Racing Hearts (Hollows Garage Book 3)

Carly had cooked, and if I thought what she made for us was a lot, the amount she made today would put those dinners to shame.

We helped pack it all into his fridge and freezer before sitting back down to eat more. Not that I minded.

“Alright,” her grandpa said, pushing away from the table. “I’ve made my decision on all of you.”

That grabbed all of our attention, everyone looking at him. I had expected a mean, stuffy old man, and while he was a little of that, overall, he was pretty great.

“And?” I asked, every part of me hoping this was going to be good. I couldn’t imagine Carly wanting to hang around anyone her grandpa didn’t trust.

He looked right at me.

“Get up. All of you. Come on.”

We listened, waiting as he got up and made his way to the door, where we lined up behind him. None of the crew seemed to mind. We were all too curious to see what he could want for any of us to protest.

“Grandpa, what are you doing?” Carly asked, running to his side. “It’s dark out.”

“Everyone’s got those damn lights on their phones if they’re scared of the dark.”

“I was more concerned with you falling in the dark,” she grumbled, trying to hold on to him. I went to her side, balancing her as she balanced him.

‘Thanks,’ she mouthed as we all made it outside and started across the lawn.

“Carly, honey, I live alone. You think I’m not out here all the time?”

“Fine, I get it. Why are you taking them back here? We never go to this barn.” He was leading us to a barn at the back of the property that I would have guessed was abandoned. I leaned down to her ear, taking any opportunity to get closer to her.

“No? I thought this spooky old barn would be your favorite place.” She elbowed me hard as I laughed.

“Yeah, and for a damn good reason,” Grandpa said, taking my thoughts back to what we were doing.

“Why? What’s back here? I don’t think I’ve ever even seen the inside of this one.”

“Bunch of junk,” he said. “A bunch of junk that no one but your mom knew about, and I planned to keep it that way.”

“But?” I asked, knowing there had to be more.

“But,” he said, motioning for us to move the metal that had been piled up in front of the door. “I’m old enough to know when I’m right about things. And I’ve decided I’m right about you all.”

“Damn,” Scout muttered to Fox behind me. “He’s taking us all out at once in the creepy old barn.”

“I really have some respect for that,” Kye said. “Very efficient.”

“Or maybe just Jax for messing with Carly,” Fox added.

“Will you two shut up?” I asked.

“We’re going to miss you, man,” Fox said. “We will take really good care of your car.”

I turned, ready to hit him, but her grandpa spoke up again. “Now cut this lock off,” he said, handing me a set of bolt cutters. “I lost the key years ago.”

“What’s going on? What is in here that you haven’t told anyone about?” Carly asked, her hands on her hips now. She was looking more pissed off by the second.

“Something I got years ago. Many, many years ago now. I always thought your mom would remarry someone that I actually liked and maybe he could take it, but that didn’t work out. Then I thought your sister or you might have it one day, but I saw the way you looked at that truck, and your sister Chloe was never interested in cars.”

“So why show us?”

“Because I told you. I know when I’m right and I know when I’m wrong. After so many years of surviving, you just learn how to listen to your gut.”

The lock broke, letting Ransom and I pull open the doors.

I don’t think anyone was ready for what was on the other side, though.

“A 1968 Charger? This is what you consider a bunch of junk?”

“I like calling it that. Keeps the nosey people out of my business.”

Without a word, the crew was surrounding it, brushing it off and moving things away from it.

“Jax,” he said, snapping my attention away from the car. “What do you think?”

“I think it’s beautiful.”

“I’m glad you think so, because you’re going to make it run.”

“I am?”

“You fixed her truck. Might as well have you fix this, too. It shouldn’t be too bad. I’ve worked on it through the years and started it up, but it needs attention.”

“And you trust me to do that?”

“Grandpa, no,” Carly hissed, moving him aside as though we couldn’t all hear. “I’m not staying with them. You can’t give them the car.”

“I’m not giving it to them, but Jax can take it and fix it. I assume take a drive or two in it,” he said chuckling.

“But I’m leaving as soon as my truck is done.”

“Sure. And that’s fine if you think you want to do that, but I know how happy you are. And it won’t hurt to let him take this. Maybe you’ll be back. Maybe you can all come over all the time and we can cook together again.” Her face fell and sad eyes met mine as she looked right at me. “I wish I could, but I don’t know if that can happen.”

“He’s taking the car, Carly, and if he would like to drive it, I don’t mind. Now knock off your attitude and enjoy the night.”

I hid my laugh as her eyes went wide and nostrils flared, more pissed off than ever. I doubted there was anyone else that would tell her that and not get an earful in response, but she wasn’t going to talk back to him. I only laughed harder at the thought. I didn’t think this was going to add any points in my favor, but I still went right to her side, all that anger turning on me.

“You can’t take it.”

“I wasn’t going to take it, but I will take it to the garage and get it fixed for him.”

“No, just leave it here.”

“Not when he asked me to do something for him.” I knew she was going to be more mad, but I wasn’t going to let her need to not intertwine our lives make more problems for her grandpa, and quite honestly, I would rather be on her bad side for a few hours than on his forever.

“You are serious?”

“Completely. We will take it back to the garage, fix it, and return it.”

“Fine, then. I’m going back inside.” She spun on her heel, stomping out of the barn and leaving us to look over the car more and talk to him about it.

When we said goodbye and made it home hours later, she was still clearly annoyed, doing her best to give me the cold shoulder. But despite her attempts to keep up the act, I couldn’t help but notice how she couldn’t resist stealing glances or reaching out to touch me. It was becoming pretty obvious that I still might have a shot at something more again.