Ridin' Dirty (Beautifully Dirty #2) (18 page)

Walking into the restaurant, I go and give Mrs. Evans a hug and kiss on the cheek, Mr. Evans a handshake and half of a hug, and then there is Ryan. Right now, I want to punch him instead of giving him anything. But I said I’d fake it and that is exactly what I do. I get through the whole night, acting as if there is no tension between us.

Ryan’s dad keeps telling us, the whole night, how proud he is and informs us that he and Mrs. Evans are coming to Vegas to see the East/West Shoot Out race and the finals of the 450s. It’s going to be a good race and it will be great to have him there.

As I leave, Ryan follows me out, thanking me for a good night. I just look at him and keep walking. I can never forgive him if he’s taken Ansley from me; he knows my feelings for her are real. I miss him, but I miss her more.

KNOWING THAT I HAVE
just a couple more weeks before I need to kick some ass in the last race before Vegas is all I am focused on. I need to kill that night, so my mind is set on training and getting in the best shape I can be in.

Jesse and I have been going to the tracks around the area, riding with the locals. It’s been fun for us, as well as giving us a chance to meet up with some fans. It’s cool that they’ve gotten to know me as a pro rider, so spending time with them is important. We even met some of the local female riders, and have seen them ride, which is pretty cool. They can kick some ass out there, too. Damn if they didn’t look pretty hot in their gear as well. When we remove our jerseys they see our six packs, but when they remove their jerseys we see what looks to be a fine ass woman hidden behind baggy clothes. They usually have on sports bras or a tiny tank that covers all their fine assets.

With the last race fast approaching, I finally feel like I am picking up speed and strength on the track. The last couple of weeks I’ve really focused on riding my bicycle to get my legs in better shape. My trainer and I go out for eight-mile rides every morning then I put an hour in at the gym, as well working on my core and upper body. In two weeks I’ll be able to see if this all pays off. I am looking forward to it.

Ansley

THE RACES HAVE BEEN
going well, but it seems odd not having the guys here. The girls and I have kept busy working the East Coast series. My mom was able to come to a couple of the races with her new boyfriend. She seems happier than ever, which in turn makes me happier. It’s nice knowing that there’s no need to worry any longer. Cara also made it to a race; it was truly incredible to see her and the girls loved her, as I knew they would.

I’ve talked to my mom about Cooper and now she worries about me. I’ve told her how much I care about him, and she doesn’t want me to get hurt. She is also the only person that knows that I’m still saving myself for that one someone special. She tells me all the time that she’s convinced that he’ll figure it all out on his own. I now can only hope that’s the case.

I went to Daytona last week for the race. That was interesting as it was Bike Week there, as well. All three of us and two of the other girls were flown out on Monday of that week for different promotional events that we needed to attend. It was a huge week for Hyped Energy as we sponsored several different races and parties. We received different outfits for each; we weren’t supposed to be seen in the same one twice. The number of pictures I took with people amazed me, as well as how many times I signed my name on things, including body parts. One guy took off his shorts then revealed his ass, so I could sign it. I laughed out loud at that one, it was funny, usually I get, “Can you sign my chest, arm . . .” even their six-pack but never an ass. My hot pink Sharpie was getting a workout that day.

We are assigned a security team to travel with at all times, which eases my mind. I know there will be a ton of drinking going on at these events, which equals a ton of drunken men. Being driven around by them and escorted into places shows us that Hyped isn’t taking any chances. They’ve been great to work for, ensuring our safety was clearly important.

Lately, Kenna seems to be staying around after all the races to work for the Honda team, doing other promotions. Her Sundays are spent traveling with them, while Maddie and I fly home. She usually comes home on Monday but sometimes it’s Tuesday before we see her. Kenna is a pretty private person and doesn’t go into much detail as to what she is doing for them. She’s been disappearing at night sometimes too, stating she has to do things for Honda. Which is fine, Maddie and I know it and figure when she is ready to share, she will.

IT’S BEEN A FEW WEEKS
since I’ve slept in my bed for longer than a couple nights; we’ve been on the go, I feel like, all the time lately. I just got in late last night from Houston and now the East Coast racers have a weekend off before their last race in New Jersey on April twenty-fifth. We head to the last race for the West Coast here, in California. It’s going to be good staying at home for almost a full two weeks before I need to take a flight to the other side of the country. So, while I can, I’m going to finally get some cleaning and stuff done around the apartment.

Ryan
—Hey there, Peanut, you home now?

Me
—I am finally. What are you doing?

Ryan
—Nothing, wondering if you and the girls want to come over for a cookout sometime?

Me
—I’m sure, but I’ll double check with them.

Ryan
—Cool, let me know.

Me
—I will. We are all going to lunch right now, so I’ll text ya shortly.

Ryan
—Have you spoken or texted Cooper lately?

Me
—No and he hasn’t tried to contact me either. I don’t know what he has to be pissed off about. I’m not the one that went on national TV letting the world know I am available, while I stood there flirting with the reporter.

Ryan
—He told me a while ago he wanted to talk to you about the interview and why he said what he did.

Me
—I know you said that before, but he hasn’t. So, clearly, he has other things going on or other women.

Ryan
—I don’t think so, Ans, he’s pissed at me too for some reason. I honestly don’t know what he’s flipping out over.

Me—
I don’t have any clue. Well, I’ll text you when I talk to the girls.

Ryan
—Good, miss ya, girl!

Me—
Aww, I miss you too, Ry.

We are all eating at a small café around the corner from our apartment when I finally get a chance to discuss things with both Maddie and Kenna.

“So, girls we’ve been invited to go Ryan’s place for a cookout this week, what do ya say?”

“I say, hell yeah.” I knew Maddie would be in. She’s always up for a good time.

“I’ll go, I guess.”

“Kenna, you don’t have to. He just invited all of us, and I thought it’d be fun.”

“No, I’ll go. When?”

“He didn’t say. I figured I’d see when we wanted to do it and get in touch with him.”

“What about tomorrow?” Maddie picks the day, so I send the text to Ryan, asking him. He thinks it sounds good, so plans are made and we are bringing salads and some drinks.

After a full afternoon of grocery shopping and making food to take to the party, we decide some much needed girl time is necessary. We put on our bikinis, make a drink, and make our way up to our rooftop, to lay out by the pool. Finally, we don’t have to wear a black and yellow Hyped Energy one. I put on my hot pink one, Maddie walks out wearing a tiny lime green one and Kenna rocks her red and white one.

“Is it going to be weird being there?” Kenna asks.

“Where? Ryan’s?”

“Yes, you know, without Cooper. You three are so close, but it seems like Cooper gets a bit jealous when you’re with just Ryan.”

“No, he doesn’t. He could care less. Ryan is my best friend, so hanging with him is liking hanging with family. Cooper is, my best friend as well, but I just happened to fall in love with the jerk too.” I close my eyes, putting my face to the sun.

“So, you really don’t have a thing for him, too?” Kenna acts like she wants to tell me she likes him, but doesn’t know how to say it.

“Who, Ryan? Are you freaking kidding?”

“Oh, really, I’d say screw them both and see if they both live up to the hype I’ve heard about them,” Maddie says, right to the point and I laugh at her.

“Ok, what have you heard about them?” I ask, kinda laughing at her still.

“I just heard Ryan’s an incredible lay. Likes to please his women first, never leaves them unsatisfied and always has them wanting more. Though, I’ve heard it about Cooper, too. So I guess you, girl, got some hot friends. How you’ve never screwed them, I will never know.”

“Oh my God, Maddie, you crack me up.”

“Well, haven’t you ever heard that about them?” Kenna seems intrigued.

“I tried not to pay attention to all the girls talking about them in high school, and now, well . . . I guess, I don’t want to hear about someone else being with them, either.”

“Oh . . . you are jealous, girl.”

“Maddie, shut up. Jealous is not the word I would use for Ryan. Even though I don’t have those type of feelings for him, I’m still his best friend and I don’t want to hear about how good he is in bed.” I smile at her when I say it, but truly, it’s something I don’t want to know about.

“But wait what about Cooper, don’t you want to know if he’d rock your world or not?”

“Jesus Maddie, you have such a tactful way of asking things,” Kenna says.

“Haha, I’m sure he would.” I end that conversation, so they can’t ask any more questions. He would more than they know, being that he’d be my one and only . . . I have nothing to compare it to.

She laughs and so does Kenna. We stay up there for another hour, telling stories about all the guys we’ve met going to these events. Kenna shares with us a few of hers from before both Maddie and I started.

Heading back down to the apartment, we decide to order in and watch a movie tonight. “I’m picking the movie,” Maddie shouts.

We knew what she’d say, so at the same time Kenna and I answered, “Magic Mike.”

“What, it’s always a good one. Maybe you didn’t notice all the smokin’ hot guys in it?” she says with a little Southern twang in her voice.

We start dishing out our Chinese food as soon as it arrives. It’s a great time just hanging out with the two of them, and we totally enjoy ourselves. There is nothing like lounging on the couch in our PJs, watching movies and eating junk. We don’t get to do it often enough.

The next day we load everything in my car around eleven and head in the direction of Ryan’s place. We stop on our way to pick up a couple different juices for the Malibu that we plan on drinking. I like mine with cranraspberry and Maddie likes hers with pineapple/orange. Kenna, on the other hand, doesn’t mind her mixed drinks, but she’s good with a just a beer too, so we grab a twelve pack of Corona and a lime for her.

As we arrive, we notice a few other cars, so Ryan must have invited a bunch of other people, too. Entering the house, I notice that his parents are in the kitchen, as well as the rest of the Honda team; both the West coast lites riders as well as the 450 riders, are all together and a couple of their girlfriends.