Breaking the Cycle (Rocking Racers Book 1) Read online

  I laugh.

  “I missed you so much.”

  “I missed you so much, too, and I’m sorry if I hurt you. I didn’t mean to and it’s the last thing I ever wanted to do—”

  I press a finger to her lips. “It’s okay, baby, you did what you needed to do and you’re here now, back where you belong, so don’t worry about it.”

  In his sleep, Chris cries out, and Bria rushes to his bed, pushing his hair off his face and kissing his forehead.

  “And our kids will be cuter,” I say, picking her up and wrapping my arms around her again. “Park’s a good-looking fella but he’s got squinty eyes and wonky ears. Now me, I’m pretty damn perfect and any flaw I have will be fixed by your perfectness.”

  “My perfectness?” she scoffs.

  “Uh-huh,” I say and move her hair out of the way so I can kiss her neck. God I missed her so much.

  “I’m not perfect,” she says breathlessly.

  “Maybe not, but you are for me—to me. Do you know how many girls would go apeshit over what those girls were doing in the diner?”

  “I’ll admit I didn’t like it, but I know what we have and I’m confident in that. If these past few days have taught me anything, it’s that what we have is solid and can survive anything we throw at it, even if it’s ourselves.”

  “You should be. You’re the only girl for me, Bria. You’ll be my wife and the mother of my children, and I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you.”

  She turns in my arms. “I can’t wait either.”

  Our kiss starts off slow and passionate but quickly turns heated. I’ve just moved her against the wall when Park walks in.

  “Not here, fuckstick,” he says, and shoves me off Bria.

  She laughs. “Sorry, Parker, we got carried away.”

  “Yeah, yeah, thanks for looking after him.”

  “No worries. Chris is adorable.”

  “Yeah, when he’s sleeping. Anyway, you guys should get back. The shows are about to start.”

  “We’ll check ya later,” I say and slap Park’s shoulder.

  “Don’t forget—”

  “After 360, I know.”

  “I got him, Parker, don’t worry,” Bria says.

  “Thanks, sis, it’s good to have you back.” He kisses her on the cheek and then we’re heading back to the diner.

  “Does Park miss out every Monday?” she asks.

  “Nah, we take turns. This is his Monday.”

  “I love how Chris is the centre of your world.”

  “We’re big on family obviously, and the kid had such a fucked-up time with his mum we just want to make sure he knows he’s loved.”

  “Well, you certainly do that.”

  “Like my pop says, we know when we’ve got a good thing. Chris is a good thing for this family, as are you.” I bring her in front of me, her back to my front, and latch on to her neck again.

  She squeals and tries to escape my arms but I hold on tightly and start tickling her. For as long as I live, I’m never gonna let her go. Eventually we manage to make it back to our table, which is thankfully still Barbie free, and I pull her on my lap. She rests back on me and I wrap my arms around her and rest them on her stomach. I seriously can’t wait until it’s round with my child. But maybe I should tie her down first, make sure she can’t get away again. Which means I’ll probably need to start looking at rings.

  I smile at the thought.

  Out of nowhere Bria shouts, “That was such a shit call! That was so a hold!”

  “What the fuck?” I ask, snapping out of my matrimonial bubble.

  “There was a blatant hold on Roo and the fucking umps did nothing as per usual and those chumps”—she motions to the panel on the screen—“don’t see anything wrong with it!” Bria exclaims angrily.

  “You’re a footy fan?” I ask, surprised.

  “Nah, just the Saints. Oh, come on, give us a break!” she yells.

  Beside us Grayson laughs. “She’s a diehard Saints fan. She didn’t tell you?”

  I shake my head.

  “Fucking typical.” Bria hits the table in frustration.

  “Dude, you are one lucky motherfucker,” Jax says with a smile on his face. “Not only is she hot and kind and Chris loves her and she’s going to keep our arses out of media jail”—he gestures to Liam and Mav—“but she’s a footy fan? Share the love man, c’mon!”

  “I’m sorry?” I flash him a cheesy grin.

  “Yeah, really sorry I bet.”

  “Oh, yeah!” Bria cheers as they show Josh Bruce going up for a speccy and high-fives all of Pop and Pa’s friends. She makes her way back to me, straddles me, takes my face in her hands, and kisses me deeply, her tongue invading my mouth.

  “Happy?” I ask when she releases my mouth.

  “Dude, you have no idea,” she says breathlessly, whether it’s from our kiss or the excitement of the mark, I don’t know, but I’d like to think it was us.

  “Oh, I think I do.” I hold back my desire to thrust my erection against her, but I'm pretty sure it nudges her anyway.

  She pats my face fondly. “Oh, honey, I’m afraid you’re going to have to hold it. My boys were on fire and I’ve got to hear this. I can’t possibly leave.”

  I groan. This is going to be worse than sitting through her media training. One thing I do know, I better get that ring quick.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  BRIA

  Reed and I barely made it out of bed the next day. I begrudgingly got up the following day because I had class and had to go so I could have Friday off and we could get to the NRS’s next stop. I want to get there early so I can scope out the media scene and see how it operates. It shouldn’t be too bad. I’ve been studying the names and photos of the journos I’ll have to deal with, and then it’s just a matter of a few press releases to recap each session and the day overall.

  On our way back to Booker, Reed and I stop in on my parents for our rescheduled visit. I did call to warn them I was coming home and bringing someone with me and their interest is piqued. I have dated in the past, but mainly local boys who my parents already knew so I’ve never had to do the whole bringing-home-the-boyfriend thing. Plus, it’s not like Reed has ever been brought home so, as always, we’re in this together.

  I direct him to my family home and he pulls into the drive. It’s about 200 metres from the road to the house, and then he turns off the engine and we sit.

  “You okay?” he asks.

  “I’m fine, honey. It’s just I’m looking at the house I grew up in and for the first time, it’s more than that. It’s the house I’ll marry you in.”

  “Jesus, Bria, now I’m hard and about to meet your parents,” he groans.

  I laugh. “Sorry.” I pat his cheek. “Do you want me to do anything?” I reach for him.

  “You’re not getting me off metres from your parents. Just give me a sec.” He closes his eyes, rests his head against the headrest, and exhales a large breath.

  After a moment, he says, “Okay, let’s go.”

  He comes around, opens my door, and we walk hand in hand to the house. I don’t even have to knock before the door is opening and my mum rushes out.

  “Darling!” she says and hugs me tightly. Reed lets go of my hand and smiles fondly, watching Mum and me.

  “Hey, Mum,” I say.

  “I missed you,” she says.

  “I missed you too.”

  She reluctantly lets me go and notices Reed standing next to me. I retake his hand.

  “Mum, this is Reed Ryan, my er... I would say boyfriend but boyfriend isn’t enough,” I say, looking up at Reed. “My everything?” I ask him. He smiles at me and shrugs. “We’ll go with my everything.”

  I look back at Mum and she’s beaming.

  “It’s nice to meet you, Mrs Adams,” Reed says, extending his hand for her to shake.

  She ignores it and spreads her arms wide for a hug. Reed smiles and embraces her.

  “It
’s lovely to meet you, Reed. Welcome to the family.” I think my heart explodes. I’m so glad Mum has accepted Reed so quickly. She doesn’t know how long we’ve been together but I spoke to her a few days before we got together so she probably has a vague idea.

  They let go and we walk into the house where Dad is in the living room.

  “Dad,” I say, getting his attention.

  “Hey, baby girl,” he says and gets up to give me a hug.

  We break apart and I grab Reed’s hand again.

  “Dad, this is Reed Ryan.”

  “Her everything,” Mum chimes in.

  Dad raises an eyebrow and I smile shyly.

  “Looks like you and me are going to have to have a little chat,” Dad says to Reed.

  “Yes, sir,” he replies solemnly, but they shake hands and Dad smiles.

  We all sit and I curl into Reed, my feet tucked up beneath me, my head on his shoulder, his arm around me resting on my hip.

  “I love you,” I whisper.

  “I love you,” he replies and kisses me chastely.

  Mum and Dad watch on with smiles on their faces.

  Reed speaks up. “Mr and Mrs Adams,” he begins.

  “Aaron and Lacey, please,” Dad says and Reed nods.

  “Aaron and Lacey, I know Bria and my relationship has evolved fast. It may seem a bit crazy to you that we’re this serious so soon but I want to assure you I love your daughter with all my heart. I promise I’ll do everything I can to take care of her and keep her safe and happy for the rest of my life.”

  Dad raises an eyebrow at Reed’s forthrightness. Mum just smiles.

  “Glad to hear it, son,” Dad says.

  “Why don’t you tell us about yourself, Reed?” Mum says.

  He smiles and relaxes, squeezing me quickly.

  “I’m the second of five boys. My family own a diner and garage in Booker, and I work there as well as with our racing team.”

  “Racing team?” Mum asks.

  “Ryan Racing?” Dad asks. “That’s you?”

  “Yes, sir, my family.”

  “Do you race?” Mum asks.

  “Not anymore, ma’am. I retired a few years ago.”

  “Injury?” Dad asks.

  “Politics,” Reed replies. “My younger brother Liam is racing in the National Racing Series for us now, and my two youngest brothers, Mav and Jax, are working towards Extreme Games invitations.”

  “What do they do?” Mum asks.

  “Freestyle motocross and BMX.”

  “Tricks on bikes,” I tell her.

  “Are they good?”

  “Liam is leading the standings and Mav and Jax should be getting their invites soon.”

  “The invites in themselves are an indication of talent,” I tell her. “Only the best of the best get invites.”

  “And there’s a future in this, a living for you and my daughter?” Dad asks.

  “Yes, sir, even more so with Bria on board.”

  “On board?”

  “I’m doing Ryan Racing’s PR. That’s where we were yesterday and today, with Liam and the team.”

  “And she’s doing a fantastic job. She’s got my brothers and the team set up on all kinds of social media, got press releases out, and sat us all down for media training the other day. She’s the ultimate professional and I have no doubt she’s going to help us get far.”

  “Well that’s wonderful. Let’s get some lunch shall we?” Mum says and we get up to go into the kitchen. Apparently, she’s unfazed by our relationship.

  Mum has prepared a fantastic meal and afterwards I take Reed out to the garden. It has three terraces leading up to the gazebo.

  “It’s beautiful,” he says, standing behind me, his chin resting on my shoulder.

  “Good enough for a wedding?” I ask.

  “If this is what you want.”

  “I just want you.” I snuggle into him.

  “You got me, angel, anywhere, anyhow.”

  I turn in his arms. “I love you and I can’t wait to marry you one day.”

  “I can’t wait to marry you either,” Reed says, and excitement shoots through me.

  “You’re something else, Reed Ryan.”

  “I could say the same of you, Bria Adams, but all that matters is you’re mine.” He leans down to kiss me.

  We’re interrupted by my dad. We break apart and I smile at him from my spot against Reed’s chest.

  “It’s time you and I had a chat,” he says and Reed nods.

  “Be nice,” I warn before giving Reed a quick kiss and heading inside.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  REED

  I watch Bria go into the house and turn and face Aaron, squaring my shoulders.

  “No need to worry, son. I can see you love my daughter. I just want to chat.”

  I release my breath. “I do, sir. She’s unlike anyone I’ve ever known.”

  He nods. “She’s a special girl.”

  I smile. “She’s so much more than that. I don’t know if there are words.”

  “You might be right.”

  “I wanted to talk to you as well,” I say, biting the bullet.

  “You asking for her hand?”

  “I will be. Not right now, but soon, and I wanted to ask for your blessing.”

  “Not my permission?”

  “No, sir. With all due respect, I’m not going to ask for your permission because Bria knows her own mind and is no one’s property. The decision to marry me rests with her, but I would like your blessing for me to ask her.” I twist my hands nervously.

  Aaron smiles and I relax. “You seem like a good man, Reed, and you respect my daughter. That’s all a father can ask for. You’ll learn that when you have your own kids. You are planning on having kids, aren’t you?”

  “Yes, sir, we are. Bria wants two or three. I’m leaning towards three or four, but I won’t be the one carrying them so I’ll leave it up to her.”

  “Having kids is one of the best things you can do. You realise your life is no longer about you, it’s about something bigger, it’s a life the two of you are creating. It’s truly magical”

  “Bria’s going to be a wonderful mum. She’s already a fantastic aunty to my nephew.”

  “He calls her aunty?”

  I nod. “He does. Chris, my nephew, loves Bria. He doesn’t take well to women, issues stemming from his own mother, but he took to Bria immediately.”

  “Your parents like Bria?”

  “There’s only my dad and grandpa. My nan and ma have both passed, but both Pop and Pa consider her a daughter and granddaughter, and my brothers call her sis. We’ve well and truly taken Bria in.”

  “You’ve had some trouble lately.”

  I nod. “We have, and unfortunately Bria’s been caught up in it.” I grimace and clench my fists.

  “I can tell you’re not happy about that.”

  “Absolutely not. I hate that she’s in the same postcode as danger, but I will do my best to make sure she’s not exposed to any more.”

  “That’s all I can ask. I know all this has been out of your control, but I trust you with my girl, Reed.”

  “Thank you, sir. It means a lot to me.”

  “She told you about young Roman?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  He shakes his head. “I know he rides for your rivals, but he was a good boy. This, what he’s doing, who he’s turned into, isn’t him.”

  “Knowing Devil as I do, I know how they can take over and change your priorities.”

  Aaron nods.

  “So you keep an eye on the bikes, huh?” I ask.

  “Colt, Roman’s father, and I are good friends, grew up next door to each other. I keep an eye out to see if he’ll get to ride, but I think now it’s probably too late. If we can, Colt and I get together to watch the race.”

  “We’re racing again next weekend. Would you like to come along?”

  “I’d like that.”

  “I would invite Mr Thoma
s, but with the connection to Devil, I don’t think that would be a good idea.”

  He smiles sadly. “I appreciate the sentiment.” He slaps me on the back. “Come on, let’s get back to the women.”

  We go back in and Bria comes to me. I hug her and she stares up at me.

  “Okay?” she asks.

  “Perfect.” I kiss her nose.

  “Bria,” Lacey says, “you should show Reed around town before it gets dark. The Thomases are coming around for dinner.”

  Bria looks at me, panicked. “Er, Mum, I don’t think it’s a good idea for them to meet Reed. Ryan Racing and Rome’s team don’t get along.”

  Lacey bites her lip. “Bria,” she says softly, “they’ve asked to see you. And besides, Rome hasn’t been home in five years, hasn’t spoken to them in nearly that long. They have nothing to do with racing.”

  “What do you think?” she asks me.

  “It’s fine. The Thomases have no more control over what their son does than your parents do you, or Pop, me. They’re not Hunter,” I say quietly.

  “Are you sure?”

  “I’m not making your parents pick sides. They’re friends. It’ll be fine.”

  “Okay, let’s go.” She takes my hand and leads me out the door.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  BRIA

  Fuck. Me. What do the Thomases want with me? I know they don’t know of my connection to Ryan Racing but I know this goes beyond just wanting to say hi to a friend’s daughter.

  I take Reed around to all the spots I frequented as a child, a lot of them with Grayson and Rome.

  We end up at a park down the street.

  “You okay?” Reed asks. He’s sitting on a swing and pulls me between his legs.

  “This thing with the Thomases, it’s got me worried.”

  “For me?”

  “And Grayson. They can’t know of my connection to you, but if by some chance they do, I don’t want to put you in an awkward situation or inflame tensions.”

  Reed opens his mouth to speak but I hold up a hand. “I know you guys wouldn’t ever hit Hunter and Devil, but they could use me against you.”

  “Baby, they’re your parents’ friends. Hear what they have to say. It could be nothing.”

  “Fuck, Reed….”