Faster Longer (Take Me...#3) (New Adult Bad Boy Racer Novel) Read Online Free PDF Page B

are,” Mom says, crossing her arms, “All my
ducklings back in one place. I swear, I let you head off on one tournament
without me and all hell breaks loose.”
    “There’s really only one person here who derailed the entire
train,” Enzo says pointedly.
    “That, Son, is simply not true,” Mom says, “Your behavior’s
been just as questionable as your sister’s. Causing fights and wrecks? Chasing
members of another team? You don’t have as much room to cast judgment as you
think.”
    Enzo opens his mouth to protest, but thinks better of it.
Mom has always gotten the last word in this house, usually because she’s right.
It feels nice to have an ally for once in this mess of a situation.
    “So, what do you think we should do?” Dad asks, “Pretend
like nothing’s happened? Fight back?”
    “Find out who’s spreading rumors about our family and make
sure they shut their mouths,” Mom replies, “That’s what we need to focus on
now. In the meantime, we’ll keep our heads high and carry on. You’ll all head
back to London tomorrow so Enzo can keep training and Siena can figure out
what’s going on between her and Harrison.”
    “You’re not actually encouraging that?” Enzo says.
    “Just as much as I’m encouraging you to keep on with your
Shelby, if you so choose,” Mom replies.
    “What?” I cry, “Shelby’s a vile monster!”
    “So is Harrison,” Enzo shoots back.
    “If you two are finished fighting like children,” Mom cuts
us off, “I think we need to take the rest of the night off from worrying about
this. Neither of you looks as if you’ve slept in days. You came here to get
your wits together, didn’t you? Fighting isn’t going to help you clear your
heads and come at the next Grand Prix fresh. You need to take a load off, eat
some vegetables, get yourselves together. That’s how we’re going to fight this
thing.”
    “Right as ever,” Dad says, slipping an arm around Mom’s
waist.
    “And you need to relax more than anyone,” Mom says, chucking
Dad under the chin, “Look at those bags under your eyes.”
    “I’m afraid I’m not going to get any prettier in the next
few months,” Dad says quietly.
    “Don’t be silly,” Mom says, “You’ll always be the most handsome
man in the world, Alfonso. Well, one of two, counting your son.”
    “So that’s it?” Enzo says, “We’re just supposed to pretend
like nothing’s wrong and have family game night or something?”
    “Precisely,” Mom smiles, “Now come on. Dinner isn’t going to
make itself.”
    Mom and Dad follow the team into the kitchen, leaving Enzo
and I alone for the first time in weeks. He looks at me without a trace of
sympathy, and I feel my heart splinter even further. How did we come to this?
Enzo has always been my best friend in the world, now he can barely even stand
to look at me.
    “We’re going to make this right,” I tell him.
    But he doesn’t even reply. He simply shakes his head and
stalks off toward the kitchen, leaving me to scurry along behind him like a
little sister I am. I guess old habits die hard, especially where family is
concerned.

Chapter Three
An Olive Branch

     
     
    Despite Mom’s best efforts, the hours crawl by in a haze of
tension and raw nerves. I try and play nice with Enzo, but his every word seems
to be barbed and meant to hurt me. Between my brother’s passive aggressive
jabs, Charlie’s cold shouldering, the team’s unwillingness to meet my gaze, and
Mom’s chipper insistence that everything is fine, I’m totally overwhelmed.
Coming here was supposed to be helpful, soothing. But instead, all I can think
about is whether I was hasty in leaving Harrison’s side.
    I excuse myself from the after-dinner lounging downstairs
and retreat to my bedroom. I claim exhaustion, but I’m really just in need of a
single moment alone in the midst of this publicity shit storm. I’m not used to
being the center of attention, not by a long shot. I’m not really sure how