, but him…?

He releases me. He doesn't say anything as he breathes heavily and stares down at me with narrowed eyes and a tight jaw. His silence tells me more than his words can. He lied. It really was her. He really does have a girlfriend. And I really have fallen for him. ‘Cause, otherwise, it wouldn't hurt this bad. The betrayal I feel wouldn't cut so deep.

I wouldn't be here fighting with him. I would have gotten into my car and left. I wouldn't have wanted him to tell me that she was lying. He would have had an explanation for everything I just asked.

I hang my head and take a deep breath trying to calm my nerves. My chest is tight, and my eyes sting.

I watch as his black riding boots take a step toward me, and then I feel his hands in my hair. I swallow the lump in my throat and close my eyes as he softly pulls my head up so I will have to look at him.

"She means nothing to me," he says softly.

And it makes my heart hurt even more. How can he treat her this way? She truly thinks that she is his girlfriend, and he has been stringing her along. How long will he do that to me?

"Please look at me," he begs, and I slowly open my eyes.

"I'm sorry," he whispers as he lets go of my hair and wipes away the tear that runs down my cheek. "I have lied to you." He closes his eyes and exhales as if to admit that hurt him. He opens them and looks back down at me. "And that ends right now. I'll tell you everything tonight. Please don't leave like this. Mad at me." He runs a hand through my hair. "I want to tell you everything. I just need one more chance."

"I shouldn't be giving you one more chance," I say truthfully. I mean, I've known the guy for what a week now, maybe two, and he's been lying to me.

He licks his lips nervously as he looks up and scans the back part of the parking lot. I know my dad is probably wondering where in the hell he is.

"I know." He sighs looking back at me. "But I'm begging you. Just give me one chance to explain everything to you, and then if you want, I'll leave you alone."

What could there possibly be to explain? If she's just an ex then why is she so important? Then a thought hits me and I freeze. "Do you guys have a child?" I love children. That wouldn't push me away if that were the case.

"No," he snaps and then lets out a long breath. "I have no children," he finishes through gritted teeth.

I nod my head, confused by his anger at my question. "I have to get back." His eyes soften as he speaks. "Please don't leave. Stay here. And I'll make everything right." He leans down and places his lips on mine. I stand totally still at first. But after a few seconds, I open up and allow him to kiss me. Once again, I fall into him and allow him to take what he wants from me. It's different with him than it was with Rodger because I want it from Dash just as much as he wants it from me. I wanna lose myself in him.

He slows the kiss down and pulls away. "I gotta go, baby." He lightly kisses my forehead and then looks down at me.

"Go," I whisper. "I'm not going anywhere," I say, and I give him a small smile.