Page 81 of The Legend
Lily and Igrew up around that mentality and saw that relationship every day. Her fear,that I would chose racing entirely.
“Do youwant to know one of the best memories I have of my parents growing up?”
She noddedeagerly. She loved hearing about my parents and their epic love story. Smiling,I pulled her hands forward kissing her ring finger.
“I wasprobably around ten or eleven;anyway, my dadwas always racing on my mom’s birthday, never failed. That particular year hewas in a fairly close battle with the points, which left him on edge going intothe last race before the chase. The night before the Saturday night race wasmom’s birthday. Our entire family was there wanting to celebrate for her butdad wasn’t in a good mood that night. There was also a sprint car race going onin Lernerville that same night that he was set to race in.”
“He choseracing over your mom’s birthday?”
“No, hedidn’t have to. She told him to go and they made a party out of the night forher in Lernerville. He even won the race for her and took her around the trackin his sprint car for a victory lap.” I smiled up at her hoping that sheunderstood where I was going with this memory.
“It’s notabout choosing...” she deducedwith a small smile, her head tilted to the side.
“It’s notabout choosing.” I repeated. “My dad never had to choose because just like you,my mom was ready and willing to support him. You’ve never asked me not torace.”
“I neverwould. Racing is what makes you happy.”
“Exactly...you have nothing to worry about…” I paused.“And if you asked, I would walk away.”
It wouldbe hard but I would if she wanted me too.
She didn’tsay anything to me for a moment staring at my cufflinks.
I gotimpatient and moved closer grasping her hands more securely. “Please marry me,Lily.” I whispered against her hands that I had pulled against my lips.
“I will. Now get out.” She pointed at the door. “I need tomeet my soon to be husband on the beach in an hour. I’m a hot mess.”
“You’rebeautiful.” I stood and looked down at her my fingers brushed along her cheekand then curled around her chin. “Now meet me next to the shore in an hour.”
“Deal”
Making my wayback to the tent, I had my brother to deal with.
“You’rebeing a moron.” I told Casten.
“It’s awedding Axel, not a Mensa meeting,” he replied. “How do you want me to act?”
“With abit more decorum, I would guess.” I told him eyeing his appearance. He wassweating profusely. “Why are you all wet?”
“Noreason.” He smiled brushing his hair out of his face. “I think I drank too muchlast night. So you want me to act like them?” Casten pointed to Logan and Lanewho were so drunk they could barely stand, covered in sand. Silently I hopedthey got washed away by the tide before the night was over. I loved them butthey weren’t helping me today.
“No, don’tact like that. Just...be normal.If that’s possible for you.”
Castenthrew his head back and let out a loud laugh and then went completely serious.“That’s probably never going to happen with our parents.”
“Fine,” Igroaned heading down the aisle not feeling very confident in my family.
My dad andSpencer were standing up there with Tommy. He was doing the ceremony for us.Yes, he got his license online, which was good enough for me.
“You readykid?”
“I thinkso?” it wasn’t meant to be a question but the way it came out, it was.
“I’m sorryto say this,” Tommy laughed beside me, “but there shouldn’t be a question atthe end of that sentence moron.”
“Way to besupportive.” Spencer shook his head and walked to the bar to where Aiden wasperched on a stool avoiding Noah and Charlie.
This leftme standing alone with Tommy and my dad, although Tommy was now distracted byLily’s bridesmaids.
