Finding Home at Randy’s (Diner Days)

Chapter 27

“ P rofessional superkarts can get up to a hundred and fifty miles per hour. I’m like ninety percent sure these are electric, which means the most they’ll get up to is forty-five miles per hour. Shame. When it’s summer, we should find an outdoor track that uses gas cars, to see if there’s a difference.” Callum sounds disappointed as he rattles off the go-kart specs.

“That sounds like a great idea,” Rory says.

“Did you know that this place does one-on-one lessons?”

“No!” Rory and Graeme exclaim at the same time.

Callum sighs. “You guys are no fun. Think of it as practice for when I get my license, which is only in six more months.”

“Please don’t remind us,” Graeme groans.

“My mom said she’d teach him, but I don’t know if I want to put that on her,” Rory comments.

“I’ll race you for the privilege of not being the one who gets to teach Callum to drive,” Graeme tells him.

Rory grins. “Deal.”

Luka and I glance at each other and laugh at their commentary. The last few weeks getting to know Graeme, Rory, and Callum in a family setting has been eye opening. Seeing them around Randy’s was one thing, but knowing them all on a more personal level has only deepened my feelings for all of them—not just Grae.

I knew Graeme came not only with Cal, but Rory too, yet it wasn’t until recently that I learned just how entwined their lives are. It’s endearing, and a sense of honor rushes through me that I’m allowed to witness the unique bonds they have. They’re a family in every sense of the word, even though Rory and Graeme aren’t together.

Someone who doesn’t know them might think they’re only making it work for Callum’s sake, but I know differently. They truly love and need each other in their lives, and neither Luka nor I would ever think about asking them to stop being there for one another.

“I have never done something like this,” Luka says as Graeme pays our entry fee. “Have you?”

I shake my head. “Nope, I’m just happy it’s indoors, though. I didn’t know they had these. I guess it makes sense, we wouldn’t be able to do it otherwise.” Luka makes a face and I laugh.

It started snowing a few days ago, and to say he’s already over it is an understatement. Poor Southern California boy, he’s in for a rude awakening if he’s sick of the snow after less than a week.

“We should go ice skating for the next family date,” Callum says as we shuck off our winter gear.

“Family date?” Graeme asks.

“Well, what else do you call it? We’re here, as a family, and you’re on a date with Luka and Denver. Therefore, it's a family date. Anyway, did you know the first ice skates were made from bone? And ice skating was one of the earliest sports?”

Rory looks between Luka and me. “What do you think about being on a family date?”

“I mean, I like it,” Luka says. “I…am happy that you’ve so easily accepted us into your lives. It makes me feel special, especially since, aside from Jordan, I don’t have a good relationship with my family.”

I reach for Luka’s hand and give it a squeeze. “I do have an amazing family—who you are never allowed to meet because Callum would get along far too well with my siblings—but I still feel honored and touched that you consider me part of yours.”

“We’re here to have fun, not get all sappy,” Callum gripes.

Grae rolls his eyes, but before he can say anything, the person in charge of the go-karts comes up to us.

“Hi! We’re so happy to have you here. Have any of you done this before?” Callum, Graeme, and Rory nod, while Luka and I shake our heads. “Great, we’ll go over safety features, the rules of the track, get you into your helmets, and you’ll be on your way.”

After all the rules and safety features are discussed, Callum starts up with his internet facts again. “Did you know that go-karts don’t have suspensions and are super safe; the low center of gravity makes them hard to flip, and the roll cages are incredibly handy to have.”

“Are you interested in racing?” the worker asks as he helps everyone find a helmet.

Callum grins, and instead of answering the question directly, he says, “It’s a good precursor to Formula One racing?—”

“No!” all four of us exclaim, startling the poor worker and making Callum cackle.

“Okay…” The worker lets out an awkward laugh. “Are y’all ready?”

“Let’s do this!” Callum bounces on his toes and climbs into the first go-kart.

The energy vibrates in the air as we all get settled and strapped into the go-karts. I tighten my fingers around the steering wheel, waiting for the go ahead. As soon as the green light flashes, Callum takes off, his whoop can be heard even over the sound of the engines.

I fall behind almost right away, but I’m not surprised. I’m not the most aggressive driver, and this being new to me makes me a little more cautious. I get used to the feel of the track and how the go-kart handles before I decide to speed up.

As I’m getting comfortable behind the wheel, I watch as Rory clips the backend of Grae’s go-kart, making him spin out. My stomach twists with nerves, but I’m able to move around him as he curses and tries to get his go-kart pointing in the correct direction again.

The next catastrophe is Luka crashing into the wall as he rounds a corner too slowly. My concern for him has me slowing down, and I almost meet the same fate before I correct myself.

Callum beats us all, but no one is surprised. The kid is absolutely ruthless, and despite Rory chasing him for the last few laps, there was no opening where he could take his son. Graeme and Rory also battled it out, each trying to either force the other to crash or spin out as they took their bet seriously.

In the end, Rory comes in second place, causing Graeme to curse, even after we all come to a stop.

“At least I didn’t end up in last place,” Luka teases as we climb out of the go-karts.

“Whatever. At least I didn’t crash by my own making,” I shoot back.

He laughs and pulls me in for a kiss while Graeme and Rory start bickering in French like the old married couple they still are. Luka shakes his head at them and looks at me. “Should we learn French?” he asks.

Callum seems to pop up out of nowhere. One moment, he's peppering the track worker with questions, the next, he's right next to Luka and me. “I can teach you! We’ll go over all the naughty words first!”

I snort. “I’ve never asked, why French?”

Callum shrugs. “Something about them both taking it in high school and continuing on through college. It’s always been part of our lives. When we’re at home, one parent will speak French while the other sticks to English, and I have to respond in the corresponding language. We could do that? Da says the best way to learn a language is to immerse yourself in it.”

“Let us think about it,” Luka says as we trail after Rory and Grae.

“Sure! It’s a romantique language, if you know what I mean…” Callum grins wickedly.

Luka flushes bright red at the implication of our boyfriend’s fifteen-year-old saying stuff like that.

Neither of us should be surprised by Cal anymore, but just when you think he’s been as outspoken as he can be, he goes and says something else outlandish. The boy really needs a warning label.

“Well,” Callum says once we’re outside the go-karting place. “Did everyone have fun?”

Graeme shoots Rory one last death glare before grinning at his son. “You were right.” He says it like it’s the most inconceivable thing to ever happen. “It was fun.”

“Yes!” Callum jumps into the air. “Does this mean we can go ice skating next?”

Luka groans. “In the summer. I am not going fucking ice skating in the winter. If I want to be cold for hours on end, I wouldn’t pay for the privilege, I'd just stand outside.”

I laugh. “You haven’t seen anything yet, sweetheart.”

He glares at me. “Thanks for the reminder.”

Wrapping an arm around his waist, I kiss his temple. “Don’t worry, I’ll help keep you warm.”

“I’ll make hot chocolate once we get home,” Rory offers, shepherding us across the parking lot.

“This really is the best family date so far.” Callum grins and threads his arm through Luka’s, urging the two of us to walk faster.

Snow begins falling, and while Luka whines, I look up at the clouded night sky and smile, agreeing with Callum’s assessment of this being the best date so far.