Derek walked to Robert immediately he sighted him.
“Man, where have you been?” Derek asked.
“I should be asking you.” He replied, staring at him with a smile. It was like Robert knew the exact place he was. It was obvious he knew.
“Stop the look, you know where I’m coming from. So, why that look?” Robert was still staring at him, to Robert, it was fun, but to Derek, it was a “I know all your secrets” grin.
“I was with um… Hollie.” Derek added, even without asking.
“Where’s she now?”
“She’s with ticket girl. And you, where were you?” Derek asked, requesting for a quick answer.
“Okay… I was with Patty. I was checking out her undies. How does that sound?”
“Sound like someone dreaming.” Derek answered like he knew what Robert was about to say.
“You supposed to be with Hollie Franklin, Or because she’s with ticket girl, you never got the chance?”
“I’m playing it cool, okay? I just don’t want to sound desperate or cheesy when I’m around them. I want to give them the impression that I’m not really that interested. Actually, not them, just ticket girl. She looks bossy, If she backs off, I might have a chance.” Derek explained with his knuckles in his mouth.
“You talk like someone who has sense at times. Periodic sense, I must say.” Robert mocked jokingly.
“Way smarter than you.” He retaliated.
“Sounds like someone’s dreaming.”
“Hey… That’s my line.” Derek warning him. Subsequent silence shadowed them for a while before Robert finally broke it.
“Patty told me to chase my dreams.”
“Aren’t you chasing them already?” Derek inquired.
“You should know what I meant, saphead. She was referring to me, like… um, me doing what I feel his right.” Robert said, “And do you know the most interesting part of it all is that I actually bought the idea.” Derek was about to say something before Robert shut him off by adding,
“Don’t say that. I know what you were about to say.”
Derek made an imaginary zipper with his hand.
“I prefer being caught after racing than before.” Robert said.
“Your Dad will definitely find out someday, and I promise you a death wish.” Derek said and placed his right hand on his shoulder and added, “Make your choice.”
“My Dad might be an…” The ‘asshole’ got stuck in his mouth, he quickly ignored the word. His mouth did, but his brain didn’t. “Whatever he behaves like. But I know he can’t hurt me anymore after.”
“Death wish can come in different form.” Derek spoke like someone who had sense.
“I know. I can only be grounded, nothing more than that.”
“You’re dead then. But before you get grounded or dead, as it will be. I’d love you to make some wishes and I will give them to Carmen after. You know my wishes.” He said, chuckling.
“Shut up!! That’s not happening and we know it.”
“In case you get grounded. I might take Carmen to…” Derek didn’t finish before Robert interrupted.
“I will forget the fact, I’m grounded and come for you.”
“That might sound off-limit.” Derek said and images of Ella’s sexy body and how he broke those limits.
“How about the young version of your stepmom?” Derek pressed on.
“You’re referring to Katie, I know that. But let me put it this way. What if try to get into Ella’s pants? Do you like the sound of that? Robert couldn’t stop himself from feeling the sensual aura of fucking Ella in their house and at the ballpark. He was actually feeling some guilt, but the deed was done, and he couldn’t let those thoughts ruin his moment where concentration was the very first thing he needed most.
“You don’t need to sweat. It’s very easy to get into her pants.” Derek said. What he said almost prompt Robert into questioning him if he had gotten into her pants, but he didn’t want to revive moments.
Robert noticed how Derek’s head dropped despondently. It was known to Robert that there were some secrets lurked beneath. But what those secrets are is what he doesn’t know.
“I’m going to be totally paying attention to everything happening in John’s pit.” Robert said, trying to point his mind unto something.
“What if I miss your hot laps?” Derek asked.
“I won’t be mad because I know you will be with Hollie Franklin.”
“You won’t be mad?”
“Nah… I won’t be mad if only you tell me about it after.” Robert said, giggling, but Derek seemed a little confused about what he was saying. A smile extended all over his face when he finally understood what Robert meant.
“You didn’t say anything about Katie.”
“Gosh! Derek!! I need to be focused. Go fuck Hollie Franklin.” He said, and dashed towards John’s pit.
Robert felt off-kilter at first with the two grown-ups he scarcely knew, yet John and Ty seemed to know Patty well, and they dealt with him like a colleague.
He got into their discussions, posed informed inquiries, and turned torques when he was told.
He was beginning to feel like one of the ordinary Saturday night racers, and he loved it.
So imagine a scenario in which his dad and Uncle Brian were taking a look at different drivers to supplant Patty. She believed him to drive her car when she goes to the university, and he thought Uncle Brain would let it all out. Presently, all he needed to do was demonstrate he was good enough.
When John pronounced the vehicle prepared for hot laps, Robert said, “I’m heading toward Patty’s to check whether Uncle Brian needs any assistance.”
“You not doing hot laps?” Ty inquired.
“Of course… I’m.” Robert said.
Ty slapped him on the shoulder. “Just sit back and relax, it will all be good. Okay?”
“Maybe you want to do Patty.” Ty said, turning towards John.
“Maybe you want to.” John said.
Robert was just confused about what they were saying, he didn’t want to think about anything apart from race at the moment.
“Not quite as much as you,” Ty said.
“Truth be told,” John said, and turned towards Robert, “Go get dressed and get back here, except if you don’t want to do the hot laps.”
“I do, I do,” Robert said. “I will be right back.”
While Robert was pulling the heatproof suit over his pants, Patty said, “Chillax. This is certainly something you should think about. It’s just hot laps. You have done it before now.”
“Not in John’s vehicle,” he said.
“You drove it all out for fifty laps,” she said. “This time I’ll be on the radio talking you through it.”
“I presume.”
“It’s just hot laps.” Patty said. “Return just later. We talked about your Dad.”
“Yes… We did and?”
“He’ll watch you this evening,” Patty said. “Give him a decent show.”
He was feeling nervous and anxious when Patty said that.
What if his father had changed his mind after meeting with Uncle Brains, and tonight was like an interview? Impress his uncle, then his uncle would tell his father to let him take over for Patty.