[18+]
College student Hadley Bell is eager to return home for the holidays, but there's a problem. Her ex-no. 44 Nick Baker, Professional Snocross Racer and member of the Bell Race Team, still resides under her parent's roof.
Tensions run high, and...
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"What are you drinking?"
I mulled over the choices we glanced at on our way by the beer gardens. Knowing Janelle wanted to drown out the noise of shrieking children after a spectacular morning of shooting Santa photos and listening to Hunt gripe the entire time. But instead of celebrating with a well-deserved drink, I said, "I'm going to stick to Coke, lots of ice."
Janelle furrowed her brows, arm resting on the counter of the Mexican food truck we chose. "Seriously?" She asked, her breath fogging before her face. "After all that, you want a pop? The beer tent is right there."
"Yes," I stated, firmly rooted in my decision.
I didn't know much about Baker's addiction, but I wanted to be supportive, and if it meant staying sober, then so be it. Plus, I didn't want to eat my food in the cold—in the designated beer gardens next to the shrieking track where the racers made their practice runs.
For a moment, I thought Janelle might die of shock, but instead of probing, she reverted to the concession, ordering not one but two Coke's and three chicken tacos each, minus the jalapenos. "It's just as well. It probably wouldn't be a good idea to take photos on a track where children driving off-road machinery could potentially run our drunk asses over."
The mental image my mind crafted had my head falling back in laughter. "The governor will ensure they don't go faster than eight miles per hour."
She sagged. "Why do you assume I know what you're talking about?"
I smiled, taking my drink and brown paper bag. "It means you have more than enough time to dodge them if need be."
We had an hour to stuff our faces and make our way back to the track, meaning we had time to kill.
I showed Janelle around pit lane, stopping by a few trailers and introducing her to some of the pros I hadn't seen since last year.
I missed it—the smells, the cold, the laughter and simple hey Hadley's from familiar faces. The city wasn't like it was here. Where everyone knew everyone. As annoying as it was—to have everyone know your business, I did miss the simple conversations from people who actually cared enough about you to ask about school, about your mom, and to tell your roommate the most embarrassing stories from your childhood days.
Janelle laughed as we made our way to my father's trailer with the giant Bell Racing logo and a photo of Nate plastered across the side, but it wasn't Baker or Alyssa we found inside. "Hey, Hadley!" Max greeted as we stepped in, rising from his stool.
My stomach flopped, but I smiled regardless. "Hey Max," I said, embracing him in a hug when he approached me.
"Are you taking pictures today?"
"Just Santa photos," I said, showcasing the camera bag strapped over my shoulder.
Huh, his expression said. "I thought for sure you'd be bouncing around from trailer to trailer getting interviews and clips of the track."
