Tomboy

We got out of the car and he rounded, and his hand landed on my lower back as he walked behind me toward the crowd.

His friends approached and he swung his arm over my head. Slightly clipping the back with his elbow.

I grunted in objection and he cast me a taunting smile over his shoulder which indicated it wasn’t purely incidental. Jerk.

He greeted his buddies with fist bumps and handshakes.

They patted him on the shoulders and applauded his upcoming performance.

“Tomboy, huh?” One asked.

“What I wouldn’t give for a piece of that.” Another remarked.

Making me groan and roll my eyes in annoyance.

“And I’m going to be the first to fuck her.” Eric said. Rolling his hips in a grating motion.

“I think she might have something to say about that.” I crossed my arms in disapproval.

“You think?” He lifted a dark brow. Grinning arrogantly. “I’ve never been told no yet.”

“Ugh.” I snorted in disgust.

“I forget you’re such a fan of the lady biker.” One of the other guys remarked.

“Well, someone’s got to root for her. You guys certainly won’t.” I countered.

“Just ‘cause you don’t like our Animal here.” One of the others, flipped Eric around to face me. Patting his shoulder meaningfully.

“I tell you, what…” Eric rubbed his pointed chin thoughtfully. “You’re such a fan of Tomboy how about we make a wager?”

I knew he used that word as a reference to the language in my old books. To make fun of me.

“What kind of a wager?” I threw the words right back at him. My brown eyes narrowing so he knew I understood his play on verbiage.

“Slave for a week.” His blue eyes levelled on me filled with amusement. “Just think. You could have me do your chores, drag around your bags…”

“Fix my car?” I cut in abruptly. Giving him a probing look. I knew people that could do minor mechanics like cleaning a carburetor but to completely rebuild an engine like needed done on my garage-bound Nova, I knew of only one mechanic apt enough to do that. And I was staring up at him. Corded throat and curling blonde hair and icy blue eyes staring right back at me.

But he’s always said no. Asking me why’d he’d waste his time doing such a thing for nothing.

His meaning clear.

He wants something in return.

Something I’d continually refused to give him. I imagined immediately that the requirements if I lost would be that I’d have to do his chores and carry his bags and allow his bullying and all manner of disgusting, annoying things.

“Fine.” I huffed.

“Fine?”

“Fine. It’s a wager, Eric.”

He held out his hand and I took it. Feeling his warm long fingers wrapping around it. Making my gut tighten slightly.

I’m not losing this.

He’s finally going to fix my car! Joy ran through me.

***

“I think you’ve underestimated Tomboy.” I grinned up at him.

“Have I?” He gave me a long, penetrating look.

“She’s beat everyone in her bracket already this year.”

“But lost to me the last two…”

The truth in that, made my lip curl. “Perhaps you won’t be so lucky this year. Wouldn’t it be funny for you to have to admit that you, the Great Animal, was beaten…By a girl.”

“It probably would be quite amusing…For some. But it won’t happen.” He smirked. Baring those square teeth in a shark like way.

Like he wants a bite out of me.

“We’ll see what she’s got.” He shrugged. Dancing that slow little circle, he so often did as a big show for his buddies. Arms outstretched above his head.

“Perhaps unwrap all that leather.” He gave me a taunting wink. Knowing it’d annoy me.

The booming voice of the intercom cut across the track making everyone come to a standstill. “Tonight, is the race we’ve all been waiting for. Our runners-up to see who wins this years’ championship. Tomboy or The Animal. So, get your signs out and put your hands up for your vote. Racers, out to the dirt!”

“Well,” Eric backed up. “time for me to go.”

He danced backward while keeping my gaze until he was back at the Camaro. Pulling open the door to tug his helmet out of the back seat. A green one with the same image of a Bearcat rising up over the back. His claws reaching around the sides and his roaring face coming over the top. And just above the visor in big red letters it said, ‘The Animal’.

He plunked it over his head and flipped up the visor jogging out toward the bike garage to unlock his bike and bring it around to the dirt track.

When I was sure no one was looking I crept off toward the women’s bathroom. Once there, I quickly tugged off my hoodie and my baggy pants. Shoving them in my backpack. Then I pulled the pink and black helmet out of my bag before I popped open the vent in this stall and stuck my bag in it. Replacing the cover.

When I emerged from the bathroom it was with the black visor tucked down to make my face impossible to see. The chin strap already tightened so no one could pull it off me. My hair tucked up into the helmet.

The pink and black leather Fox gear fitting me like a second skin. The coat already zipped and the pants creaking with every step.

I felt all eyes on me as I rejoined the crowd.

They separated to make way for me to walk through and I headed for the bike garage. Retrieving the key from my chain with the blue stone tucked into my pocket, I unlocked the big bike that Jimmy, the garage manager had helped me fix up years ago.