Racing Hearts (Hollows Garage Book 3)
Racing Hearts: Chapter 23

The next day, we were headed to my grandpa’s house, and I was more of a mess than I expected. Maybe Jax was right. I tried to go to war when I was mad, and that apparently included war with myself. Now I was spending way too much time convincing myself that being friends with him was easier than staying for more.

But I liked the way he looked at me, the way he smiled at me, and that he always seemed to be trying to make me smile back. I shouldn’t have let myself get so wrapped up in him.

As if the world wanted to remind me of that, I opened the drawer to finish getting dressed and froze, staring at the laptop. I needed to face my own fears and open it. Now, I knew as soon as I did, this could all be over. I needed to face what I had done, and stop being a coward, but going up against Slaughter still felt like too much, so I slammed the drawer shut again.

I was going to focus on one thing at a time, and today that was going to see my grandpa. Then, when I was far away from Jax, I could face Slaughter without risking any of them being involved.

I moved to the mirror. I looked different, softer maybe, although there was something in my face that never seemed to lose the resting bitch face look. I didn’t think it could ever change now.

Even in the red sundress, I still didn’t look exactly as soft and sweet as I hoped, but I did think I looked nice.

When I stepped out into the living room, Jax wasn’t looking down at his phone or preoccupied this time. He was already staring at me, a smile plastered on his face.

“Fuck,” he said, his lips parting. “You look…” His words died out with a quiet laugh that made me freeze.

“Are you seriously laughing at me for wearing this?”

“No. I mean, not really. It’s just, most days, you dress like you summon demons in your spare time, little witch. Maybe even scare them off when they arrive. Now you’re dressed like that and look like a perfect angel. You look cute.”

“Is that supposed to be bad, then?”

“Not at all. Just different. You could wear anything and I would like it, though, so I might be biased. I was sitting here, getting more and more excited to see what you chose. It’s become my own little show every day, waiting to see what you walk out in.”

“You did seem ready to see me today.”

“I’m always ready. It’s a highlight of my day now, and you always deliver. I can’t think of one outfit you’ve worn that hasn’t driven me crazy.”

“What about my leggings and t-shirts?”

“Are you kidding? Your ass looks so perfect in those things. They are a personal favorite.”

“Jax! Do you say those things to all your friends?”

“No, but I normally don’t sleep with my friends, and I don’t want to just be your friend. I’ll try to behave with the friends thing, but you aren’t making it easy.”

“Are you actually going to behave? My grandpa is a little weird, but I also don’t want him to know about any of this,” I said, waving my hand between us. “I also don’t want him to know about the racing, or what happened with Slaughter, or any other bad thing you can think of, so you have to behave.”

“I promise to be on my very best behavior with all of that, but there’s no possible way for me to keep from flirting with you. Besides, you flirt back. Now, come on, let’s go or we are going to be late.”

He started out the door, not waiting for me to catch up. Riot ran after him, and for a second I could only watch them go.

Riot had always been glued to my side, my little shadow that was never more than an arm’s length away, and we both always seemed to want it that way. It didn’t matter who came to the house or who I hung out with, Riot was next to me. Without me even realizing, Riot had made himself at home here, and with Jax. He was always happy to hang around him, follow him where he could, and I was starting to suspect that Riot would be happy going to the garage with him for work every day based on his cries when Jax left in the mornings.

My dog had become a traitor, and I couldn’t even blame him.

TWENTY MINUTES LATER, we were headed to my grandpa’s house, tucked away down an old farm road. You wouldn’t be able to see another house for miles. The landscape was a mix of fields and forest, but utterly devoid of people, which was somehow comforting and unnerving at the same time.

“Your grandpa lives all the way out here?”

“Yeah, he moved out here a long time ago for the peace and quiet. But I think it became a lot for him to handle and things, um…changed.”

“How?”

“You’ll see.”

Jax shifted in his seat before glancing over at me. “Is he going to hate me?”

“I honestly don’t know what he’s going to think about you, so I guess we’ll see about that, too.”

“Now you’re freaking me out. All I’m picturing is some hard ass, old army guy that is going to hate my guts.”

“Um, not quite, but I still don’t know how he will react. Turn here,” I said, pointing down another road.

“Has he ever met a boyfriend?”

“Are you trying to insinuate I would introduce you as one?” I asked, my eyebrows jumping up.

“No, but I was curious how many guys he’s met with you before me.”

“Do you think I’ve had a long enough relationship with a guy to introduce him to my family?” For some reason, I assumed he already understood that I didn’t really have relationships.

“Well, I don’t know,” Jax said. “Why wouldn’t you?”

“Guys don’t really last long in relationships without sex, and I don’t last long in relationships at all.”

“Okay, so what’s the longest relationship that you’ve ever had?”

“I don’t know, two months maybe?”

“I feel like that could be a red flag,” he said, smirking.

“Add it to my list and maybe take it as a sign that being friends is the right choice.”

He gave a hard laugh. “That’s not nearly enough to make me think we should only be friends. I can absolutely beat two months. I’m almost there already, and we are living together. I would date you without sex, if that’s what it took. You know, if that was an offer you were making.”

“Why would I want to date someone without that now? I found out I liked it, so there’s really no going back.”

He groaned. “I’m going to say that I hope that means I might still have a chance again, and then I won’t say anything else about it.”

He finally turned into the well-manicured driveway, the trees perfectly trimmed and beautiful wildflowers lining the path. He shifted the car, letting us move to a crawl down the long driveway.

“This is it?”

“Yeah.”

“This is…nice. I’m guessing he’s like an old school perfectionist then? He’s really not going to like me.”

“Not quite. Keep looking.”

Jax crept down the driveway, but stopped as he saw the first one.

“What in the hell is that?”

I looked closer, already knowing exactly what it was.

“A metal dinosaur.”

“Excuse me?” He looked over, his eyes wide and mouth open.

“Keep going,” I said.

We made it further, and it only got worse. A giant flamingo, a bicycle with a yeti. I finally put my head down on the dash as Jax continued.

“What is going on? Is this for real? Is this his place?”

“Yes and yes. He likes to…make things.”

When I looked up, we were at the house. The entire place was clean, neat, and perfect. Anyone would think he was an uptight, grandfatherly type based on the house, but the yard was littered with his creations. Animals, cannons, cars, the things he created were endless.

“He got into a very specific hobby later in life. I told you that he’s a bit…eccentric. Please, be nice. I know he’s a little strange, but I do love him, and if you are mean to him, we are going to have an even bigger problem.”

At my words, my grandpa came out, a scowl on his face as he walked over to the car.

“Wow,” Jax said. “I can already see the relation.”

He looked so mean, and I had always figured that’s where I got it from, but he was never mean to me. I got out, noticing the sling and purple hue around his temple.

I ran over, nearly falling before I reached him.

“What is this? What happened?” I grabbed his good arm, making sure he was steady before pulling him into a hug.

“Ahh, your dumbass stepdad stopped by and that correlated with me falling over. Nothing a shotgun couldn’t fix.”

“Grandpa! He did this?” I looked at Jax, seconds from bursting into tears. “Why?”

“He thought you might be here. It was about two weeks ago now. I’m alright, dear, calm down.”

“He hurt you because of me?” I asked, but I already knew the answer. Of course it was because of me. I had been so worried about bringing trouble for Jax and his friends that I never thought to worry about my grandpa. The words my fault were screaming in my mind.

“I’m fine, Carly. It was a little sprain and a bruise from the fall. He just pushed me over a little faster than I was expecting,” he said, smirking now. “Then he wasn’t expecting my shotgun.”

I could only shake my head. “And he hasn’t been back?”

“Not after I told him I would call the police if I saw him again. Funny how he thinks he is big and bad until I say that.”

Jax smiled back, and I smacked him, my eyes widening as he looked at me.

“I can have a security system set up if you would want that?” Jax asked.

“Yes, we would love that. Thank you,” I said, trying to pull my grandpa back to sit on his porch. He shrugged me off, finally looking Jax over.

“Who is this?” He asked, the gruff tone very unfriendly. “And no, I don’t want a security system. I told you that I have a shotgun.”

“This is my friend, Jax. He drove me out here today.”

“I see that. He drives one of those cars like your stepdad?

“Yeah,” I said, wincing. “But I promise he’s nothing like them.”

“Hmm. Interesting. I would hope not if you are willingly hanging out with him.” He was still scrutinizing Jax. “Do you work?”

“Yes, sir I do. I own a mechanic shop with some friends.”

“He’s fixing my truck for me. I broke down a few weeks ago.”

“Oh, I heard. Heard you ran off, and they came across your truck, and some guy hit Tristan. They were going to call in that you were kidnapped, but I told your mother that was ridiculous till she finally listened. Then they came over after that.”

“Kidnapped?” I said, my voice going high. “The only one trying to kidnap me was Tristan. Jax had to punch him just so we could leave.”

Grandpa laughed, looking at Jax again. “So that’s why Tristan’s nose was purple? Good,” he said with a firm nod before turning to me. “I knew you would be leaving there, just didn’t know when. I’m glad you finally came around here, though. Are you here to stay for dinner too, or dropping her off?”

“He’s staying if you’re okay with that,” I said, not knowing why this was making me so nervous.

Grandpa’s frown deepened as he looked at the tattoos on Jax’s arms and then back up to look him over.

“Depends.”

“On?” Jax asked, obviously nervous.

“On if you want to come see what I’m working on.”

Jax let out a deep, relieved breath. “I absolutely do.”

“Good. Are you coming with us, or are you heading for the kitchen?” He asked me, but turned to Jax. “She was always more worried about what we could cook together. It wasn’t until I brought that truck around that she came out to see what was going on. Then, for a long time, we couldn’t get her away from that thing. I knew she had to keep it. Now she likes to make sure I eat, though. Can’t get her back out here.”

“It’s not that I don’t want to. You eat frozen TV dinners if I don’t cook a ton while I’m here.”

“Yeah, yeah. Always taking care of me. Those TV dinners taste fine.”

“Are you saying you don’t like my cooking?”

“Like it? Not at all, dear, I love your cooking. It makes me feel like I’m home every time. Just don’t leave me out here with your hooligan friend for too long.”

“I barely want to leave you two alone for a minute, let alone for a long time.”

Grandpa turned, heading towards his big barn as Jax leaned down to whisper to me. “I hope I’m not about to be killed in the barn.”

“No, but I swear if you two blow anything up, I’m blaming you.”

“Blowing up? He’s got stuff to blow up?”

“Jax,” I said, dropping my tone.

“Come get me if you need help,” he said, kissing my cheek and running to catch up.

I should have thought this through more.

Jax was wild, and so was my grandpa. He was eighty-five years old and wanted to run around like he was younger than me.

Nothing good was going to come of them being out there together.

AN HOUR LATER, I had prepped almost all the food, and knew I had to go check on them before I started the actual cooking.

The walk to the barn wasn’t far, but I was nervous the entire way. At least Jax’s car was still here, and he hadn’t been run off. I went to open the door and screamed as something really did blow up.

“Carly?” Jax asked, coming around the back side of the barn to me. “Shit. We didn’t know you came out here.”

“What was that?”

“You are not going to believe it. Come on. Come see what we made,” he said. He was so excited as he wrapped an arm around me to pull me back.

Then grandpa came around the corner. “Sorry, dear. Nothing was going to hurt you, so calm down.”

Then I heard it.

Engines revving as they slowed, coming down the driveway.

I reached for Jax, my fingers digging in as I pulled him close.

“Slaughter?”

“No. No, it’s the crew. Your grandpa said I should invite them over, too.”

My fingers relaxed. “All of them?”

Jax laughed, pulling me towards the cars. “Is there someone you don’t particularly like?”

“No. Of course not, but do they all really need to meet my grandpa?”

“Yes, they do. He asked to meet all your new friends, and I wasn’t going to tell him no. Plus, I had them stop and install a security camera in the metal dinosaur so we can see if Slaughter or Tristan come back.”

Relief flooded me, and it took everything in me not to throw myself at him. My grandpa would be safer now.

“Are you sure they should come meet him, though? You’ve hung out with him. He’s a little strange.”

“Are you serious? He’s awesome. We just built a fucking potato gun.”

“You did what?” Scout said, hopping out of her car.

“We built a gun that shoots potatoes,” Jax said, holding my hand and waving it all along with his. He looked so excited, so happy, that any nervousness I was feeling about my grandpa meeting them was disappearing.

“Come on, we made two of them.”

My grandpa’s eyebrows were up when everyone came over.

“Well, this is about what I was expecting.” He looked them all over, from tattoos, to dirty boots, to the obviously fast cars. There was a lot to take in. “Seems like a group of criminals,” he added, but then started laughing.

I went through their names, introducing them all to him.

He gave a grunt in return. “Call me grandpa or don’t call me anything. Now come on, Jax, your friends are here. Let’s see who’s the best shot.”

Jax held on to me, following grandpa back around the building. “I never want to leave. Please, let’s move here.”

“Oh, I’m sure he would love the company. Would it just be you and your six friends?”

“Yes, and my unruly witch and her dog.”

I couldn’t not laugh. “Right. Let’s keep you all contained at the apartments for now.”

“Fine, for now.”

Riot went along with them, everyone disappearing as I tried to take it all in. I thought my grandpa would be hesitant like I was after knowing how much he hated Slaughter and Tristan too, but he was ready to have them over and apparently didn’t mind hanging out with all of them.

It was too easy. This life with Jax fit too well and everything felt simple, even the big things. Seeing how happy everyone was only made me want to cry, wishing it could stay this way, but I knew things didn’t last like that. It couldn’t. I was technically lying to him, hiding the laptop, and not coming clean about what happened, not completely.

We were friends now and if I left it this way, it would be a clean break.