Pedal to the Metal

Chapter 8

Meg

I followed him into the trailer and I'm pretty sure my jaw was dragging the floor behind me. This tiny thing was nicer than my 2000 square foot house. Granted the man made millions but jesus christ.

True to his word, there were TVs on the wall, a comfortable sectional, and bean bag chairs, the refrigerator was one with the see-through glass doors and I was cringing at how many fingerprints Beckett could possibly leave on it. The walls were a light gray and there were pictures of current and past time racing legends hung up all around. Pictures of Jude and his pit crew, news articles of the team and a picture of Jude and what looked to be his parents. He looked so young and carefree. More carefree and wild than he is now. His hair was longer then, and he had a graduation cap on and was holding up a highschool diploma.

There was a hallway with doors lined down on the left hand side that I'm guessing held bathrooms, offices and bedrooms. It's crazy how big this place was when on the outside, it looked tiny. It was clean and crisp. Modern but comfortable. It held a sophistication but wasn't overly done. It was homey, cozy.

Beckett ran and jumped onto one of the bean bag chairs making racecar noises as he soared through the air.

“Beckett! No!” I scolded and Jude chuckled before jumping and landing onto the one next to him. Boys. My son giggled and started to climb on him and it shocked me to see how easily Jude took to him.

Does he have experience with kids? Hell, does he have a kid?

He looked at me and raised his eyebrow. The scar going through it pulled tight and he smirked at me. He was downright sinful and I had to mentally yell at myself to stop.

“Can I stay mommy?” I bit my lip trying to think of a reason to say no, but I couldn't afford to not work and I definitely couldn't afford to let Beckett run off again.

Jude recognized I was having trouble deciding and looked to my son. “What's your favorite show, little man?”

“Bluey!” he said, and I smiled softly. He was getting older, but I cherished the child in him still.

Jude scrolled through Disney+ and clicked on bluey and I was amazed he even knew what it was. He walked over to the kitchen area with me and said. “Some of the pit crew bring their kids in and it's a favorite around here. "

That explains how he was so good with Beckett from the get go.

“Trust me. He will be okay.”

I barely knew him, but could I trust him? He saved my life. Beckett seems to love him. He seems to be good with kids. But I couldn't help being nervous. This was my child. He was my everything. And it didn't help that I felt like I was taking advantage of Jude.

“At least let me pay you..” I threw it out and I immediately wanted to take it back with how he pinned me with a stare.

“Meg, do you have any idea how much money I am making even right now standing here talking to you? I'm not trying to sound like a prick, but I won't accept any money you try to give me. And we agreed to be friends. What else are friends for?”

His hand grabbed mine and his skin was warm, his hand soft but still strong. I could feel the calluses on his hands from working on his cars and manual labor and it made me wonder how his hands were so soft on my skin with them. My skin practically vibrated under his touch and I bit my lip again.

His eyes zeroed in on my mouth and his pupils dilated and his jaw clenched. He raised his hand and pulled my lip from between my teeth and he leaned in a bit. He took a deep breath before speaking.

“I'm gonna need you not to bite that anymore. I promised to be your friend, but you're making it very hard.” my heart rate ticked up and I took in a quick breath that was slightly audible. He reached down and picked up my camera and placed it in my hands.

“Get out of here and go take your pictures, Meg.” he said. His voice was husky, and it was sending my brain spiraling.

“Beckett will be okay. I promise. I have your number and you have mine. I'll even take yall out to lunch after you're done.”

I don't know what made me agree so readily. I was supposed to avoid feelings. I was supposed to be done with them. Jude was a prior playboy, even though he thinks he's reformed. No one can change that much, can they? But despite the war raging in my mind, despite the hot and cold, the feelings that were contradicting but oh so nice, I said “Okay” and walked out the door.

Jude

I needed a cold shower. I needed a shot of tequila. I needed a cold shower AND a shot of tequila. I said we could be friends because I had a feeling if I jumped head first like I wanted to she would bolt. But dammit she's making it hard and the crazy part is she doesn't even realize how beautiful she is. She doesn't realize how crazy she is driving me. I hear Bluey playing in the background and smile.

“What did I miss?” I asked as I plopped onto the oversized bean bag chair. Beckett's mouth moves about a mile a minute, and I just smile. He is a pretty cool kid, and I wasn't lying earlier when I told Meg that I didn't mind. A lot of the guys bring their kids with them so this is nothing new.

He was watching the screen intently and when it got to the part with Bandit racing bluey on a course in their backyard. Beckett sighed and his whole demeanor changed.

“What's wrong, bud?”

He picked at a string on his jeans. “I was supposed to hang out with my daddy today. He didn't want to hang out with me.”

I felt like I got kicked in the chest. I remembered Meg saying something about how his dad was supposed to have him this weekend and bailed. I hadn't met the guy, but I wanted to pummel him.

“That's not true. Your dad loves you.” I said guessing. Hoping. Truthfully, I had no idea about the situation. I didn't know if his dad was active in his life. I took a wild guess about Meg and him being divorced or separated and it would seem I was right.

“Yeah, it is.” his little southern accent peeked through, but he was still upset. “He was supposed to get me last weekend too. I used to see him all the time.” he said, exaggerating the word all. I was quiet waiting for him to continue. He may have only been 4, but he spoke pretty well.

“He has a new girlfriend.” he said and I saw his lip wiggle. “She's more important.”

I pulled him into my lap and ruffled his hair. “No one is more important than you, buddy. If that was the case, your mom wouldn't be such a god momma.”

He nodded. “I love my momma.” he said and I smiled.

“Yeah, your momma is pretty cool.” He still seemed sullen and I didn't like it. I wanted to cheer him up. I wanted him to be back to the peppy kid he was when I found him in my car.

“What do you say we order some Pizza and we go see what the guys are doin’ in the shop?” that did it. He jumped up and down like the rabbit from the energizer commercials and squealed.

I texted Jeremy to bring a few pizzas over and a few things of merchandise for Beckett and we made our way to the garage. Some of the crew heard the commotion and popped their heads up and smiled at the little boy sitting on my shoulders.

"Who do we have here?" Carter, my crew chief, asked as he walked up to us.

"This here is my buddy Beckett. He's going to be hanging out with us today." I said with a wink and Carter took him off my shoulders and started walking him around and showing him around the shop again. Beckett fit right in here, and I just knew Meg would too. I just needed to convince her.