Start Your Engines
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“You know you don’t have to do all this right?”
“You’re crazy. You only turn 21 once, Big Brother.”
“How are you paying for this?”
“You think I just spend all the money you give me?”
“Maybe I should start giving you less.”
“Not now, I start college in a couple months.”
“Mr. Arison and Riles will not be pleased about this.”
“Relax. Playoffs are around the corner.”
“Exactly! And I have a game tomorrow night! If I break or bruise something, that is my ass.”
“It’s an enclosed track. You’re not racing anybody, matter of fact, you’re not even driving. You’re riding along.”
My brother and I were sitting in the parking lot of the Homestead Miami Speedway. He didn’t tell me where we were going. Just that he had a surprise for me. He had booked a racing experience for me to ride two laps with a professional driver. I’m not going to lie, I was low key excited about the experience.
We head over to the entrance and check in. After a 30-minute session going over safety and racing basics, I was headed out to the track. I saw the car and my driver, Mickey, standing next to it wearing a helmet. I grabbed a helmet off a nearby table and made my way to the car. I was about two steps away when Mickey pulled off their helmet and extended her (yeah, her) hand.
“Antonio Snow? I’m Mickey Graham. I’ll be taking you around the track today.”
“Mickey?”
“Yes, it’s short for Michelle, which I’m not really a fan of. I was named after one of my mom’s friends from college.”
Mickey was about 5’3” with green eyes. She had her hair in two long braids. I’ll have to admit she was not what I was expecting.
“Not quite what you were expecting huh?” She glanced down at her outstretched hand, and I realized I hadn’t shaken it.
“Sorry.” I said as I quickly grabbed her hand.
“And no. Definitely not what I was expecting. But I do love surprises.”
She smiled.
“You ready to go?”
“Sure thing.” I pulled down my helmet and climbed into the car.
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An hour later and we were done. It was a lot of fun and Mickey was very knowledgeable. Turns out she grew up around cars her whole life. Her dad used to race in the Xfinity Series, known then as the Busch Grand National Series, back in the 80’s before becoming a Pit Crew Chief. This was as close as she got to racing professionally.
As she pulled down the upper half of her overalls, I noticed she had a familiar tattoo on her left arm. It was a snake in the shape of an infinity symbol with the numbers 8 and 24 tattooed inside the circles.
“That’s some nice ink.” I said, pointing to her arm.
“Thanks,” she said, running her hands across the image.
“I am a huge Kobe Bryant fan. My family lived in Los Angeles for about 10 years. I was 5 when he won his first championship. And I have been watching him ever since. I was lucky enough to catch a couple games at Staples.”
“That’s pretty dope. I don’t have any ink, but I’m a huge fan as well.”
“Yeah, I saw your game against the Knicks. I was really hoping you didn’t break that record.”
We laughed.
“Nah, it was too fresh. Maybe a few years down the line. I’ll let him have it for at least fifteen years before I get in there.”
“Were you guys close?”
“Definitely. He was like a big brother to me.”
Just then we heard the engine of a Porsche 911. My brother was finishing his laps around the track. He decided to pay for the full experience where he got to do three laps on his own. He hopped out of the car and headed over to us.
“That shit was fun, Tony! I think I know what I want for a graduation gift.” He looked over his shoulder at the Porsche.
“Yeah, maybe when you finish college.”
“Bet.”
“Top of your class.”
“What?”
Mickey and I laughed. Nico introduced himself and extended his hand.
We chatted for a few more minutes before Mickey’s next client showed up. As we were leaving, Nico kind of gave me a look that I was trying to ignore.
“Why are you being a pussy, Tony? She is fine as hell. Ask for her number. Maybe you can book a different experience later.” He put heavy emphasis on the word experience. I shook my head at him. Girls and school was all Nico seemed to be about these days. But he was right. Mickey was fine as hell. I don’t know why I let him pressure me into shit. I’m the older brother.
I jogged back over to her and asked if I could hit her up sometime. She said she just started seeing someone but agreed to exchange numbers just in case it didn’t work out. And we could always talk about our shared love of Kobe Bryant.
I walked back toward a smirking Nico. He was sliding his phone into his jacket pocket.
“Sometimes, I don’t think you understand the power you wield. You are a multi-millionaire. NBA Champion. And you’re almost as good looking as me. I would never be running around alone. I mean, I’m just the man next to the man, I can only imagine what it means to be the actual man.”
“Whatever. I know you just texted Madison.”
“She texted me first. We’re going to the movies.”
“Right. You're boo'd up, but trying to have me out here for the streets.”
He shakes his head and gets under the wheel.
“I know some of these girls are after your money. And I’m not trying to get into all that. Madison’s family has money. Her parents are architects. She’s got her own.”
“Well at least you’re not thinking completely with your dick and my money.”
He laughed as he started the car.