Page 104 of Off the Mark
Or realizing how desperately I’d looked forward to seeing Rowan’s smile every day. How desperately,painfully, I was going to miss being here in Philly. It wasn’t my home, but it was the first place in a very long time that made me feel…that made me feel…
Loved.
That word—love—swept through me with the force of a fragrant summer storm.
You’re it for him, dear, Alice had said. She’d known me for all of one dinner and understood why I’d kept Rowan at arm’s length. He’d always been the one for me.
“Charlie, are you okay?” Quinn asked, interrupting my frazzled thoughts. “Is it something with the September race?”
I forced a smile, brushing the bangs from my eyes. “Sorry about that. Iwillbe there in September and would love to hang with you both. I’m just anxious tonight because of the awards ceremony.” I fluttered my hand at the scene around us—the convention center rooms had been transformed into sleek, upscale dining complete with a stage, a podium, and servers circulating with champagne flutes. “Between you and me, I dig meeting the fans and hanging out with other racers. But the snooty corporate events have never been my thing. Especially right now, when the only award I’d be up for is ‘most number of embarrassing pictures online.’”
Riley snorted. “Fuck ’em. That reputation stuff is toxic, and I hate seeing it become part of our motocross culture. At least, with a team, there’s a built-in support that comes with it. You’re not just a single bull’s-eye for social media to focus on.”
I shot them a wry look. “The fans like you guys though.”
“Because we’re super fucking cute,” Quinn added.
I laughed and clinked their glasses again. “Cheers to that.”
“They like you and your boyfriend too,” Riley said. “What’s his name again? That hunky redhead?”
I shifted on the barstool and felt a delicious burn between my legs, courtesy of that hunky redhead.
“His name is Rowan, and heisvery hunky, thank you.”
Dempsey walked up to us then, sporting a silvery suit and a freshly buzzed head.
“Speaking of fashion icons,” I sang.
She raised a tattooed finger at the bartender before turning to the three of us. “Ladies. It’s a pleasure to see you again.”
Riley and Quinn seemed adorably flustered by Dempsey’s presence—I knew part of it was that she was an actual icon. But I hadn’t told Dempsey about Archer’s Angels sniffing around my status yet and wasn’t sure if she’d be flattered, like I was. Or pissed because she’d make less money off of me long-term.
Either way, the couple made a smooth exit a minute later, and I promised to return the martini favor at a future date. Dempsey tapped her nails on her glass of whiskey and cocked her head.
“Did they buy you a drink?” she asked.
“Yes,they did. Myagenthasn’t even done that. And I got second place andeverythingfor her at my last race.” I plopped my chin in my hand and sighed.
She rolled her eyes playfully and called out for another martini from the bartender. “You’re lucky you’re cute. I’ll be there at the championship race and have it on pod authority that you’re a fan favorite.”
“After one second-place prize?”
She squeezed my hand. “People are rooting for you, Charlie. Did it feel amazing?”
I nodded, much too emotional to speak. My second cocktail arrived, and the vodka loosened the grip of my throat. “There’s nothing like it, is there? Feeling like you’re finally back where you belong?”
“No, there isn’t. And when you get first in a couple days, it’ll feel even more magnificent.” She released me. Took a step back and examined me from head to toe. “Also, you’re glowing.”
I shrugged. “Cool.”
She moved close, like she was about tosmellme. I laughed and shoved her back. “What’s happening? Are you unwell?”
“You have a hickey.” She sipped her whiskey imperiously. “That’s why you’re glowing. It’s Rowan, isn’t it? Your hot baseball friend?”
My hand flew to my neck. “I used atonof makeup to cover it up.”
“No one will notice. I only did because I invented the hickey cover-up in high school.” Another smile flew across her face. “I was very popular with the cheerleading squad.”
