damn race. My thumb lowers, but suddenly as if a rope around my heart suddenly tightens, I pull back.
The finish line appears. I’m over the line. I lost.
Chapter Fourteen
Lana
I can’t believe I actually won. How the heck did I win? Who cares, I won. I’m giddy. My walk isn’t just a normal stride. I’m bouncing.
Mack just dropped me off out the front of the hospital and I’m on my way up to tell Rex the good news. Mack’s driving back to the house for a few hours before he comes back to pick me up, later tonight.
I’m not sure how I expected him to act if I won. Heck, I never thought I had a chance against him. However, he’s actually happy for me and it’s not pretend because I can tell when that man lies, he presses his lips together and looks away. Solid giveaway. Slater also seemed pleased that I won. He hugged and congratulated me.
Entering Rex’s room I find Corey, Kodi, and Reed sitting around my brothers bed.
They jump up when they see me and Corey asks, “Did you win?”
I called Corey from hospital phone when I knew that I wanted to race. He was apprehensive at first, but I explained why and he couldn’t argue with me any longer. Corey called Mickey and set it all up, the car and me racing in Rex’s place, even though Corey was the one meant to race today. That bit of information we didn’t fill Mickey in on. Anyhow, Corey said Mickey was excited about the idea.
“Come on, what happened?” Reed begs.
My mouth widens into a grin and I squeal, “I won.”
***
Mackson
Stepping into my house after dropping Lana off at the hospital, all I want to do is head up for a shower, but I know I have to go and sort out shit with Slater first.
He knows I didn’t use my second NOS. He’s pissed and I understand why, but he’s going to have to get over it. I did what I did and there’s no changing it now.
I wouldn’t change it even if I had the chance.
The pure joy on her face when she jumped out of the car. Her smile. The hope she exuded was suffocating and hard to ignore even for my family, who congratulated her excitedly, even Slater.
Which I’m grateful for, because for the first time in my life I knew that if Slater or any of my brothers treated Lana as an enemy or disrespected her for winning that race, I would have harmed one of them.
The shock hit me hard as it came out of nowhere. I’ve never felt the compulsion to protect anyone over my family before. Yet Lana has it, and now she owns me.
Slater didn’t give me one look, not even a single glance. He left almost straight away. The rest of my family following him closely.
Walking straight through the house toward the back screen door, I pass Pacer on the sofa and Dell and Kelso in the kitchen getting dinner ready. No one says a word. They know where I’m going and what’s about to go down.
At no time has Slater ever been the brother to be disappointed in us. Never raised his voice or fist to us. He’s the father figure of our family, but he’ll never admit it. He already carries around a heavy weight on his shoulders for us even though we’re safe, healthy and strong. Adding a title he deserves would only seem to burden him further, especially if anything were to happen to any of us.
I accept our past and can move forward without it weighing me down, but that’s where each of my brothers differ, we all carry our scars in a different way. Slater moves on by making Piper, me, and my brothers and sister, his top priority. I’m not sure when he’ll stop and look around and notice what we have or keep fighting his whole life for us to have better, to have more.
I reach the garage glass door and slide it open. I’m hit with a cool breeze from the blaring air-conditioner.
Slater is leaning on Chevy’s bonnet sipping a beer.
“Slate,” I start, my voice rough, ready for a battle, but he cuts me off before I can go on.
“Don’t,” He grits out, still looking away from me toward the tool wall. “I get it.” He pushes off Chevy and turns to look at me, pointing his finger in my direction, the same hand holding his beer, he continues,