Pedal to the Metal

Chapter 7

Jude

I loved the feel of the morning air after a run. The sweat coating my skin cooled my body as the breeze blew.

The sun was just starting to rise and it coated the horizon in pinks, oranges, and hints of purple and blue. Most people were still asleep except a few crew members here and there. But my favorite part, no reporters, no paparazzi, nothing that could get me in trouble.

Most people would think that because I drive a car for a living I wouldn't need to be in shape, but that couldn't be the furthest thing from the truth. The intensity of control you need, the hours spent in the car, controlling the car, the mental stability, the endurance you need to just last in the car, the heat inside. We don't have power steering in our cars, we don't have air conditioning, the forces of the car when you're going around a turn take its toll on a body. Being physically fit isn't an option. It's a necessity. I need to keep my endurance up. I can't afford for my body to be fatigued while in a race so building it, pushing it, and reinforcing it is paramount to success.

I grabbed a clean rag from off the shelf of our shop bay and wiped the sweat from my face. I grabbed a cold water bottle from the fridge and made my way to the guys who were checking over my car before our practice round today. Tomorrow was our race at Richmond International Raceway and I wanted my car in tip top shape.

I ran my hand across the smooth metal of the fender. My fingertips grazing the logos of my sponsors. My main sponsor was Bennetts. Mister Bennet was our team owner and the owner of the Bennetts hotel chain. I wasn't sure why he chose to venture into Nascar but I wasn't complaining. He helped sign my paychecks so more power to him.

“How's she looking?” I asked and the guys nodded at me.

“We fixed the issues you noted yesterday during the practice run. She shouldn't be loose anymore. She's purring like a pretty kitten.”

I laughed and patted him on the back and made my way into my trailer. This place was my home away from home so I splurged on the amenities. You wouldn't be able to tell this was a trailer just from looking at it. I might even say it was nicer than my actual home.

I grabbed a cup of coffee that had been brewed and savored the taste. The warm rich flavor hit my soul and warmed me up deep in my bones.

I clicked on the TV and quickly scrolled past the news. I didn't like it when I was in it and I didn't like to watch it. I have turned a new leaf recently and have been almost paranoid about being out of the damning stories that circulate as of late. One of the things I hate about reporters is that something small and insignificant in your life will be like a ribeye steak to them. They salivate over that s**t and will spin it until the public doesn't know what's true and what's all made up for views and reads. My image suffered because of it and I loathe the press for it now. But it sends anxiety down my spine just to listen to the news anymore.

“I understand, Thank you.” Jeremy said as he stepped into the trailer. His phone was to his ear as he held his tablet in his hand scrolling through something.

I couldn't do his job, with the amount of work he does for me and the team I would be crying for help. I tend to leave him alone while he's in the zone but I handed him a togo mug of coffee and he mouthed a thank you to me and zoomed to his makeshift office.

I had about 45 minutes left of my free time this morning before I had to start running my rounds, checking the car and going for my final practice ride and trying to get on the pole. Getting a good starting position was like finding out you aced an important test. It filled you with satisfaction and longing for more. I downed the rest of my coffee and got dressed for the day.

I qualified 2nd in the qualifying round and was okay with it. At least I was until I saw who was starting in the pole position. Dawson f*****g Garrett finished 2 seconds faster and I wanted to punch something.

I had just stepped outside of my trailer after changing my clothes and found the car bay empty beside my own car. None of the guys were around, but I didn't care. I wanted the time alone to settle on a strategy for tomorrow. I wanted to win, no I needed to.

“Vrrrrroooooommm.” I turned my head towards my car and didn't see anything at first. I was going to pass it off as a person walking by but then I heard someone blowing raspberries and making car noises again. Not just someone. A child.

I walked closer to the source and saw a pint sized boy sitting behind the wheel of my car holding the steering wheel. I looked around for his mother but didn't see anyone. I grew concerned not only was this dangerous -what if he accidentally started the car or knocked it into gear- but people were crazy. But I smiled when I saw this little boy pretending to drive my car and leaned over the open window.

“Whos winning?” I asked and the boy didn't startle. He just looked up at me with big wide eyes. Eyes that were green but also held a shade of blue in them. He couldn't be older than four or five, but he just smiled at me.

“Me! I'm going to be the best race car driver ever!” He said his “r’s” sounded more like a “w” and I smiled.

“Where's your parents?” I asked, and he shrugged. I gave him a stern look and he seemed to get a little nervous. I wouldn't ever hurt him, but stranger or not he needed to understand how dangerous this was.

“My name is Jude. What's yours?” he perked up hearing my name indicating he knew who I was and that made me feel victorious inside.

“Beckett.” he said in awe. I reached in and he climbed in my arms without a fuss and I held him on my hips. He was a cute kid and the fact that he liked race cars made him okay in my book.

“What do you say we will find your mom?” I asked and he shook his head.

“She'll be mad at me.” he whispered and I probed him to continue.

“I ran off. I got bored. She said she'd take me to look at the cars when she was done working and she was working for a long time,” he said exasperated. I remember being closer to his age feeling like the world didn't move at the speed I wanted it to. When I wanted something, I wanted it then. I generally moved mountains to get it, or mountains big enough for a child to move. I was a spitfire as a kid and I'm probably the reason my mother had gray hairs at 40.

“Well, if she said she'd take you, I'm sure she would. You said she was working?” I asked and I heard a commotion outside the shop bay. I started walking towards it while trying to talk to the kid. He seemed comfortable with me and pointed out all the things in the shop as we passed them.

“Look at those tires!” and a lot of “Ahhhs” .

The kid was completely mesmerized by the time we made it to the door and I heard frantic shouting still.

“BECKETT!” a feminine voice yelled.

“Uh oh,” Beckett whispered in my ear as I held him and I saw a tiny woman running and checking every conceivable place a child could hide. I stopped in my tracks recognizing her and looked from him to her again and spotted the similarities. The woman I couldn't get out of my mind for the past month was this little boy's mom.

As if sensing her son, she turned around and spotted him and started running towards us. The heat caused her skin to flush and sweat to form on her brow. She saw me holding him and she paused for half a second before continuing to meet us. She snatched him out of my arms and held him to her chest. I could tell she was anxious, scared, upset, furious. She was feeling so many emotions but relief was the biggest one I saw.

“What were you thinking running off like that? You had me worried sick!” she said and Beckett rightfully so tucked his chin to his chest and twiddled his thumbs knowing he was getting in trouble.

“I just wanted to see the cars.” he mumbled and she sighed and looked up to the sky, collecting herself before she answered.

“Please, please, please don't do that again, Beckett. Do you understand me? You scared mommy today.” she chastised and then she looked at me.

“Jude,” she whispered.

“Meg,” I said, savoring the way her name rolled off my tongue. “I-”

She cut me off by saying “thank you” breathlessly and pulled me in for a hug without letting go of the boy. I felt heat race up my skin where hers touched mine and nodded.

“I don't mean to sound rude, but he could have gotten hurt.” I said and she straightened.

She looked sheepishly at her shoes and said a muffled, “I know.”

“I looked away for 30 seconds to pay for his lunch and when I turned around he was gone. I couldn't find him anywhere. I had security looking for him too.” she said and I could see the tears in her eyes. I couldn't imagine what she was going through or what she was feeling since I had no kids of my own but I didn't want her to cry and I didn't want her to feel guilty.

“Where did you find him?” she asked and I smiled.

“Sitting in my car pretending to drive it.” I said, and he looked at me with wide eyes like I was a traitor.

“Beckett!” she squealed, and I interjected.

“It's okay. Well, it's not because it was dangerous, but nothing happened. I'm not even sure how he got in there or why my car was left unattended. But he's safe.” I said and she nodded and I could tell her mind was going a million miles an hour.

“He mentioned you were working?” I asked, and she ducked her head.

“Yeah, he's uh, he's actually supposed to be with his dad, but something came up. I usually don't take him to work and I didn't have anyone else. My parents are sick and my brother is out of town…I don't know why I'm telling you all of this.”

“Hey, hey, it's okay. I get it. Life happens.” I said, and she relaxed.

“I was going to say, since I'm not doing anything for the rest of the day, I've already qualified, maybe he can hang out with me while you get some work done” I offered and she bit her lip.

“I know you don't know me very well.”

“I don't know you at all.” she cut in.

“Semantics, we've met and talked a few times. We bonded over me buying you a new hot dog.” I said and her cheeks flushed a dark red. She was beautiful. So beautiful when she blushed and I wanted to see if the red extended further down her neck and chest. Her brown hair was hanging in loose waves down to her waist and her seafoam green eyes were mesmerizing to look at. She didn't have an ounce of makeup on and yet she was the most beautiful woman I had seen.

“Let's not bring that up. That was one of the most embarrassing moments of my life. Have you seen the videos?” she asked and I chuckled.

“Oh, Megs, I think the whole world has seen them.” and that was the wrong thing to say because she groaned and looked around nervously.

“I was just trying to be funny. But the offer stands. I don't mind. He's a cool kid. I have a fully loaded fridge, air conditioning, and a TV." I offered and she looked at me again.

“Would it be okay if I saw it first?” she asked and I smiled.

“Come on.”