4. Kye

FOUR

KYE

There wasn't much that surprised me anymore. I got used to life handing me the most ridiculous things, and I learned to deal with them as they came. But Daisy Wells, of all people, jumping me last night and kissing me was one of the biggest surprises of my life.

Another girl might not have been as much of a surprise. There were plenty over the years that literally threw themselves at me. The perfect prom queen even approaching me felt ridiculous, but kissing me?

I wasn't a fan of touching anyone, but over the years, I'd learned to handle the feelings that went with it. Sometimes it was pure disgust, my body going cold and clammy, my stomach rolling like I might puke.

Other times, it was pain. Pure blinding pain that seemed to wash over me in waves until I wanted to scream. Pins and needles and knives were skin met skin.

When Daisy threw herself at me, I had braced for either of those, but it hadn't come. I had waited and waited, but I hadn't been disgusted or in pain. My body had quieted when her legs wrapped around me, when her lips found mine for the second time, when her hand pushed through my hair once.

Complete silence.

I shook the thoughts of it from my mind as I pulled into Holt's offices behind Ash, Scout, and Fox. Maybe I had just been too stoned. Yesterday hadn't been a good day, and I knew today was going to be rough so I might have overdone it last night.

That had to be it.

I wished I was already stoned today. Holt had a meeting with us, more specifically for me, because I had been arrested the day before last. I didn't think it was my fault, but Holt didn't seem to care that the other guy actually owed me his car and wasn't giving it up. When I had politely reminded him that he owed me a car, he called the cops for assault.

"This is bullshit and you guys know it," I said, pushing my hat back on.

"It doesn't matter. It's enough that my dad is worried about you being added to the list of racers so today is judgment day," Ash said.

I groaned, following behind them as we made our way up to Holt's office that overlooked the track.

I had been here plenty of times, and even had a talk or two with Holt about cleaning up my rap sheet, but this was the first time, he had called an official meeting.

There had been plenty of back-and-forth conversation about me being one of his rally drivers, with the hope to one day help him expand into different stunt driving. He told me from the beginning he liked the way I drove, and I liked the way he helped Ash and Scout with their careers, but it wasn't until recently that I actually thought I could have a spot as a driver.

It wasn't a job I ever entertained—the idea of being paid to drive a daydream—and I never thought it would actually happen. I was a poor kid from a bad life, even having the chance to own a garage with the crew felt so far out of reach, but it happened. I didn't want to believe this could happen, too. I still agreed to the formal meeting, bringing Ash, Fox, and Scout along to help with whatever shit Holt was going to throw at me.

When we finally sat down at the oversized meeting table, I knew I made the right choice based on how Holt was looking at me.

"Well, I'm happy to see you showed up. I had some concerns you were going to think this was a joke."

"No," I said, sitting up a little straighter. "I know what's on the line this time."

"I wasn't sure based on the arrest days ago."

"Dad," Ash said. "You want him on your team, don't start the conversation with insults."

"I wasn't trying to insult him, it's the facts. I do want you on my team, Kye, but the rap sheet you have makes me worried that this isn't going to be a serious career for you, more of a hobby, and I don't pay for hobbies."

"I wouldn't expect you to. The arrests have nothing to do with how seriously I would take this. I'm here for a reason today."

"I already know you can race well. I've seen you drive and think you have plenty of talent, but I can't have any of my drivers getting in trouble constantly. The company's image relies on you being responsible and not causing any worry that you could be a risk on the track."

I could feel my heart rate picking up, that I could actually have this in my life made me shake in anticipation.

"I can do that," I said. "It makes sense that you want any employee or racer to stay straight. I can handle it."

Holt was already shaking his head. "You say that, but nothing you have done has shown it."

"So what?" Fox asked. "You brought us down here to tell him he doesn't have to spot?"

"No," Holt said, shooting him a look. I knew Fox had grown more comfortable with Holt over the years and wasn't worried about saying what needed to be said. Somehow, Holt had come to like him more for it. If I opened my mouth right now, though, I would be out. "I'm saying that Kye needs to prove he can be a stand-up employee off the track before I consider him to be a stand-up racer on the track. No arrests, keep working hard, and show that you can maintain stability in your life. Your friends all seemed to have figured it out. They found their girlfriends, settled down a bit, and it's working out. I don't care what you do, but I need you to show that you can handle this type of responsibility."

"You expect me to clean up my act by not getting arrested and getting a girlfriend?" I asked, my throat tighter now.

"I expect you to clean up the act, Kye, however that needs to happen, and make it clear you are serious about this. Prove that, and we can start working on a strong career for you."

I held back my eye roll. The only thing in my life I was serious about was cars and racing. How the hell would I approve that any more than I already had?