"Take your lunch!"Griffin whistled sharply up to the scaffolding where I'd been adding siding to one of the new houses.My Uncle Colt's construction company had landed a gig building an entire community of homes.It was nice, solid work, and my uncle was a great boss.He cared about his employees and treated us well.I occasionally worked on my dad's boat, too.He took groups out for deep sea fishing adventures.It was mostly shut down during winter, but now that spring was back, there'd be work on the boat too.The jobs along with my winnings and sponsorship money had me in pretty good financial shape for the first time in my life.I wasn't going to be driving a Ferrari anytime soon, but I'd started thinking about trading in my beat-up old car for a new one.The car was twenty years old.I probably should have handed it off to a junkyard a few years back, but the crummy old car had been with me since my junior year in high school.It was my first car.I'd saved up enough to pay for half, and my dad had given me the other chunk.The old Chevy had been sitting in a neighbor's garage for a year.He'd lost his license due to poor eyesight.I told him I wanted to buy it, so we made a deal.I had six months to buy the car, or he'd put it up for sale.I managed to buy it in five months.
I climbed down from the scaffolding, picked up my lunch from the locker room and headed over to the shaded picnic benches.Shay, our office manager and Griffin's girlfriend, was sitting on one of the benches eating a salad.
"Mind if I join you?"I asked.
"Of course," Shay said and waved her hand at the empty spot across from her.
Griffin and Shay had fallen instantly in love, and they were inseparable.We hardly ever saw him or my cousin, Jaxon, anymore.Jaxon had found his true love the summer before Griffin met Shay.I was happy for them both but also a little bummed that they were always too busy to hang out.
"Congratulations on your big win."Shay offered me a branch of red grapes.
"Thanks.I was blown away that I pulled it off."
"Nonsense," Shay said.She had this incredible face that looked perfect from every angle.She was also an amazing dancer.She was currently working with the local ballet group on a production for Christmas."Fin says you're the best rider on the circuit as long as you put your mind to it."
I nodded."Yep, he's pretty much nailed it.My mind is my biggest obstacle to the podium.I get easily distracted, and you can't let that happen on those downhill courses.That was my problem at school, too.Distraction—but back then it was girls … or girl, I should say."I'd nearly cleared my head of Lacey.It'd taken a few months after learning she was getting married, but I finally got past it enough to focus back on my racing career.She was gone, and we'd never see each other again.That was what I'd told myself many times, and I was finally convinced of it.Then, out of the blue, she texted and called and blew up the whole focus thing.
"Fin mentioned to me that you had a high school sweetheart that you never quite got over."
I sighed loudly."Fin has a big mouth."
"No, I think it's sweet and romantic.Not many people meet their soulmates so early in life.I assume the rest of the Stone boys went through high school with a wider catalogue of female friends."
"If, by catalogue, you mean they were sleeping around like a bunch of man sluts, then yeah, you're right.For me, it was always Lacey."I smiled down at the sandwich in front of me.We were out of almost everything at the house, so I'd cut mold off the last slice of cheese and tucked a questionable looking piece of ham between two stale slices of bread.The sandwich looked even less appetizing after sitting for hours in my lunch cooler.
"That shows she was your true soulmate.I confess, I wouldn't have taken you as a one-woman kind of guy."
"Yep, I mean, since she left, well, let's just say I've been catching up on lost time."
"Trying to fill that hole, eh?"she asked.
I nodded and picked up the sandwich."And now I'm trying to decide if I should fill the hole in my stomach with this really sketchy sandwich I threw together this morning."
Shay crinkled her nose."Doesn't look too tasty."She handed me the rest of her grapes and a chocolate chip cookie.
"No, I couldn't.This is your lunch."
"I insist.A hardcore romantic like you deserves a cookie.Besides, I brought in a whole tin of them, so I can have one later."Shay got up from the bench."Well, that's it for my break, and for what it's worth, even if you two are no longer together, very few people ever experience that kind of limitless love in their lives.But you have."
I smiled up at her."And you have too now."
Shay looked across the yard.Griffin was giving instructions to a few of the workers.Her eyes sparkled with admiration."I sure have.See you later."
"See ya and thanks for the cookie and grapes."I picked up the sandwich.It seemed to stare back at me, taunting me, daring me to take a bite.Wasn't going to happen.I still had enough time to get over to the local burger stand and vacuum down a burger.I tossed the sandwich and ate the cookie on my way to the car.
I climbed inside.The spring sun had been strong enough to warm the inside of the car.It was starting to smell like a car that needed to be put out of its misery.I set the bag of grapes on the seat and stared down at the pink stain on the light gray fabric upholstery.It had been there for years.I'd never really tried to clean it because it reminded me too much of Lacey.She'd been so upset that day, and I bought her a cherry slush to cheer her up.It ended up on the seat.
Before
I lookedat the clock for the millionth time.The second the big hand reached the twelve, I scooted out of the chair, nodded to Mr.Benson, the detention teacher, and raced out.Lacey was leaning against the back of my car with her long, tanned legs crossed at the ankles.Her pink backpack was propped on the trunk, and she had her arms folded across her chest as she huddled against the cold.It was a warm, sunny day.
"You waited," I said and hurried my pace."Thought detention would never end."It wasn't until I reached her that I realized she was crying.
"Hey, Ace, what's wrong?"I reached for her hand.She unfolded her arms, gave me her hand and then fell against me.I wrapped my arms around her."Whoa, baby, what's going on?"
She sniffled.I could feel her take a deep breath, then she lifted her face.Her nose was pink from crying."It's stupid.I don't want to talk about it."
"Ah, come on.Are you sure?"
