Read Online Hot Summer Nights by Laramie Briscoe - Free Book Online

asshole to you, but I really just need to be alone right now,” he tried again, blowing smoke away from her face.
    As they walked further from the track, the only thing she could make out was the dark orange circle of the burning tobacco hanging from his mouth.
    “I just want you to know that you aren’t alone, Wayne. What happened out there wasn’t your fault. I know you didn’t mean for anything to happen, but we got to get to the hospital. We got to make sure that Kevin is okay. They were talking about him being really hurt, and I know that no matter what, you want to know what’s going on with him.”
    “Yeah, but it also cost me and your daddy a busted up race car.” He flicked the cigarette into the ground and stepped on it, harder than he needed to.
    “This is about more than a busted up race car. You and I both know that. You’re feeling responsible. You’re not responsible for that. The two of you were testing each other. You both knew what could happen. Now let’s go and make sure he’s okay. I’ll even go with you.” She offered him a soft smile that he barely made out and grabbed his hand, squeezing it before she walked away.
    He watched her until he could no longer make out her body in the darkness. Turning around, he realized that the anger was no longer manifesting in his body. The only thing going through his mind was making sure that Kevin was okay. He had to know that he hadn’t hurt him badly. Until he knew for sure, he wouldn’t be able to drive another lap.
    “Clem, wait up!” he called, running to catch up with her.
    *
    An hour later the two of them arrived at the hospital. It was filled with people waiting to hear what was going on with Kevin. Both people who had professed to hate him and others who had professed to love him gathered, all waiting to see what the doctor would say. No matter what, all of them needed to know that one of their own was not hurt. Kevin may have been an outcast, but none of them wanted anything bad to happen to him. His parents had shown up, but as of yet, no one had heard anything. Clementine and Wayne sat huddled together in the corner. Both stood up, however, as they saw a doctor come in.
    “All of you here for Kevin Grimes?” he asked, sticking his stethoscope around his neck.
    There was a collective “yes” from the crowd. “I’m afraid that I have some really bad news. Kevin for the most part is stable. He is however in need of a blood transfusion. He’s lost a lot of blood. If anyone has the O Type, we encourage you to give.”
    “Is that all he needs, Doc?” someone asked from the back of the group.
    “I’m going to be quiet honest with you people. He not only needs that. He needs a lot of prayer. You didn’t let me finish. Kevin also has a severe spinal cord injury. At this point, we think he’s lost the use of his legs.”
    As the doctor left, the room was blanketed in a silence that no one dared to penetrate.

Chapter Eleven
    ‡
    “I ’m afraid Kevin has lost the use of his legs.” Those words echoed in Wayne’s head over and over again as he sat there. His whole life he had watched what limited mobility in one leg had done to his father. His father had always thought he was less of a man. How would Kevin feel when he woke up and the doctor told him he’d never again be able to drive a race car? To top it off, Wayne felt ultimately responsible. Wayne had known to stay off him during the race, he had known better than to mess with him the way they had on the track. That was something a rookie did, but not someone who had the experience they had. Looking around the room, he saw that most of the townsfolk sat in shock. Getting up, he walked out of the hospital. As he got out into the muggy night, he walked towards Lee’s truck and had a seat on the tailgate.
    “I figured you’d be out here.”
    Wayne looked up, seeing Clementine walking towards him. “I don’t think I’m gonna be much company.”
    “That wasn’t your fault,