Black Flag (Racing on the Edge)

by Stahl, Shey

  Jimi, who was standing next to Tracy Burke, another cup team owner who’d taken Riley Racing under his wing lately, shook his head in disbelief. His gaze darkened toward the reporter.

  Jameson leaned forward giving the reporter a hard glance, his brow pulled together. “What was that?”

  He followed up this I’m-a-complete-douche-move by saying, “Well...I...uh,” when he removed his foot from his mouth.

  Jameson said nothing more but angled his gaze toward the door. The reporter knew he’d crossed the line.

  Jameson hadn’t lost that spark of defiance that made him Rowdy Riley; the embodiment of relaxed and aloofness. His eyes gave him away though.

  There was a thin line of what is and isn’t. Jameson understood that well in this sport and building a wall around him was the only way he knew how.

  Sure, some wanted to understand him, but others only wanted to destroy.

  His gaze was long and hard, and even though I wanted to look away, I couldn’t as I was only focused on this boy fighting for his name in the record books.

  The questions shifted back to Jameson saying this was personal.

  “So when you shoved the reporter that was personal? Or when you revved your car attempting to hit the official, was that personal too?”

  Jameson’s expression showed his frustration. “You’re twisting this. I was merely making a statement.” He responded refusing to make eye contact with them.

  “Thank god this is almost over.” Alley sighed looking over at Jameson as he shook his head again hiding behind the grass green I knew was raging inside.

  Once we were back inside the motor coach getting ready to leave for Mooresville, Jameson stared at the wall regarding the TV but believing nothing they said as he listened to SPEED news.

  And though they had their own theories on his behavior lately, there was one aspect of this they never considered. Jameson would fight them on it until he had nothing left just to prove his point. He would never stop. Not when he believed in his side of the story. He was like a fire in the rain, refusing to go out.

  Jimi saw it, staring at his son now. I’m not sure why but Jameson always felt the need to carry the burden of the team on his shoulders.

  When we left, the official was waiting to apologize to Jameson but then again, you only got one chance with Jameson.

  If you blew it, you better beg because that was your only hope.

  “I wasn’t trying to ruin your night. But your crew needs to be more careful about those hoses. That’s the second time this year I got smacked with one.”

  “Then move out of the way.” Jameson replied tossing his bags inside the Expedition that was set to take us to the airport.

  I stood beside him watching their interaction wishing I wasn’t alone with him. But I think that’s the only reason why the official decided to try and make amends with him. If he was around his crew it might not be so easy.

  The official seemed to know he was crossing lines when Jameson stepped toward him. “You don’t know how your calls can ruin this for us. If you’re having a bad night and take it out on us, we suffer, not you. We got fined fifteen thousand this weekend for that shit on pit road.”

  “Like I said, I was just upset.”

  Jameson’s smile was bitter, his jaw clenched as he ripped his eyes from the official. “You were upset.” He repeated spitting the words. “You fucking son of a bitch!” his knuckles connected with the side of the Expedition, his anger flaring waiting to destroy everything he was working so hard for this season.

  The official held his hands up. “I don’t want no beef with you and your team Riley.”

  This guy really wasn’t getting anywhere with this.

  “Let’s just go.” I interrupted pushing Jameson toward the front door of the car. “I think we should go. And you, Duane, should leave before you make this worse.”

  Thankfully Duane, the official, listened to me and I got Jameson inside the car before he smacked the official.

  I can’t say it was right of him to act this way but I would never try to fix him. I fell in love with all sides so it’s all the same. The fury of his anger was festering and I had a feeling this sport was about to see just how rowdy he could get.

  The media mercilessly exaggerated his faults to the point where the public had this image that wasn’t even close to the man behind the wheel. Harboring weakness and displaying his violent temper tantrums was their goal and Jameson knew that.

  Instead, he was closed off and his regard for them was pure aggravation.

  In many ways, Jameson was a victim being destroyed by the very people who worshiped him.

  11. Engine Block – Sway

  Engine Block – An iron casting that envelopes the camshaft, connecting rods and pistons.

  “What are you doing?”

  “What the hell does it look like I’m doing, Sway?” Charlie shot a glare my direction before looking down. “I’m looking at the menu for Christ sakes.”

  “Well, honestly it looks like you’re about ready to have a heart attack, what’s wrong?”

  “Nothing,” he mumbled, his attention focused on the menu.

  Maybe being a pit lizard was wearing on him. Either that or him getting arrested last night with grandpa Casten had done a number on him. Stupid assholes took it upon themselves to have a talk with the official that made all those shitty calls on pit road. Needless to say, old Duane decided he’d had enough abuse from Jameson’s words and he wasn’t putting up with the talking or lack of talking they decided to have.

  Giving him space, I focused on the Charlotte Observer newspaper in front of me from a few weeks ago remembering my happy place. Sprawled across the front page was a picture of me sitting on the hood of Jameson’s car in victory lane and him down on one knee looking up at me.

  Rowdy Riley tamed at the Lady in Black?

  If Sway Reins ever wanted validation of Rowdy Riley’s love, she got it Saturday night after his dominating charge to win the Mountain Dew Southern 500 Winston Cup race on August 23. Under the lights and the shower of champagne, Jameson Riley, driver of the No. 9 Simplex Ford, dropped down to one knee in front of his long time childhood friend Sway Reins and proposed. The fans in attendance got one heck of a show when she said yes and proceeded to seal the marriage proposal with a fairytale kiss.

  At least this article was a good one. The other papers spread across the café didn’t exactly paint my soon to be husband as a nice guy. But like I said before, they didn’t know him and they didn’t try too. They had their theories.

  Charlie leaned forward tearing the paper from my hands. “Listen, I need to talk to you about some things.”

  “Okay,” I set my water glass down on the table and removed my legs from the other chair they were resting on. “What?” I gave him all my attention.

  Charlie leaned back in his chair and sighed. If I had to guess, by the way he was acting, he was trying to figure out how to tell me something.

  Charlie and I were having breakfast together at a small outdoor café before we all left for Vegas to celebrate my birthday. Andrea, Charlie and the Lucifer twins were going to fly home later today, so while Jameson was with his physical therapist, Charlie took me to breakfast, alone. It was nice to be alone with him for once and without the twins tagging along.

  “Have you and Jameson thought of a day yet?” he seemed to be fidgeting.

  Recalling the moment Jameson asked me to marry him; I smiled looking down at the ring, my mother’s ring, my grandmother’s ring.

  Lately, I couldn’t keep my eyes off this thing as it meant I’d forever be his.

  “Yeah, we talked about it last night.” Images of our time at the house flashed through my mind. Though the night wasn’t the dirty sex I had promised him before the race, I made up for it last week.

  “I wanted to get married on Mom’s birthday. Originally I wanted to get married on the anniversary of her death, Valentine’s Day, but Jameson doesn’t want to wait that long an
d neither do I.”

  Charlie smiled. “So December fourth?”

  “Yeah, December fourth,” Looking around the café, I noticed Van standing off in the distance watching us. I felt safer knowing he was there, especially after that night in Summerville.

  “You know, I miss your mother very much.” I watched as his usual steady gaze glistened with tears. The morning light reflected the shine from his brown eyes.

  I started bawling right there in the middle of the goddamn café. “I...do too...I miss her so much.” I wailed. Usually I wasn’t this emotional but I’m sure it had something to do with my hormones, Jameson’s epic proposal last week and the baby hormones that seemed to be consuming me. Lately it’d been a shitstorm of emotions.

  Charlie got up from across the table and pulled me into his arms. “Shhh...it’s okay sweetheart...shhh.”

  My baby hormones took over and I cried—blubbering crying even. And you know what, you’d be surprised how good it can feel to just cry sometimes.

  Charlie and I sat there, in the middle of the restaurant crying and holding each other. Well, I was crying, Charlie was trying to comfort me and not freak out that his emotional pregnant daughter was having a nervous breakdown.

  Soon, I gathered my wits and pulled back. “Sorry,” I wiped the tears and snot away. “I just...with the baby and Jameson proposing I’m a little emotional.” I waved my hand around trying to convince him, and me, that’s all it was.

  Charlie stared at me for a long moment, his chocolate brown eyes that matched his hair examining mine. “Have I ever told you how your mom and I fell in love?”

  “No.”

  “Well, I think it’s about time you hear this story. It’s a good one.” His eyes brightened at the thought reminding me of when they were together.

  I was all for a good love story so I sat back and listened, tears slipping down ever so often.

  “I met Rachel when I was four years old, she lived next door. She threw a baseball at my face and I was in love.” Charlie chuckled softly. “We grew up together, dated all through high school. The day she turned eighteen we drove down to Vegas and got married. Her father hated me and didn’t approve of the wedding so we eloped. Nine months later to the exact day...you were born and changed our lives forever, in a good way. You showed us that it didn’t matter whether or not people approved of us, we had this tiny baby and in her eyes...we were everything.” Charlie smiled. “We had no idea what the fuck we were doing. I’m amazed you made it to a year old at times.” He told me letting out a laugh.

  I couldn’t really laugh at that. Jameson and I had no business having children and here we were, having one in five months. Jameson had the maturity of a seven year old. Put us together and we’re maybe sixteen.

  “Roger never talked to me again after we got married but your Grandma; she came by to see you every day.”

  “What was it like for you when mom died?”

  Charlie got this far away look in his eyes and took a deep breath. “I don’t even know how to describe the feeling. I knew she was sick. I found out when she started going through treatments in July of ‘85. She kept it from me for a long time but when she started losing her hair and puking all the time, she couldn’t hide it any longer. It was hard, especially saying goodbye.” He offered an uneasy smile. “It was easier having you around. You were such a carefree child that it made it hard to be depressed. I felt like I needed to be strong for you. Or maybe it was you being strong for me?”

  I wanted to lighten the mood so I changed the subject quickly on him.

  “Grandpa didn’t approve of you eh?” I laughed remembering the hard proper man I called grandpa when I was younger. Though I don’t remember him well, I remember he was always to the point.

  “Nope,” Charlie shook his head. “He thought I was some kind of asshole for taking his daughter away from him.”

  “Sounds familiar,”

  “I never thought Jameson was an asshole. I do question that kids’ sanity at times but I just wanted him to come to his senses and realize you two were meant for each other. He looks at you the same way I looked at Rachel. He loves you.”

  “I should hope so, he knocked me up.”

  Charlie scowled with a settled frown. “Anyway, I hope that I’m here to see the little one born. It’ll be interesting watchin’ you two as parents.”

  “You will be dad.” I told him with confidence I didn’t know I had.

  For a moment, he was quiet until a heavy sigh filled the air. “I uh...there are some things we need to talk about with my will.”

  “Oh,” I sat up in my chair knowing this was important to him. “What?”

  “Well, the track is taken care of. The title is in Jameson’s name now. He will remain the owner and you will remain the General Manger and Director of Operations. Mark is named as the Track Facilitator. The house is in your name but I’d like it if you would let Andrea continue to live there.”

  “Dad...I’ve uh never asked this in the two years I’ve known Andrea but uh...who are the twins’ father?”

  Charlie looked down at his feet quickly shifting uncomfortably in his seat.

  “DAD!” I yelled entirely too loud and then slapped my hand over my mouth.

  “What?” He responded glaring at me for causing a few bystanders to take notice.

  “Are you...?” I pictured the twins in my head trying to find any resemblance. They were identical twins, sometimes you couldn’t tell them apart but Logan was about three inches shorter than Lucas was, so that’s how I could tell. They had brown hair that Andrea kept entirely too long, brown chocolate...oh my god! “DAD!”

  “Jesus, stop saying that Sway!” his eyes scanned the café.

  “Well, answer the question then.”

  “I uh...I’m not exactly sure.” His gaze moved from me to his feet again.

  I giggled. This was really funny to me. “What do you mean you’re not exactly sure?”

  “I’ve never asked her.”

  “What do you mean you’ve never asked?”

  “Will you stop repeating my questions...?” he glared. “Your junior year...when you flew to Mexico with Jameson and his family, do you remember that?”

  “Yes.” I smiled. I knew where this was going. “Keep talking...”

  “Well I...umm...well...” his brow furrowed as though he was concentrating. “I...”

  “Spit out dad.” I laughed. “You had a one night stand, didn’t you?”

  “Jesus Christ Sway!” his voice took on a hushed tone as though this was embarrassing for him. “Don’t say that so fucking loud.” Despite his words, he smirked this boyish “I’ve been caught” smirk.

  “So you had a one night stand and she got pregnant...?”

  “I don’t exactly know. I met her at a bar, she took advantage of me...or I took advantage of her...someone took advantage and then she left the next morning. Four years later, when you were in college, she came back with Logan and Lucas. We started dating and then she introduced me to them. She needed a place to stay so I told her she could move in. I was lonely without you around and now, I’m insane because those kids are shit heads. There really is something wrong with them, especially Logan.”

  “You’ve never asked her if they’re yours or not?”

  Charlie shook his head. “No...but when I do the math, it adds up. And Christ...look at them, they’re spitting images of me!”

  Now that I actually thought about it, he was right. “Do they know who their dad is?”

  “Andrea and I have never talked about it. I think she knows I have an idea they might be mine but I’ve never heard them ask who their dad is.”

  “Wow.” I shook my head. “My dad is a slut!”

  “Sway!” he looked appalled. “Don’t say that too loud.”

  “What? Are you afraid of ruining your image?” I giggled and he smirked.

  “You’re horrible. Anyways, I just want them to have a place, you know?”

  “I get wh
at you’re saying dad, but you really should find out for sure, just so you know.”

  “Yeah, you’re right. I should talk to her about it.” His smile took on a distant memory. “You are so much like your mother, you know that?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “She was irrational. Always said exactly what was on her mind and if she wanted to do something, she did it.” Charlie told me. “Like us getting married. She decided that morning that we needed to get married and we did. Rachel never waited for anything. If she wanted to know, she asked.”

  I smiled. I always felt like I never really knew my mom because really, I didn’t. I was six when she died. At six, you barely know yourself, let alone anyone else. I felt bad for the twins if Charlie really was their father because just like me, they’ll lose him.

  “So you and Jameson are going to Vegas tonight?”

  “Yeah, that’s the plan. Then we are flying to Key West for a night. You should come with us to Vegas. Nancy and Jimi are coming.”

  I wasn’t sure after his pit lizard week if this was a good idea, but he seemed to enjoy himself, so why not.

  Charlie thought for a long moment. “You know, I think I will. It might be the last time I get to party. I’m going to go to Vegas.” He said proudly.

  “Good.” I smiled but deep down I was a little worried.

  If I thought these last few weeks with most of our families together was tough, I was in for a rude awakening when we arrived in Las Vegas.

  “Where did that come from?” Jameson asked, his heavy footsteps echoed throughout the hotel.

  “What?”

  “Those,”

  “Be more specific!”

  “Those,” he pointed toward my bag. “have you always had them and if so, how come I’ve never seen them before?”

  He was like a kid in a candy store looking through my bag. I looked inside the suitcase to see what he was pointing at, “No, those would be a product of shopping with the slut mothers in Fredrick’s of Hollywood while you, Aiden, and Spencer were in the liquor store.”