Charlotte’s the first to break the silence. “But don’t Aiden and Mason already have a plan? Aren’t you guys going to handle it today?”
“Tonight. We’ll handle it tonight,” Mason clarifies.
The boys’ eyes all light up with realization, and even Annalisa seems to get what they’re talking about.
“What’s tonight?” Charlotte asks.
“Friday is when Aiden goes to the Tr—” Noah is cut off when he notices Aiden sending him a death glare.
“Friday is when Aiden goes where? Aiden? What is Noah talking about?” I ask.
“The Tracks,” he says. “Friday is when I go to the Tracks.”
“The Tracks? What do you mean?” I ask.
“I race for money. Illegally.”
“But—how? Like, how does it all work?” I can’t stop picturing scenes from The Fast and the Furious: large crowds, sketchy people, loud music, practically naked girls walking around everywhere. I mean realistically, if that went on every Friday night, especially with such loud cars all gathered together, how did other people and the cops not catch on?
“We call it the Tracks, but it’s not really a drag strip or anything. It’s about an hour out of town, up north, on the deserted country roads.” Mason fills me in.
Noah continues, “It’s not like a huge, professionally organized thing. Nothing like you see in the movies and stuff about racing. Yeah, it’s big, but not that big. It’s just a bunch of people who get together and make bets on the racers.”
“The two or three people racing put money down against each other, but the spectators also make bets on the racers. It’s a great way to make fast money,” Julian explains.
That makes a lot of sense to me. Of course Aiden would do that. He’s a senior in high school and
guardian of two boys. He has no job but still has to pay for bills and gas and food and other expenses.
“How much do you make from one race?” I ask.
“Depends on how much you want to bet,” Aiden says vaguely.
“How much did you make last Friday?”
He was there that Friday—that’s why he ignored my call when I needed to get Chase somewhere.
“Around two grand.”
“Two thousand dollars! In one night?” Charlotte choruses in disbelief as I almost do a spit take, barely containing the water in my mouth.
She and I are the only ones who clearly have no idea about any of this. Annalisa doesn’t seem shocked, but I can’t see Julian hiding something like this from her. I’m surprised Chase didn’t say anything to Charlotte. But from how they all act when the subject comes up, I’m assuming it’s something Aiden doesn’t want anyone to know about.
“Do you guys race too?” I look at the other boys at the table.
Julian, Chase, Noah, and Mason all shake their heads no.
“We’re nowhere as skilled as Aiden,” Chase admits.
“But that doesn’t mean we don’t go to support him or back him up,” Julian adds.
“Plus, betting on Aiden is a great way to make sure I never have to get a part-time job,” Mason jokes, and the other guys laugh in agreement.
“How good are you?” I ask Aiden, already knowing the answer.
“The best.”
“You ever lose?”