Last Ride Read Free Page A

might take my trannie to him too,” Lucas adds.
    My breath catches. No way. A trannie job’s worth a few thousand to me. He has to bring it to Ray. “Don’t be crazy. Ray’s it when it comes to trannie work. He’ll do whatever you want. You know that.”
    â€œYeah, but apparently the mechanic in Everett is something else.” Lucas shakes his head. “That Lancer can really go.”
    â€œMy Acura really goes too. Ray’s done a crapload of work on it.”
    â€œHow would we know?” Lucas laughs. “You haven’t raced it in a year.”
    Blair pours another shot. “That’s because Shields thinks he’s jinxed.”
    I suck back some beer. Not jinxed. Just not stupid anymore.
    â€œQuit being a wuss,” Lucas says. “Come out and show us what you can do.”
    Wuss . I hate that word.
    Drew scowls. “Leave him alone.”
    Drew’s the only guy I know without a car. He borrows his dad’s pickup sometimes, but mostly he’s without wheels. That’s why he holds so many parties. If he didn’t, he’d be a total loser.
    â€œThere’s a race tomorrow night,” Blair says. “The Lancer’ll be there. I’ll text you the details.”
    I’m about to remind him that I’m not racing anymore when I feel that tiny prickle at the back of my neck again. Like someone is watching me. I glance over my shoulder and see short blond hair and Logan’s St. Christopher medallion.
    Hannah. She’s thinking of Logan.
    I can tell by the twist of pain on her face. For once, I’m not. I’m thinking only of her. How it felt when she touched my sore leg in the hospital. How it made me feel things I have no right to feel.
    â€œWhatdaya say, Shields?” Blair presses.
    I open my mouth to answer, but Aisha interrupts. “There you are!” She plants a wet, sloppy kiss on my cheek. “Come on. I love this song.” She plucks the beer from my hand, slams it on the table beside a bag of ripple chips and presses against me. “Let’s dance.”
    A flush fills my cheeks. Hannah’s eyes widen. Cole’s eyes are trained on Aisha’s breasts, which are practically spilling out of her tank top.
    â€œShields?” Blair yells. “You haven’t answered. Tomorrow night? You coming or not?”
    Hannah’s gaze burns. She wants me to say no. She expects me to say no. But I need to go to the race. I need that Lancer to lose. I need the guys to bring their cars to Ray. “I’m coming,” I say as Aisha leads me away. “But I won’t be racing.”
    Laughter and a few good-natured insults follow us. They aren’t as painful as the look of disappointment in Hannah’s eyes. She doesn’t believe me. She thinks I’m lying.
    She’s wrong.

Chapter Four
    Mom corners me a few hours later when I sneak in the front door.
    â€œYou’re late.”
    I peer across the hall into the living room. She and her boyfriend, Cam, are on the couch, framed by the glow from the yellow and orange Tiffany lamp.
    â€œSorry.” I flip the dead bolt on the door and walk across the hall. “There was a party at Drew’s. Didn’t you get my message?”
    â€œYes, but it’s a school night.” The circles under Mom’s eyes look purple in the pale light. “And you have a curfew.”
    â€œI drove some friends home. It took longer than I thought.” Mostly because I had to pull over twice so Aisha could throw up.
    Cam gives me a silent salute. I nod back. Cam never says much, but he never criticizes either. That’s worth a lot.
    â€œI worry, Tom. You know that.”
    â€œYeah.” Guilt stings. “I’m sorry,” I repeat.
    â€œMr. Lansky called. He’s concerned about your performance in senior seminar.”
    Oh man, I don’t need Lansky on my case. Not when I’m worrying about my car.
    â€œSenior