“We? Who is we? You left, remember?” Out of frustration, Cyrus picked up a wrench from off his desk and flung it across the room.
Colby jumped. She was shocked down to her Chucks. The room went silent for what seemed like forever.
Cyrus was surprised at his own actions. “I’m losing it.” His shoulders sagged.
This was the first time that Colby had noticed her father was just a man. Not only a mere mortal but one who was getting older. His hair was a little grayer, and his hands curved in ways they hadn’t when she was little. Her voice softened. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to imply that you weren’t already doing your best.”
He released a long breath. “No. I’m the one that needs to apologize. I’m sorry.” It took Cyrus a moment to gather himself. “I didn’t mean to take my frustrations out on y’all.” He ran that same hand that had soothed so many of her boo-boos down his face. “Look, let’s just call it a night.”
“I can’t leave yet, sir.” Gonzo pointed to the mess around the car he’d been working on. “I have some cleanup to do, and then I’ll call it.”
Cyrus nodded. “Then I’ll see you tomorrow, bright and early.” He was too embarrassed to look Colby in the eyes. Instead, he stared at the floor. “You need a ride home?”
She cleared the thickness out of her throat. Her voice was soft. “Actually, I promised Gonzo I’d help him clean up, and then we were going to meet some of the guys for a drink. I’ll be home really late. As a matter-of-fact, I’ll probably just crash on his couch.”
He raised his head and glanced over at Gonzo. Cyrus’ days as crew chief might be numbered, but he was a father all day every day. His gaze was pointed. “Make sure it’s the couch, and remember, we’re here at eight a.m. sharp.” Cyrus still couldn’t meet the disappointment in Colby’s eyes. “I’ll see you in the morning.” He waved them both good night and ambled out of the garage.
Gonzo turned to Colby. “Your dad is a good man. I wish there were more I could do to help.”
She nibbled on her lower lip. “There is.”
He lifted a brow. “I should have known you’ve got a crazy scheme rolling around in that wicked brain of yours. You’ve been getting me into trouble since we were kids, and you have never helped me clean anything. If your dad were thinking straight, he would have known something was up. All I want to know is am I going to lose my job over whatever you’re planning?”
Colby rubbed her hands together. “You know me too well, so you’ve got to know that there is no way I’m going to sit back and let my father take an L because Tom and Asher are dicks.”
“I think dick is too nice a term for them. Granted, Asher is a decent driver, but the man thinks he is Dale Earnhardt Jr. He’s not. And Tom, he doesn’t know anything. Wasn’t his degree in Historical Art?”
“I heard he bought it online.”
Gonzo chuckled.
Colby walked around the car and caressed it as if running her hands over the smooth chest of a man. “If my idea works, you won’t get fired. You’ll get a promotion.” She listened for the sound of her father’s car to turn-over and drive away from the parking lot before speaking again. “Asher’s good, but not even close to being one of the best drivers Daughtry’s ever had.”
Gonzo agreed. “Ain’t that the truth—”
Colby interrupted him. “I wasn’t talking about The Magician either.”
“I know you weren’t.” He smiled. “Does that sound like you’re finally ready to walk into your destiny?”
A corner of Colby’s lips lifted as she smirked. “You heard Ben.” She walked back to the front of the car and lifted the hood. “If I weren’t a woman, I would have already had a chance to prove what I can do.”
He couldn’t argue with anything she’d said. “You’re decent. But the best?” He teased. “I don’t know about that. Maybe if you weren’t so thirsty for revenge, we could trust you to prove it.”
“I’m thirsty for a lot of things.” Colby winked. “Winning, being one of them. You might want to go grab a couple of energy drinks and maybe a few protein bars because you’re going to need them.”
Gonzo rolled his eyes. “I’m in great physical condition.” He held in his chubby stomach and lifted his arms to show off non-existent muscles.
Colby laughed as Gonzo released the breath he’d been holding and gasped for air. “Shut up.” He laughed. “Anyway, what’s your idea?”
“We are going to build a custom engine.”
“You mean re-build?”
“Nope. I said build.”
“The entire thing? Like, from scratch.”
“That’s what I said.”
“Impossible. We don’t have the time or the parts.”
“Really, Gonzo? C’mon. Anything is possible. I’m a black woman, and you’re a Hispanic man, yet here we are, part of a pit crew in an industry that thinks we’re only good enough to sweep the floors and bring them a cold beer. Our very presence is proof that anything is possible. As far as parts, I might have brought a little something something back with me from Washington.”
“Like what?”
“Just a few parts for an engine, I started building.”
His mouth fell open in surprise. “You’re shitting me?”
“I don’t shit people. Did you honestly think I would come back here and not be prepared to fight for my crew? Before I left my job, I was able to squirrel away a few really nice pieces. My cache is in that storage unit across the street.”
Gonzo’s emotions were written all over his face. Shock, which was soon replaced with excitement and enthusiasm. “You’re really going to have to work on that sense of humor thing, and Colby . . . everybody shits.” He laughed. “If we want to be really accurate, technically, you’re not a part of the crew.” He lifted a shoulder. “You’re just a
