Unsocial (53 page)

It doesn’t take long at all to get caught up in the qualifying
heats. The noise of the crowd and the motors get all our attention.  Jax grabs
a beer for himself as well as me and Brooke then gets a drink for Luke. He
grumbles, but there is no fucking way he’s drinking beer in front of our social
worker even though it would be easy for him to pass as 21. Still, it ain’t
happening.

When the third heat runners began lining up Brooke perks up,
probably looking for Shriller’s bike.  When she points it out, I have to admit
it’s impressive. “There’s Adam.”

“Why the hell is his bike and suit green,” I ask out loud.
Seriously, could that color be any more girly?

“Green is the color of envy, and he likes the other racers to look
at him with envy.”

“Which they do,” says my brother. “He’s number one right now in
the world.  Just got through running the South America circuit and took home
the numbers and the trophies in every race. He has a European tour starts in a
few months.” I seriously want to slap him upside the back of his hero worship
head.

Brooke reaches over and grabs onto Luke’s arm as they both move to
the front of their seats, and I roll my eyes.  We texted back and forth about
me meeting Adam today, and I assured her I was fine after she told me over and
over that she and Adam were just friends. But watching her get all fan-girly is
causing some very unhealthy emotions to shudder through me.

When the green light goes on, the stands erupt more than they had
the previous two races. Shriller and Thriller are flying off everyone’s lips as
they cheer him on.  I watch stunned as he pulls off some aerials and difficult
tricks that I’m ashamed to say would scare the shit out of me to try.  I’ve
done some bike riding, and I love chasing speed in cars and on bikes, but
watching this fucker fly is just a bit emasculating for the rest of us mere
mortals.
He’s fucking good.
And of course, he takes the fucking
checkered flag. The crowd is going ballistic just adding to the adrenaline rush
of being in this atmosphere. After the race, we head down to the pit to meet
Adam Shriller.

Well, here goes nothing.

As soon as the ass sees Brooke he’s on her, picking her up and
swinging her around.  He’s got the top of his suit pulled down showing a
Shriller Racing shirt underneath.  I admit, for a dude he’s impressively
built.  Not quite like Jax and me as far as muscles go, but he’s defined, and
the chicks in the pits passing by are checking him out just as much as they’re
checking the three of us out. Watching him with his arm around her shoulders is
starting to get on my last nerve, and it’s taking everything I have in me not
to knock his ass to the ground. Yep, not going to go well.
Shake it off,
man.
"Brooke! Holy shit, how long has it been?"

The fucker holds her at arms length so he can rake his eyes all
down her body, not once but fucking twice. My hands are fisted so tight I can’t
tell if it’s sweat or blood from my fingernails making them feel wet. 
"Not even a year, dumbass,” she says back laughing. “You do remember Alex
and me coming to see you in June.”

He assesses her body for way too damn long, again, "Yeah, but
the months have been good to ya, sweetheart.”

I feel my eyes narrow. Yep, I'm going to kill him. She just laughs
it off, "Thanks, Adam. Hey, I want you to meet my friends."

Friends
. I cringe. He looks back
at us and then back at Brooke, "Well hell, Brooke, when you said you
wanted to bring your friends I was picturing blonds, brunettes, or some
redheads with tits and ass. Maybe of the cheerleader variety.”

"Yeah, because I know so many of any of those varieties, and
besides you don’t need any of my help getting girls.  The last time they were
hanging all outside your rig.” They walk over to us, and Brooke introduces us,
"This is Jax, Luke, and Dylan."

I want to put my arm around Brooke’s waist and tell him flat out
that she's mine, but I can't, and it's killing me. He shakes all of our hands,
"Nice to meet you guys. So just friends, huh?"

He eyes me when he asks that, and before I can reply Luke speaks
up, "Actually Brooke is our social worker, well Dylan’s and mine."

Shriller
looks at me, "Oh?”
Then he smiles back down at Brooke, who’s still tucked under one of his arms.
“I’d say you two lucked out all around in social workers. All the ones I knew
looked like my grandma.”

Brooke punches him in the abdomen. “Don’t talk about Grandma Kay
like that, you ass.  Your grandma is the coolest person I’ve ever known. I
remember her teaching me to change my oil and spark plugs, and I could do it
faster than you could.” She turns to face us, “Ask him who bought him his first
motorcycle and taught him to ride and force him to try tricks.”

“Shit, girl. Don’t say that shit so loud.” He pulls her in close
and whispers something in her ear which makes her laugh.

Swear to god, if I could get away with breaking his arms and legs,
it would be a done fucking deal in 3, 2, 1…

Luke’s voice saying my name brings me back, “Until Dylan gets
guardianship of my brother and sisters and me, Brooke is our babysitter.”

Shriller laughs at that and then
turns to me, "That’s seriously cool of you, man. You’re young to be taking
on that kind of responsibility.”

“He's done a wonderful job. They’re my best family.”

He grins and shakes his head, "I can't believe you are a
social worker. That seems so boring for you, Brooke."

I growl, "She's great at her job."

He looks at Brooke, "Of course, she is, but I know she has to
get bored sitting in an office all day.”

“She hates all the paperwork, but she gets to spend a lot of time
in the field.” Everyone is staring at me again.
Shit, maybe that sounded too
familiar.

She shakes her head, "My job is hardly boring."

"As long as you are happy. I know you worked hard to get
there.”

She smiles, "I am very happy."

Shriller
then turns back to Luke,
"So do you race?"

He shakes his head, "No just a fan. I like working on bikes
too."

"Man, there is nothing like actually doing it."

I put my hand on Luke's shoulder afraid he's going to suggest he
go for a ride. Great now I've turned into a frightened mother. I can’t decide
what personality to have today. "Luke plays football. He even has some
offers to play in college.”

Shriller
looks him up and down,
"Yeah, you look like you’re made for football. All-American type."

Brooke smiles, "He's incredible."

Shriller raises an eyebrow at her, "You've watched him play?
You hate football."

She nods, "No, I used to hate football players in high
school. But I've watched him play, and he’s
really
good.
The
way he works the crowd reminds me of you. 
Everyone
in the stands loves him.” She sounds just as proud of Luke as she
did of Shriller earlier.

Luke looks embarrassed, "It's not that big of a deal. Just a
game. Our dad played, and Dylan played."

Shriller
looks me over now,
"Hmm, I didn't have you pegged as a jock."

Jax finally opens his mouth, "Let me guess, you have a
problem with football players.”

Shriller laughs it off, "And you played football too. I would
have pegged you running more with the tough crowd Brooke and I did."

Jax smirks, "Who the hell said football players aren't tough?
I hung out with the toughest, rowdiest crowd you'll ever see in high school. We
played football and then raised hell."

Brooke laughs, "I can't picture you in high school Jax, but
I'm sure you were just as intimidating then. Okay, all of you are tough guys.”

She's mocking us, and it breaks the tension making us all laugh. Shriller
looks over at Luke, "I'm pretty sure colleges will be coming for you. 
You’re impressive.” He nods his head at me, "You play in college?"

I shake my head, "No, I wasn't anywhere near as good as Luke
is."

Brooke beams, "Dylan and Jax own Tricked, the custom car and
motorcycle shop.”

This peaks
his interest, "No
shit. That's awesome. Dad mentioned you guys opened up a second shop. Next time
I'm in town I'll have to look you guys up, I have a few cars that need some
paint. I’ve also got some bikes I want customized for my European Tour."

Now Jax is excited and slips him a card, "Hell yeah, man, we
can take care of you. And Luke is killing it in our bike department. He’s even
got some repeat customers and only been working for us a few months. We’re the
best custom shop in the Midwest.”

Great. So this isn't the only time I will see him.

Shriller
then says, "How
about we eat and talk about this some more. Luke if you think you could get
four bikes done for me by May I think we could work something out.”

I can see the excitement on Luke's face. Then my best friend
decides to irritate the hell out of me. “How about you and Brooke catch up here
while the three of us find food. What would you guys like to try? I know I’m gonna
be looking for some KC que and beer. Everyone nods in agreement at the food
choice, but as for his plan of leaving Brooke and Adam alone to catch up,
oh,
hell no.

Brooke looks at me and communicates silently, it’s okay, and I
have nothing to worry about. I still don’t like it, but what the fuck can I do?
“Yeah, sounds like a plan.”

The three of us leave my girlfriend and her famous ex in front of
his very impressive motorhome. Did I forget to mention that his rig is in
running for the Taj Mahal or wheels? I need to tour the thing when we get back.
Right now I’m making double time through the crowds to leave as little time as
I can for Brooke and race boy to “catch up.”

“Man, slow the fuck up.  What’s your hurry?” Jax asks.

I give in, "Just hungry.”

I finally spot a concession selling ribs, sandwiches, and cold
beer. Perfect. In short time, the three of us are loaded down with bags of BBQ
and brews, and I’m once again shoving through crowds like someone is chasing my
ass. When we get back, Brooke is relaxed sitting in some lawn chairs that have
been set up in front of the trailer. I leave Jax and Luke pulling out food
after setting mine down. Brooke moves over to me, "Are you okay? You seem
tense."

Of course,
I'm fucking tense. I've
just met my girlfriend’s ex, and I can't say shit to him. "I'm fine."

She nods because she knows I'm not being honest, but doesn't push
it. "He's someone you have to get used to, but he’s a good guy.”

"Yeah, seems real cool.” I know my tone is anything but
friendly, but fuck it.

She smiles, "I know he's cocky, but I'm sure he's intimidated
by you and Jax, maybe even Luke."

"Right,
" I say
sarcastically.

Speaking of the cocky little shithead, he’s walking back toward us
with a cocky little grin. "Alright, let’s eat.  Jumping trick ramps can
work up a fuckin appetite.”

Jax and Luke are already scarfing food because let’s face it; they
have no shame.  The three of us fill up some paper plates and start eating as
well.

Shriller
immediately starts
talking shop. Asking how Jax and I got started in the business.  He even
impressed all of us telling us about some of the cars and bikes he’s see
before. The man knows his stuff and knows what he likes, and he seems impressed
by Luke’s knowledge and interest in bikes.  After we’ve eaten our fill, he
shows us around the rig and shows off his bikes. Again, the motherfucker is
impressive, and I’m slightly, okay, a lot, jealous of his toys, and that’s
saying a hell of a lot considering some of my toys. As the afternoon goes on,
he introduces us to some of the other racers, and Jax is on the ball handing
out our business cards. I see a serious increase in business soon.

Jax decides he wants more beer and asks the rest of us if he can
get anything.
  Since Adam is racing, he hasn’t
been drinking anything but water, but since we’re going that way, he offers to
take us up to the entry stands, where the race participants hang out to watch
qualifying heats. “Hey, Dylan look over there. That’s Hastings waving us over. 
We need to say hi to him.” Hastings was one of our first clients in Kansas and
sent quite a bit of business our way since we opened. I turn around to check on
Brooke and notice him meandering along behind us, too slowly, again with his
arm around my girl. What the fuck, he can’t hold himself up?

After we visit with Mr. Hastings for several minutes, I turn
around to look for Brooke.  The arm around her shoulders is playing with the
ends of her hair, and I want to break every finger in his fucking hand. Instead,
I try taking deep breaths before I lose what little control I have and become
the hometown villain for killing off the hometown race hero.

This has
been one of the
most frustrating days of my life, and I love the fucking races.