Racing for Freedom - By Bec Botefuhr Page 0,4
mirror and feel my eyes well up. I look more and more like my mother, as the years go by.
My mother was the kind of beautiful that stopped people in their tracks. Not only that, but she had this personality to go with it. Her laugh was infectious, her voice like a song. She was beautiful inside and out. She had the same blonde hair as me, only her eyes were blue. I got my brown eyes from my dad, it’s about all I got from him. The rest of me is all her, and there are days, I’m sure, it pains my father to look at me.
I wash my face with some cool water, and then I turn and head out of my room. When I’m down the stairs, my father is standing in the kitchen, pulling a packet of potato crisps out of the pantry. Oh dad. I wish he would take better care of himself. I wish he would just pick himself up and move on. I know it’s hard, it’s always hard to move on and pick yourself back up again, but eventually you have to do it. My father doesn’t want to do it. He doesn’t even want to try. He lets guilt swallow him and lead him further and further into darkness.
“Dad, that’s not healthy.” I chastise, gripping my keys off the counter top.
He looks up at me, his mouth is moving slowly as he crunches away. He swallows and then smiles. “You don’t worry about me Dash, go and have fun.”
“Dad, you know I do worry about you. I don’t want you eating foods that will make you…sick.”
“Or fat.” He points out with a smile.
“Dad…”
“Sorry Dash, I’ll go easy. How are you feeling about the race this afternoon?”
I shrug. “As good as can be expected.”
“You just remember what I taught you and don’t let Slade taunt you, he is doing it to hit you where it hurts.”
“I know dad.”
I hear a car pull up out the front and I’m grateful Lucas is here already. I quickly kiss dad on the cheek and then rush out before he can say anymore. I leap down the front steps two at a time and grin when Lucas slides out of the car. He’s gorgeous really, with blonde hair, blue eyes and that light olive skin. Today he’s dressed in a tight fitting white shirt and blue jeans, a pair of sun glasses cover his eyes. I smile and rush over, tucking my arms around his waist.
“Hey Dash, I’ve missed you.”
I pull back and peer up at him with a smile. Part of me wants so much to love Lucas the way he loves me, but the other part of me is stuck in the past and I don’t want to be the girl that plays with a man’s heart. Until I can give my entire heart to him, then I won’t give him any at all. Well, to a point anyway, he knows I love him to death, in the friendship way. Lucas has been with me for two years now and he’s been my rock during many hard times.
“I’ve missed you too Luke, thanks for taking me today.”
“Always, how are you feeling about racing Slade again?”
Lucas knows about Slade and me, he’s probably the only person who does. I frown and rest my cheek against his chest.
“I’m ok with it, I have to be, I guess.”
“Just keep your head in the game and forget he’s even there.”
“He makes that kind of hard.”
Lucas snorts. “Yeah, well, I’ll be there. Just focus on me.”
I beam up at him. “Thanks Lucas, you’re the best.”
He kisses my forehead. “Always.”
Chapter Three
The race track is fairly empty when we arrive. It’s not a scheduled race, more of a practice to gather our best times, so only the sponsors and VIP’s come down. When Lucas pulls up, I slide out of the car and pull my sunglasses down over my eyes. Lucas takes my hand and we begin walking towards the group of people standing by the four cars that are ready to race. When I see my manager and friend, John, I smile. He walks over smiling at me.
“How are you feeling today, Dash?”
“Good, ready to kick Slade’s ass.”
He chuckles and stares back over at the group of people. “He’s got a cheer squad.”
I peer over and see Slade standing in a pair of jeans and a black and white racing shirt. He’s surrounded by women and one in particular catches