Racing Hearts (Hollows Garage Book 3)
Racing Hearts: Chapter 32

The next day, I was standing in the kitchen when a knock at the door made me freeze.

Jax had gone out, saying he needed to grab a few things before we left, and I knew that no one else here would be knocking.

Riot barked once and ran to the door, his little tail wagging fast when he smelled under the door.

“Hello?” I asked, not knowing who Riot would be excited to see.

“It’s only me, Carly. Calm down and open the door.”

“Why are you knocking?” I asked, still not opening it.

“Because you told me I get to be my romantic self, and that self wants to pick you up for a date.”

I rolled my eyes. “Are you serious?”

“Completely.”

I finally pulled open the door. Jax was on the other side, a bouquet of what looked like roses in his hand, the deep red a harsh contrast against his black leather jacket.

As usual, he was smiling, handing the flowers over to me and leaning down to kiss my cheek.

“This is all a little cliche, don’t you think?”

He pulled me close, careful not to crush the flowers that were between us.

“Come on, little witch. I let you tease me even when I’m following after you like a damn puppy dog. Let me have this because I am already having so much fun.”

It was clear he wasn’t lying. The playful smile on his lips made it look like he really was having the time of his life.

“Fine, but you can’t be this cheesy all the time. What is this? A dozen red roses? It really is a little cliche.”

He rolled his eyes this time, letting out a dramatic breath. “Give me a little more credit than that and actually look at the flowers.”

My eyes dropped, looking down at the bouquet in my hands.

There were the red roses, the deep crimson red beautiful and almost black in places, but mixed in were actual black ones. The deep gray and black color making the red ones even more crisp.

“You added black roses?”

“Yes, I thought you might like something to match that cold, black heart. Plus, I knew you were going to give me shit for the flowers, so I thought this might appeal to that darker side of you. Based on your smile, it seems to be working.”

I pulled my smile back into a frown.

“Alright grump, do you want to go on a date with me or do you want to pout all night that I brought you flowers?”

I was quiet for a second, almost too stunned to speak that he did this for me. He thought to go out and get me flowers, take me out on a date, and I was already looking forward to whatever other ridiculously cheesy thing he had planned because now that I knew Jax, I knew there would be more.

And worst of all, I knew that I would love every second.

At some point, I was going to have to reel these feelings in and remind myself that I had a life to go create, but right now, I couldn’t care about anything other than the man standing in front of me. The one currently running a hand through my hair and pulling me closer.

“I want to go out on a date with you,” I finally said.

His smile grew, and he leaned down, catching my lips with his. In seconds, it turned from a simple kiss to him moving the flowers out of the way and helping me onto the counter. His kiss was so slow at first, so deep that I ran out of breath. He pulled back, letting me breath before brushing his lips and tongue against me again. Then he was everywhere. Stroking my tongue, my teeth, the roof of my mouth. I already knew my lips had to be turning red. He nipped at my bottom lip, pulling it between his teeth before moving back to my tongue.

“Maybe we should stay home.”

“As much as I want to say yes, not a chance,” I said. “I’m too curious to see what you have planned.”

“I knew you were going to fall for all my charm and romance. Come on, let’s go before I drag you to bed.”

“Where are we going?”

“One of my favorite places, but I have something else to show you first.”

He grabbed my hand, pulling me downstairs until we were out in front of the apartment.

As soon as we stepped outside, I saw it.

“My truck?”

He went over, opening the driver’s side door.

“Yep. All fixed up and ready to go. Although, tonight will be the true test of that, so don’t hold me to it being completely fixed.”

“But you drove it here?”

“I did, and we are going to take it to the drive-in to watch a movie. The crew is already headed there, so come on. Let’s go.”

I laughed as I pulled myself up into the driver’s seat before turning to face him. “You want to take me on a date, but are bringing your entire group of friends?”

“I kind of told them what I was planning, and they invited themselves. Is it a problem?” His face scrunched, and I realized he was truly asking, worried I wouldn’t like that they would be there.

“Not at all. I love them. But I think it’s funny. You guys are the definition of a package deal.”

“Pretty much. It’s been that way for as long as I could remember. I barely think about it now. One of us goes somewhere, there’s a parade behind them.”

“I actually like it. Can I start this?” I asked, turning back to the steering wheel. I loved this truck. It was old, and slow, and a little beat up, but there would never be another car like it to me.

“You’re going to have to drive it, so yes, get going.”

Another five minutes went by as Jax told me everything he did, and then we were headed down the road. There was so much freedom wrapped up in having my truck back. I wasn’t stuck anywhere. All of my options were back.

I could leave at any moment with ease.

I looked over at Jax, a reality that I had pushed aside crashing down around me.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” I asked.

“You looked so happy. It’s hard to look away from,” he said.

“Thank you. For fixing my truck, for letting me stay with you, for a million other things.”

“Stop,” he said, his tone harsh.

“Stop what?”

“Breaking up with me before we even go on an actual date.”

“I wasn’t —”

“Stop, Carly. I knew the moment you had your truck back, you would be ready to leave. I wasn’t going to try taking that from you, but please, please, don’t try to run out tonight.”

“I wasn’t leaving tonight,” I said quietly. “I’m looking forward to spending it with you.”

“Okay then. You’re welcome for everything else.”

The inside of the truck went quiet as I turned onto the main road, shifting until I ran out of gears and it went comfortably down the road at fifty-five miles an hour.

“It’s running better than ever.”

“Good. I was hoping that would be the case. I upgraded a few things that should help it at least reach the speed limit easier.” Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ ꜰindNʘvel.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

We made it to the drive-in without a problem, and I pulled the truck in next to the rest of the crew’s cars. The colorful lineup made me laugh as I pulled my truck in. The faded, dull green was not quite as fun as theirs. By the time I got out, Jax was already in the bed of the truck, moving things around as I peered in, Kye coming up next to me.

“For once, I’m jealous of an old, slow-as-fuck truck,” Kye said. “That looks a hell of a lot more comfortable than my hood.”

Jax unrolled what could only be described as a sea of blankets and pillows until the back of the truck was a fluffy, perfect bed that I wanted to sink into.

I moved to lean towards him as Kye went back to his car. “This is really sweet.”

“And you hate it?” he asked, the honesty of the question heartbreaking.

“No, not at all. I love it.”

The smile that lit up his face made me step back, but he followed, kissing my forehead. “I’m going to get food and drinks. Get comfortable,” he said, leaning down to my ear. “Really comfortable.”

Heat shot through me and I leaned back on the tailgate, watching as he walked away. I couldn’t keep my eyes off of him. I could see him at the stand, ordering us food, and for a moment I couldn’t breathe.

He was here with me. For right now, he was mine, and I guess that I was his.

Ash was saying something, making me turn back.

“What?” I asked, realizing she was talking to me.

“I asked how it’s going. You two seem…cozy. We were all a little worried after the races, and someone didn’t text us back.”

I couldn’t hide my laugh. We hadn’t texted anyone back, deciding to spend the entire day alone in the apartment instead. “Yeah, things are good for now.”

“For now?” Scout asked.

“Yeah, I mean, the truck is done, so I guess I’ll still have to go soon.”

Their faces scrunched. “You know,” Quinn said. “You can just…not. You don’t have to leave. And it seems like things are going good for you two, so why leave?”

“Because I don’t know if staying is the right choice. I’ve never tried anything else. What if I choose this and never try anything else and then Jax gets sick of me? I would have nothing else. No one else.” I was trying not to spiral into my desperate, negative thoughts, but it was all true. I trusted Jax, but that didn’t mean I could suddenly trust him with forever.

“I don’t think Jax is going to be upset if you build a life for yourself, how ever you want it. I mean, he did already show that he’s ready to help you with building a business. Staying doesn’t mean you have to do nothing else with your life.”

“He seems to have more belief in me than I have in me. I really wish he wouldn’t have done all of that.”

“Sometimes you need that,” Ash said with a shrug. “Fox had more belief than me that I would go back to racing. I would be having a panic attack from just sitting in the car, and he still believed I could do it. From personal experience, let someone believe in you.”

“Plus, bonus, we all believe in you too,” Scout said. “We’re not quite as overwhelming about it as Jax, but we do.”

“It’s surprising to me that you all are so supportive when I’m not even a part of your group.”

They all looked at each other and back at me.

“What are you talking about?” Quinn asked. “Why wouldn’t you be?”

“Just that…I know you have all been nice to me, but I also understand I’m not exactly a part of this little family you’ve made.”

Quinn was the first one to shake her head. “To you, it might not seem that way, but we are more than happy to let you be a part of all of it. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the only reason you don’t feel like you are is because you are keeping yourself a bit separated. We understood why, with you wanting to leave and not get attached, but if you want to be a part of our group, you have a place here waiting with your name on it.”

I stared at them, taking in what she said. I knew as soon as she said it that she was right. I was the one keeping the distance, but I didn’t really know how else to be. I kept to myself so much that I never knew how to open up and have friends.

“Thank you,” I finally said. “Thanks for saying that and for how nice you all have been. I don’t know what I’m doing next, but I appreciate you three.”

All three of them smiled and pulled me into a hug.

For what felt like the thousandth time since I met them all, I felt like crying. I thought I was doing good, keeping my distance so that I could leave without a problem, and not involve them in my mess, but it’s obvious I was failing at that, too.

Now, I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to do.

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