“Did Rylee guilt you into attending as well?” Mason, one of my co-workers asks, as he comes up beside me.
I release a laugh, “No guilt needed, she simply reminded me about something I’d almost forgotten about. I’m glad she did though. These events are always fun.”
He nods before taking a sip of the scotch in his hand, “While you’re right about that, they often squeeze my pocket for every penny.”
“It’s because you’re a softie who loves helping the kids. If you didn’t you wouldn’t work at Corporate Cares.”
Mason laughs in defeat, “You’re damn right about that. Thankfully, I make enough to put a good bit back into the pot. The silent auction might be taking a good bit of cash from me tonight. They have that new gaming system my niece has been begging for.”
“And it’s totally okay if you buy it as long as it’s for charity, huh?” I wiggle my eyebrows.
“Well, yeah. Then my sister can’t get pissed at me.” Mason chuckles, causing me to release a giggle as well.
“Ah, good plan.” I mutter, seeing a crowd of people swarming to one area of the ballroom. “What’s going on over there?” I ask.
“Eh, I know Colton sold some tickets to some racers. Pretty sure some other high-profile people are coming like him.” Mason says, just as I land my eyes on a familiar blonde. One I happen to not be speaking to at the moment.
“Holy shit, that’s the Storm family.”
“Storm family?” I question, tearing my eyes away from Gemma to look at Mason.
Mason nods, “Yeah. Ricky Storm is the guy in the middle with the slicked back hair in the black suit. I’m pretty sure Clayton is the guy standing beside him with the ponytail. He has that thick beard, and . . . the woman must be one of his daughters, Poppy or . . . Jenna I think?”
“Gemma,” I correct him.
“Oh, so you know about them?”
I shake my head, “No, I don’t know about them. Her and I have crossed paths a couple times before. Are they a big deal? The family I mean.”
“Yeah, they’re as big as the Earnhardts. Racing royalty. I think his other two sons are there too, Braxton and Trenton. One of them does motocross racing I’m pretty sure, while the others stick to cars.”
“Ah, cool.”
Now it all makes sense, why she’s so fucking afraid. Gemma doesn’t come from some plain-Jane family. She’s essentially royalty, and everything could come crumbling from underneath her feet. In all honesty, it makes me more empathetic. But at the end of the day I’m still going to pray she doesn’t want to hide what we have. I like her far too much to push her away, and if it comes down to it, I’m not sure I could even go through with it.
Chapter Seventeen
Gemma
“You’re what?” My father questions, looking at me with widened eyes after Colton just told him he’s sponsoring me.
“You seem shocked, Ricky. It’s a bit surprising if I must say. Gemma is a Storm, one of you, and yet I can’t shake the feeling you don’t want her out on the track.” Colton stares at my father, baiting him into telling the truth.
Meanwhile, I hear someone off in the distance gossiping about overhearing the conversation. There’s no doubt in my mind the media will have this story by the end of the hour.
My father scoffs, “The track is no place for Gemma.”
“No place for Gemma, or no place for women?”
“No place for Gemma. Her mother died on the track, Colton. Do you honestly think that’s where she needs to be?”
Colton blinks blankly at my father. “It’s her right to make that decision, not anyone else’s. I can only imagine the pain you feel whenever you have to head out to Florida for a race, but Ricky . . . so many years have passed. Gemma is a talented woman. I’ve seen footage of her running laps at tracks out in Texas when Clayton was practicing. Of which, I’m sure she was only there to have a fun day, but I won’t apologize for sponsoring her and her cause. She has it in her bones, man. She could be the leader for all the little girls who want to come into racing, but never thought they could. She’s going to be a pioneer.”
My father shakes his head, “No, she won’t be taking one step on that track.”
Clay’ puts a hand on our father’s shoulder. “Dad, relax. Everything is fine.”
“It isn’t fine! Colton is here telling me how Gemma has been running laps at your training track in Texas, how she’s good, how he’s going to fucking sponsor her and get her name out there?! Do you think we need any more women in our family dying at the track? It’s too risky. I won’t have it. I won’t let this happen.”
I start to open my mouth when Trent’ cuts in. “All due respect, it’s not your decision, Dad. Gemma and Poppy both have the right to live their own lives. Poppy wants to be at the gym, and Gemma wants to be on the track. It’s their right. And let’s be honest, nothing you say is gonna deter Gemma from doing what she wants. She’s too stubborn like Mom was in that sense.” Trent’ chuckles at the end, giving me a wink.
Out of everyone, I didn’t think Trent’ would be the one to openly support me, but I’m so grateful for it.
“Is there anything else you’ve been hiding right under my nose, Gemma, or is this the last of it!?” Dad huffs, showing me his displeasure. I know he isn’t happy with me right now, that he’s worried and afraid of what might happen to me. The most likely is that I spin out and go crashing into the wall, or another driver collides their car into mine, but at the end of the day there’s just as much risk out on the streets every single day with that happening.
There’s only one thing I’ve been hiding from him, something I’ve been hiding from everyone for most of my life. I’m not sure why I look at Brax’, but, I do. I look right at him and know what I’m about to do is insane, but I won’t keep doing this. I won’t keep making sacrifices for other people, not when it could cost me my happiness—the woman who happens to be staring at me from right across the room, in a half gold, half silver dress from the looks of it.
She’s looking right at me, and I can’t stop staring at her.
I nod, confirming there is something I’ve been hiding from him. “Yeah, Dad. There’s something pretty big I have to tell you, but first I need to say my peace. I know you’re terrified I’m going to get hurt and I don’t blame you for it, but, I’m smart. I’ve had the best men surrounding me, showing me what to do and what not to do, so I’m going to start this career whether you like it or not. And I’m sorry if I seem disrespectful, but racing gives me a rush of adrenaline that I’ve never felt before. I’d be stupid to pass it up. This is my dream, and I’m going to follow it. Now, there is a woman across this ballroom that I want you to meet.”
“Sure, bring your friend over.” My dad says, not trying to argue with me in the least bit about anything I’ve said to him. He must believe what my brother said about me being as stubborn as my mom was.
“Dad, she’s not just my friend. She’s my girlfriend, and her name is Keira.”