Racing for Freedom

chapter Twenty One





“Marco!” Slade calls, his body moving through the water at our favorite swimming spot.

“Polo!” I cry, giggling.

He comes closer and I dodge to the side, giggling. He calls Marco again and I go under the water, ramming right into his body. He reaches down and grips me, then hurls me up and we both splutter as we laugh.

“You always do that Dashy!” he snorts, water trickling from his nose.

“Ew, water just came out of your nose.”

“You love it, go on and admit it.”

I laugh and shake my head, but he begins tickling me.

“Go on and admit it Dashy, you love it.”

“No!” I squeal.

“Oh yeah, you do!”

We giggle and laugh until we have nothing left, then we climb out and slump down onto our towels.

“I have to go soon,” Slade murmurs, leaning on his elbow and looking over at me.

“I know, I hate that we have to hide.”

“Me too.”

“Slade?”

“Hmmmm?”

“Do you ever think there’ll come a time we don’t have to hide this?”

He smiles. “Of course, I’ll make sure of it.”

“We’re old enough to make our own choices, I don’t see why we have to hide.”

“It’s not about being able to make choices Dash, it’s about living with the constant drama if it comes out. You know what my father is like, you know what he would do if he found out about our friendship. He would never let me live it down, he would make your life hell. I won’t do that to you.”

I smile over at him. “One day we’ll be big racers, and it won’t matter.”

He smiles and touches my cheek. “No, it won’t matter.”

“At least my mum loves you.”

He smiles. “Your mum is the best, she’s the only reason we keep this friendship so perfectly hidden.”

“I can’t believe she hides us.”

Slade chuckles. “She knows it’s important.”

“There you two are!”

We turn and see my mother strolling down. She always lets us rush off for a swim before Slade and my dad finish racing. She always gives us time to dry off and get back up before anyone notices.

“Hey mum,” we both say at once.

She laughs and sits down beside us, brushing her long blonde hair aside.

“What are you two talking about?”

“You.” Slade smiles.

“Oh?”

Her blue eyes twinkle as she looks us over. My mother is the most beautiful woman on earth.

“We were just saying that you make our friendship possible.”

She nods and smiles. “I hate that your fathers can’t stand each other to a point that it would be hard for you to have a friendship. Everyone deserves to be friends, even those forbidden against it.”

I smile at her and she winks at me.

“You know, one day we will have this friendship without fear.” I say proudly.

She beams at me, but her eyes grow a little darker when she looks over at Slade, as though she knows something I don’t.

“I hope you do, because a friendship like this should be cherished.”