Excerpt from Starting His Engine

Garrison didn’t say anything until Joan and Earl left the room. Caleb moved closer and hugged his brother. “Glad you’re okay, man.”

“Thanks. What’s in the paper bag?”

“Clothes. I figured you needed to borrow a fresh shirt and shorts. Joan suggested I stop by your place and get you some clean clothes, but I wanted to come over right away without stopping at New Smyrna so I just grabbed you some of my clothes.”

Caleb handed the bag to Garrison who peered inside.

“What’s this?” He lifted a pink muscle tank top. “Holy shit! I’m not wearing this!”

“What about the shorts I brought?”

Garrison took out the blue shorts and eyed them. “These are girl’s shorts.”

“No. They’re male shorts, just a really, really, really short pair, meant to highlight posterior assets.”

“I’m not wearing these. My balls would be hanging out of them!”

Caleb snorted while Garrison threw the clothes at him. “You’re never appreciative of the things I do for you.”

Garrison mouthed the word asshole and then laughed.

“Did you expect anything less?”

“I guess not, little brother. Where have you been, by the way? You’ve been MIA for like two to three weeks.”

“Dad and I, well, I don’t know how to explain it,” said Caleb.

“Joan told me. She said dad wants Youngblood racing to focus on one driver for marketing and endorsements.”

“I guess that’s one way to put it,” said Caleb as he walked toward the window. “I asked him why, you know. He said he didn’t have to explain himself. That’s when I told him I didn’t want to ever talk to him again.”

“Dramatic much?” laughed Garr.

Caleb turned away from the window and sat next to Garr. “If he never wanted me to race the majors, why would he even let me drive period?”

“I don’t think we ever had a choice did we? I mean this is the family business. At least I didn’t have a choice — not like I’d want to do anything else. But you? You shouldn’t have dropped out of college. I know you came back because of Mom.” Garr patted Caleb’s thigh. “I’ll talk to Dad and see if I can talk some sense into him. I don’t know what’s going on lately. I know Joan and he like to keep the business side of things to themselves, but we all need to know why Dad is doing what Dad is doing.”

“You’re the better driver, Garr.” Caleb paused. “If he just came out and said, we’re going with Garrison because he’s the better, I’m fine with that. But to just say, I’m not racing anymore, especially the majors? I’m not ten years old. Dad should just give me the reasons why, not just say, I’m out. I’m done.”

They both sat in silence for a moment before Garrison spoke. “So what have you been doing lately? Bob says you show up in the shop and check out the cars when Dad’s not there and then leave.”

“I’ve been trying to send out feelers here and there about Formula racing and maybe racing for another team.”

“Does Dad know this?”

Caleb shook his head. “Nope. And don’t tell him either.”

“Joan said you’re dating a new guy?”

“That’s old news. We’ve been dating for more than a little over six months.”

“And you’ve never introduced him to me?” Garrison raised his shoulders and shrugged, and gestured for more information with a wave of his hands. “And?”

“I like him.”

“What’s his name?”

“Seb.”

“Seb?”

“Short for Sebastian?”

Garrison’s eyebrows arched. “Sebastian?”

“He doesn’t like to use his middle name, Harry.”

“Last name?”

“Rush.”

“Okay. Are we going to do very short answers, now? I’m your brother. You don’t have to be secretive around me.”

Caleb exhaled. “I know.”