Racing Heart, page 17
I’ve gone to type out an answer three times and deleted it again.
“Ugh.”
Throwing my phone down on the bed in frustration and pulling back my thick duvet, I get up. I need coffee before I have to deal with Finlay Cooper.
With my coffee made, I head back upstairs, putting my large mug down on the bedside table and crawl back into my warm bed. Fuck this, I’m not getting up yet. With the duvet pulled up to my chin, I snuggle my cheek into my fluffy pillow and grab my phone again.
Another message appears on my home screen.
I’m suffering…
“Good. you deserve it.” I say to my screen, disturbing the quiet of the room.
I’m going to have to answer him though this time. I opened the last message, so now he’ll just think I’m being a bitch and ignoring him. I am, but that doesn’t mean anything. Oh my god, I am going crazy.
Please, Red, answer me.
Bastard. He’s made me this way. Maybe I could answer with a finger emoji.
Pulling myself back up the bed and resting my back against the wall, I grab my coffee and take a long sip.
Once I’m halfway down the mug, I make a decision. If I’m going to talk to him, I have to do it face to face, no phone. I’m going to be brave and go see him. I know I’ll probably cave when I do see him but, so be it. I need to do this. Clicking off from my messages, I put my phone back down and head into my en suite, starting the shower.
I’m going to make him wish he never met that bitch; he’s definitely got some grovelling to do.
Once I’m washed and primped. I take my favourite pair of ripped jeans from the wardrobe. These ones cling to every curve, I’m gonna make that man weep, I’ll show him. Throwing on a bra and a vest top. I sit down on the bed in front of my mirror on my wardrobe door and begin to dry my hair. Making sure it’s all dry, I smooth my straighteners through it and spray some of my Jimmy Choo all around my neck and chest. Adding the most minimal of makeup to finish the look, I’m ready.
Look out, Finlay Cooper.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Finn
“Arrgh.”
Throwing my phone down, I decide to give up. She’s obviously not going to talk to me. I’m so fucking angry. Why the fuck did Annabelle have to turn up and mess things up for us? She used to be such a nice, down to earth girl, at least that’s what I thought. Perhaps Braydon is right, maybe she trapped me into her web. Gave me the sob story, so I’d do what she asked, marry her. She gets all her money, and then she’d work on me to get me to come around.
All I got off her last night was, “I love you. Come back home; we can be together. I don’t want a divorce, I always thought we could be together.”
Fuck that. I’ve seen her true colors.
Luckily Braydon was still here after Jordan left and made her leave. The next day, I rang Eli and asked him to send the documents through email, and Braydon did the rest. He printed them off and brought them to the hospital, I messaged Belle and asked for her to come and see me again.
As she strides into my room like she owns it, I fail to see what I ever saw in her all those years ago. She’s definitely perfected that daddy’s girl image.
“Belle, take a seat.”
She used to love it when I called her Belle, all those years ago. She said it made her feel special - like the princess from the fairytale. Now though, I need her to think that I’m just being familiar and we’re friends.
“What’s going on, Finn? First, you kick me out of the hospital because I’d upset your little girlfriend, and now, you’re making demands.”
“Don’t talk about Jordan.” I bluntly reply. “I’ve asked you here for a reason.”
I take the envelope from out of the little cupboard at the side of me and throw it on the bed towards her. Crossing my arms over my chest, I wait for her to take it. When she doesn’t, I prompt her.
“That is for you, go on, take it.”
“What is it?” Picking up the envelope and opening it up, she pulls the letters from inside and scans the writing.
“Sign them.”
A snigger breaks through her lips.
“What if I don’t want to?”
“Then I’ll be telling Daddy exactly what you’ve been up to. I may get a little loose-lipped and tell him it was all fake and why we got married in the first place.”
Clicking her tongue to the roof of her mouth, I know I’ve fucking got her. I could threaten her with anything, but when it comes to money and her father, I’ve got her by the balls.
“You wouldn’t…?”
“Try me.”
Staring at me, I know she’s trying to gauge whether I’m being serious or not; I’ve never been more serious about anything. I need to be able to tell Jordan everything, and that will seal the deal. I need to prove to her that she’s the one for me and that I’ve pulled out all the stops to make it happen. Belle looks away first and reaches inside her bag for a pen. Clicking the top of the pen, she rests the papers on the hard surface of the cupboard.
“Just sign where I’ve put the crosses.”
With a huff, she signs all the boxes and throws them back to the bed.
“Happy now?”
“Oh yes.”
“Well, I guess that’s it.”
“I guess so.”
She takes her bag, letting it hang from her forearm and spins away.
“Oh, and Belle?”
She stops dead and waits to see what I have to say.
“I don’t want to hear from you again.”
She doesn’t answer. Instead, she quickly leaves the room, closing the door behind her.
I’ve never needed to lower myself with blackmail before but for Jordan, there’s no question as to how far I’ll go.
I give up. I’m in a shitty mood, and I need out of this place now. I’ve got a bad case of cabin fever.
The nurse comes in to check my cast and gives me my painkillers, followed by Braydon. In his hand is my coffee.
“Hey, fuckface. How you doin’?”
Directing a fake smile at the nurse, she walks away from the bed but stops at the door.
“Oh, the doctor will be round later.”
“Is he discharging me?”
“I think so…” She says cheerily. Thank fucking god. I can’t spend another day in this hellhole.
“Have you heard from Jordan?” Braydon asks, dropping his ass into the chair at the side of my bed.
“Nope, I’ve messaged her, but she’s not answering me.”
“She was pretty angry, Finn. I did say a long time ago to sort that bitch out, or it’d come back one day to bite you in the ass, and there you go…”
“Fuck off.” I retort. “Yes, you were right. Happy now?”
“Meh… yeah, pretty much.”
I want to punch that smug grin off his face, but instead, I look the other way ignoring him.
I look at the time and see that visiting hours started fifteen minutes ago. I was hoping Jordan would come. Maybe, she’s at work? Who knows? Maybe she’s done with us. If she is, fucking Annabelle has a lot to answer for.
No. I’m not going to let her finish us over this. I meant what I said to her, I love her. She’s it for me.
“I need you to do something for me?”
“What’s that?” Braydon asks, looking up from his phone.
“I need you to get rid of Belle. Put her on the next flight out of here. I don’t give a shit how much it costs me as long as it doesn’t cost me Jordan. Right now, she’s all that matters.”
“So, you’re going to fight for her then?”
“Too right, I fucking am.”
“On it.”
Standing from his chair, he walks from the room with his phone to his ear, probably ringing Dave. Dave hasn’t been here much; it’s not that he doesn’t care, he just doesn’t like hospitals. He’s busy sorting shit out at the track anyway and speaking with the sponsorships about me not being able to continue this season. That is still a bitch. I’m fucking wrecked that I can’t race, but I’m going to try my hardest to be back on tip-top shape for next season.
A shadow filling the doorway catches my eye. Slowly lifting my chin up and eyeing the shapely legs that belong to my girlfriend - Jordan leans against the doorjamb looking as hot as fucking hell, with her arms folded across her tits. Her lips in a pout and her shoulder bag hanging at her side.
“Jordan…”
Well, fuck me sideways.
My eyes are wide, showcasing my surprise.
“Hello, Superstar.”
Neither of us speak for a moment; I’m stuck for words, she looks amazing. It’s only been three days, but being stuck in here too, it feels like a fucking month.
“So, you’re still talking to me then?”
She steps inside the room, taking slow strides until she reaches me, pulling the chair out, scraping it along the tiled floor, and sits down. Bringing a leg up, she crosses it over the other, causing my focus to zoom in on her thighs.
“I’m ready to hear you out, if that’s what you mean?”
Turning myself to face her with my mashed-up leg resting on the bed and the other hanging over the side, I prepare to tell Jordan everything. It’s the only thing I can do to keep her. I suck in a deep breath and begin…
“I met Annabelle in college. She was the whole package, pretty, funny, but she was entitled. She was also a little rebel when daddy wasn’t around.”
“What did you study in college?”
“Even though all I ever wanted to do was race and be like my dad, he wanted me to have a backup, so I studied business and sociology.”
“Wow.” She grins, I think she’s almost a little impressed.
“Don’t be too impressed, I dropped out after a year. Dad was angry, but he knew I’d made my mind up. I started full on in helping, riding and perfecting myself to be dad's understudy, I suppose.
“Where does bitchface come into all this, Finn?”
“About eighteen months after I dropped out, she called me saying that her father had found out about her wild ways in college. Believe there was nothing she didn’t do. She wanted to be popular, so she smoked pot, stole, only minor things, she never got caught. One-night stands and drinking.
“I take it she did all this with you?”
“Drinking and sex, yes, I won’t lie, pot no.”
“Oh, come on Finn, I think everyone has smoked weed at least once in their lives...”
“If I wanted to ride, I could never touch that stuff. Anyhow, he told her because of what she got up to, she wouldn’t get her inheritance when she turned twenty-one. Unless she married and made herself respectable.”
“Shit, does that actually happen?” Jordan asks gobsmacked.
“Believe me, with the elite, anything can happen. So, we hatched a plan, I said I’d help her if she needed. By the time we married, I was racing professionally, so I was never around really. We played the part when I was there, in front of her family.”
“What did your parents say about all this?”
“They never knew. Mom didn’t like Annabelle when we were in college. Jord. We’ve been split for over a year, maybe longer. I know I should’ve ended it all earlier, got it annulled or whatever, but I thought I was doing her a favor. I didn’t realize that she felt like that about me still.”
“That’s the problem with you men, you’re blind to what’s right in front of your nose.”
“Do you mean like you?”
“No, not me as such…”
“Well, then you’re wrong because I do see you. I’ve seen you since I first stepped into that bar.”
She bites down on the side of her lip, I know she’s weakening.
“Why did you go back home?”
“To get a divorce. I went to see Annabelle to tell her of my plans and then went to see my lawyer. I had the paperwork drawn up to be served upon her.”
“And where is she now?”
“In the next few hours, hopefully, if Braydon gets it right, she’ll be on a plane, but I did get this.”
Reaching around, I grab the manila envelope from the cabinet at the side and pull out the signed papers.
“I made her sign them while she was here. She didn’t like it, but I don’t fucking care. Annabelle isn’t the person she used to be. Obviously, getting daddy’s acceptance and all his money changed her.”
Jordan eyes me from the chair, I know she’s trying to work out if I’m telling the truth or not.
“Eli, my lawyer, is going to handle everything he can until I’m fit again. Although I will need to go out there to get everything finalized.”
“You hurt me so much, Finn.” She says, sadly looking down at her hands, “I have never hurt over a man like I have these last few days.”
“Baby… I never lied to you.”
“No, you kept me in the dark instead, so you lied by omission, Finn.”
“I decided to go home and get that divorce rolling because I knew there was only one woman for me, and that’s you. I knew then that I loved you. I couldn’t say anything but if I’m guilty of that then, so be it, but it doesn’t change how I feel.”
I look for the answers deep in her eyes. You know what they say, ‘the eyes are the windows to the soul’ and Jordan has more soul than any woman I know.
She moves from the chair to stand between my legs.
“Why haven’t you told me all this before? I mean, it was gonna come to light sooner or later, Finn.”
“I know.” I sigh, directing my face away from her, embarrassed by the whole situation.
“So, wouldn’t it have been better to just tell me without having your hand forced?”
“I was worried, alright? I was scared you’d see me differently.”
Reaching out, I play with the tips of her fingers aching to just touch her again, needing to feel the softness of her skin...
“That was my choice and you took that away from me.”
“No. To take something away, you had to have it in the first place, and I didn’t offer it up. I didn’t want you to think I was some cheating douchebag. I’m not like that, Jordan.”
Responding to me, she tangles the tips of her fingers with mine.
“When there’s something I want, I go for it and deal with the rest later. This situation was no different.”
The hardness of her gaze softens towards me. Easing up the tenseness of her jaw, where she’s been biting down on her teeth and twisting up her plump lips. She does this when she’s considering something. With my hands placed firmly on her hips, I tug her closer to me.
“Jordan, do you trust me?”
She nods right away, “I do, I can’t lie either.” Her green eyes darting all over my face.
“I can see all kinds of emotions swimming in your eyes, just talk to me, Jord.” I shrug, “Tell me what you want. I’m ready to lay everything on the line for you.”
Chapter Forty
Jordan
Well fuck me, what do I say to that?
Grasping his T-shirt in my balled fists, I tug him towards me until there’s barely a gap between our bodies. The words I want to say get stuck in my throat, and I’m not about to look like a fool. So instead, I mould my mouth to his, my tongue sliding through the closed seam of his lips. A satisfied groan breaking from Finn as our tongues meet and tangle. I hope he understands what I’m trying to convey here because, after these few days, I don’t think I can be away from him any longer.
I’m done.
I’m beaten.
I’m lost without him.
“Hmmm,” Finn breaks our connection, “Does this mean you’ve missed me too?”
“Don’t get cocky. I was bored…” I shrug, acting ignorant but trying my hardest to hide a smirk from him.
Finn frames my face with his hands and flicks the tip of his nose against mine.
“Now, who’s lying, Red?” Finn breathes.
Being in his arms again makes me realise it’s the only place I ever want to be. This little break has made me see that I’m miserable. He rode into my life at a hundred miles per hour, and I don’t think I’ll ever be the same again.
“Fine.” I roll my eyes with a huff… “I get what you were doing, but hear this, if you ever lie to me again, or so much as keep anything from me again,” pushing the tip of my finger into his chest, “You Superstar, had better watch out.”
“You’re beautiful; you know that?” He blurts, kissing the tip of my nose. “You’re sexy,” Finn smiles softly, “Even more so when you’re angry but most of all…” he whispers the last few words against my lips, “I’m in love with you, Jordan Kennedy.”
“I…” A gasp gets caught in my throat, making me stutter. I try to swallow past the lump that’s formed in the back of my throat.
“I'm in love with you too, Superstar.”
Mirroring his smile, he wraps his arms around me, bringing me down to the mattress, kissing me like his life depends on it. Straightening himself up, he tucks me into his side, keeping his legs astride and his injured one off to the side. Closing my eyes, I enjoy having his closeness again when I hear footsteps. Looking in the direction of the opening door, a nurse strides in.
“Tsk, tsk, those beds aren’t made for two, young man…”
“Oh, but we’ve just made up. Cut me some slack.”
“You can cuddle as much as you want when you’re at home, not here.” She leans over to speak quietly in his ear, “Besides, you need to pack your things, I’m sure I saw the doctor with some discharge papers.” She says out loud like she’s talking to herself and smirking.
