“You're something else,” he murmured, squeezing her hand.
“Have fun.”
He headed off with the driving instructor and she made her way toward the bleachers. A few minutes later he was behind the wheel of the yellow car and the engine purred.
He glanced her way, seeking her out. She gave him two enthusiastic thumbs up and a big smile.
Her stomach did a little somersault as he put the car in gear and drove away. So, she wasn't immune to a sexy guy in a hot car. Who knew?
Well, she'd known.
All those years ago when he'd pulled up in front of her house in the brand-new truck his stepdad had bought him, she'd almost swallowed her tongue. Her teenaged heart had thundered as she'd watched him from her bedroom window.
That'd been the first and last time she'd ridden next to him, until today. He'd been cocksure in the way only teen boys can. But he was sweet, and protective too.
She could still hear him telling her to put on her seatbelt. It was his one rule. The vehicle goes nowhere until everyone is buckled up.
The yellow car appeared at the far turn and sped past like a bullet. She smiled. Down on the side of the track, a photographer snapped photos of each car and driver as they raced past. She planned to buy a copy for David and herself, that way they'd never forget today.
She knew better than to wallow in regret. If Ethan had taught her anything, it was that life was meant to be lived. There was no use staring in the rear-view mirror when the future was out the windshield.
But that didn’t stop the ache in her chest.
As they said, hindsight was twenty-twenty.
If only she’d known what she did now.
Her eyes tracked a sleek black car as it zipped by.
If only the car was a time machine that could take her back fifteen years. If only she could convince her teenaged self that bullies should be ignored, that she wasn’t worthless, that her weight could be managed.
Tears pricked her eyes and she wiped them away. Taking a deep breath, she forced herself back to the here and now, focused on the track and the cars racing by at breathtaking speeds.
The energy in the stands wasn’t all that different from the fair he’d taken her to all those years ago. She remembered staring up at the enormous Ferris wheel in awe, much like everyone was looking at the exotic cars. That night she’d lost another piece of her heart to the boy who’d moved to the nice side of town.
The boy all the popular girls liked.
Unfortunately, she’d started gaining weight as her teen years hit and she couldn’t stop it. No amount of mascara or baggy clothes could hide her shame.
But that night when he’d picked her up, she’d felt on top of the world. Until the next morning when her bubble of happiness was shot down over the shores of St. Simon’s Island.
Sabrina remembered wrapping her arms around herself as she’d heard them talking. They hadn’t meant for her to hear, of course. But when her name came up, she couldn’t turn away.
Silly, silly girl.
If only she’d been stronger. If only she could turn the clock back and shake herself.
The problem with growing up was that you were left with so many ‘if onlys.’ The past couldn’t be changed no matter how much she might want to.
So, for now, she had to live in the moment. Especially now.
If David was going to be in New Orleans by New Years, she had her work cut out for her.
Worrying her lower lip, she watched as the banana yellow car came to a smooth stop in front of the stands. By tonight he’d know everything and maybe, just maybe, he’d forgive her.
He had to. And she had to make him understand how hurt she’d been all those years ago. Even if he wasn’t the one she was supposed to spend the rest of her life with, she could still be a better friend than she’d been those last few weeks of school.
The drivers’ side door slid straight up, but he didn’t get out. Sabrina stood and stretched.
David’s attention was firmly on the driving instructor in the seat beside him. His head bobbed up and down and then he laughed. The hearty, distinctive sound carried across the breeze.
His happiness made her heart soar.
She still had a trick up her sleeve and she hoped it was the perfect cap for their day.
David was riding high.
Trust Sabrina to remember that he’d always dreamed of driving a Lamborghini. And then she’d made that dream come true.
The car had been everything he’d imagined: sleek, fast, the handling superb. The rush of a lifetime, and that was saying something.
Sabrina hopped down out of the bleachers and met him halfway.
It was the most natural thing in the world to wrap his arms around her waist and lift her off her feet in a bear hug.
“That was amazing.” He set her back to her feet and stared down into her upturned face. “Thank you.”
“I’m glad you liked it.” Her arms draped around his waist and his gaze narrowed on her upturned lips.
It’d be so easy to swoop in for a kiss.
The adrenaline and excitement made it even harder for him to resist, especially knowing how well their lips fit together. How she’d open on a sigh and welcome him inside.
“You should drive it. Adrian said it’d be okay.”
Her eyes widened, and he liked that he’d surprised her. She peered around her shoulder and he watched the fiery flecks in her beautiful eyes.
“Are you sure?”
“Absolutely. Go.”
He turned and watched her gorgeous legs eat up the distance. But as he saw Adrian vault from the car and scurry around to
