Page 136 of The Legend
“Go get mebarbeque at Lancaster’s.” Leaning forward I pulled my wallet from my backpocket.“Brisket and ribs.”
“I haveone stipulation.” His face took on a somber edge. “Don’t you dare tell mom thatI did this foryou.I’m her favorite child and Iintend to keep it that way.”
“I’llnever understand why she likes you so much.”
Anothersomber look before he jetted out the door.“Because I’mawesome.”
It musthave taken that little shit two hours to come back with the food and don’tthink I didn’t text him every five minutes. Being alone in the house, well notreally with Rosa roaming around, but I didn’t like being alone these days. Swaywas with Arie and Alley doing a meet and greet for Easton Levi. That left mealone.
“I broughtfriends!” He yelled coming through the door with Spencer, Aiden, Tommy, Willie,Axel and Justin.
It wasjust what I needed right then. My sprint car buddies. It felt good to hang outwith the boys. It was something we hadn’t done since, well, the night beforeKnoxville.
My stomachdropped at the thought but I pushed away the memories. I wasn’t over it nor wouldI ever be. Only seat time would provide the distraction and way to deal withthe pain.
My stomachhurt but not from pain this time.From laughing.Itwas the kind of pain that you couldn’t catch your breath and if someone lookedat you, you started laughing all over again.
It feltgood.
And strange.
I missedSway in moments like this and felt bad that I was laughing now and not withher.
Axel brokeout into giggles when beer shot out Tommy’s nose. Casten was telling a storyabout last weekend when they were in Haubstadt for the race at Tri-StateSpeedway. “No lie,” Casten laughed throwing his head back. “He comes out of thehauler with holding a box of wine that he made a pillow out of and nothing onbut a feather boa wrapped around his neck.”
Axel lostit again but tried to add to the conversation through his snorts. He remindedme of Sway when he laughed like that. It felt good to see him happy again. “Sothen...” another burst of giggles, Aiden looked andme and laughed shaking his head. “...hetells us waving the boa around saying half was flair and half was forprotection.”
Tommy heldhis hands up in defense. “Whoa, stop judging me. I warned you not to give methat bottle of gin. I hate gin.”
“Now weknow.” Casten said seriously and then broke into laughter again. “He sent thistext at three in the morning asking if I had a chainsaw.”
“I didnot.” Tommy said waving his hands around. “Now you’re lying.”
“Ohreally,” Casten dug his phone from the pocket of his khaki shorts and showed Tommythe text.
Tommylooked at me. “I think your kid set me up.”
Lickingbarbeque from my thumb, I smiled. “I wouldn’t doubt he did set you up.”
Aidennudged Spencer next to him reaching for another helping of potato salad. “Did youtell Jameson about Brody and Easton last week?”
Spencerlet out a bellowing laugh that actually hurt my ears but a lot of sounds hurtmy ears these days. “You should have seen Easton last week in Martinsville man.He took some hard licks from Brody allrace, and thenon the last lap, he fucking just nailed him. No brakes,nothin’just slammed right into him.”
“I saw theaftermath on Sports Center today.” Looking down, I hated that they all hadracing stories that I wasn’t part of right now. Everybody was back to workingfulltime aside from me and just like being in the house alone this afternoon,it felt strange. That’s how I knew I was ready to go back.
“Oh Jameson?”Rosa called out as she came into the room with headphones in and dancing aroundwhatever that shit was she listened to. “You might be interested to know yourwife is home.” She took my rib that was in my hand, half eaten, and startedeating the rest of it without missing a beat.
“Who isthat?” Aiden asked as if he never saw Rosa before and then looked at me like Iwas crazy for letting her eat off my plate. She then took my beer and chuggedit.
“My bestfriend,” Spencer goaded when Rosa burped louder than him.
“OrTommy’s gymnastics partner,” Casten added.
Tommydropped his head to the table shaking it back and forth when Rosa made ahumping motion against the side of his chair, headphones still in.
“I lovethis family.” Casten announced. “But seriously…” his eyes widened. “Wegottahide this shit.” He was in full panic mode because heknew damn well if Sway found out he got me barbeque, she would kick his ass.
I didn’twantmyass kicked by her so we hurried and got rid of the evidencewhile Spencer guarded the door. Sway was pounding on the door as he sat therein front of it laughing his ass off.
