Rare - Briar Prescott Page 0,45
Noah called after Carl.
“You’re busy at the center because there was an urgent issue, which is not an emergency but rather something that needs our full attention and takes some time to resolve, and no, she doesn’t have to come and help, and you’ll be home when you’re done here,” Carl recited in a monotonous voice over his shoulder.
“Thank you,” Noah yelled after him, and Carl raised his hand in recognition.
Alex and Noah went to the car and got in. “What was that about?” Alex asked as Noah started the car.
“Mom is… Mom,” Noah finished succinctly.
“Oh. That explains absolutely nothing,” Alex joked. Noah cracked a smile as he gave Alex a side-eyed look.
“She doesn’t like it when I drive to Portland, so whenever I go, Carl covers for me.”
“Again, what’s wrong with Portland? You people really don’t seem to like it.”
“Portland’s great. Mom doesn’t like the driving aspect. She thinks it’s too dangerous.”
“Oh.”
“You don’t have to say it. I know.”
“Technically, driving is dangerous,” Alex said. Noah looked slightly embarrassed, and Alex found that all he wanted to do was to reassure him.
“Yeah, well, in my life, so is working, walking, traveling of any kind. I think breathing might also be on that list,” Noah grumbled as they got to the highway.
“You weren’t lying when you said your mom is overprotective.”
Noah’s fingers clutched the steering wheel as he shook his head. “You have no idea.”
“But why? I mean, I don’t know her, but not breathing seems kind of over-the-top, to be honest.”
Noah chewed on his bottom lip as if contemplating how to explain his life and not knowing how, and Alex suddenly felt that he’d had enough of parents for one day, both the shitty ones and the overprotective ones.
“You know what?” he said. “Let’s table that topic. How about tonight, we don’t think about parents, and instead, let’s go and have some fun.”
Noah glanced at him, and then he smiled. Wide and happy as if those words had lifted a burden from his shoulders. “That sounds like the perfect plan.”
Alex turned up the music and opened the window.
And when Noah snaked his hand into Alex’s and entwined their fingers together, Alex couldn’t have imagined a more perfect moment.
“Are you ready to get your ass handed to you, Price?” Alex called to Noah.
Noah calmly put his helmet on and gave Alex a level look. “You’re going down, Ellison,” he replied.
“You sure about that?”
“You seem to like my backside,” Noah continued conversationally. “So it’s your lucky day because in about a minute, you’ll be seeing it for however long it takes me to win this race.”
God damn but this cocky, confident side of Noah was hot as fuck.
“We’ll see about that,” Alex called back just as the lights changed from red to green. He slammed his foot on the gas pedal, and they were off.
Alex couldn’t remember the last time he went go-karting. It had been years, and his less than smooth start was proof of that. Alex gathered himself quickly, though, as he sped after Noah.
They were both competitive enough that neither of them was willing to give an inch, even if it meant playing dirty. They dueled for each line and turn, bumping into each other as they went. The speed was exhilarating, and Alex couldn’t help but laugh out loud at Noah’s cocky gestures that made an appearance every time Noah managed an especially impressive maneuver. It was getting hard to concentrate when all Alex wanted was to stop the karts and kiss the hell out of Noah.
It was the perfect way to spend a fun evening. The track was outside. It was sunny and loud, and it smelled of asphalt and gasoline. There were only a couple of other people there, all of them probably driving for the first time and, thankfully, not at all interested in partaking in Alex’s and Noah’s race.
In the end, Noah won. Alex was way too busy concentrating on Noah’s every move, so he paid considerably less attention to the track and ended up spinning more than once. Noah whooped and laughed, and he looked happy and relaxed and carefree, and Alex’s heart made an excited jump every time he looked at Noah.
After the race, they ended up going to a nearby café to grab a bite to eat. The waitress led them to a table outside. It was already past dinnertime rush, so the place wasn’t too packed. Noah and Alex got a table in a quiet corner and took their seats.