CHAPTER 7
Ted managed to avoid Ashley for the rest of the day. The next morning, as his dad drove them both to camp, Ted kept his eyes on his hands and knees.
At lunch, Ted finally got up the courage to talk to Jake. He found him sitting at a table by himself.
“Hi,” Ted said. “Can I sit here?”
Jake shrugged, so Ted sat down.
“Listen,” Ted said. “I’m sorry about yesterday. I shouldn’t have shouted at you.”
“It’s okay,” Jake said.
“And I’m sorry for the day before that too,” added Ted. “And before that.”
Jake laughed. “It’s okay,” he said. “Besides, you’re right.”
Ted’s eyes shot open. “I am?” he said.
Jake nodded. “As of today, I’m using a Kart Kamp go-kart,” he said. “I got the last one, obviously. It is number eight, though.”
“Fair enough,” Ted said.
“My dad thinks I’m nuts,” Jake said. “He says they use every advantage they can in the pros.”
Ted opened his drink. “Maybe he’s right,” he said.
“But in the pro leagues, they’re a team,” Jake said. “They take the advantages their sponsors give them. My dad isn’t supposed to be my sponsor.”
“True,” Ted said.
“I didn’t get any of these advantages on my own,” Jake said. “My dad just handed them to me.”
Ted took a long drink. “So no hard feelings?” he asked.
Jake shook his head. “No,” he said. “But I’m still going to whoop you on the track.”
Ted laughed. “We’ll see about that,” he said. “We’ll see about that.”