Lag (The Boys of RDA Book 2) by Megan Matthews Page B

front hood and side door.
    Another employee exits the car leaving the driver’s side door open, and Trey hurries to take his place behind the wheel. We have a saved spot in the line of cars, but I still can’t see the top of Lombard Street as I sit in the passenger side. The steering wheel isn't a wheel at all, but rather a set of handlebars like a dirt bike. It’s an odd machine.
    “I’d let you drive, but I’ve seen you on a jet ski and the cement is harder than the dip we took in the ocean.” He laughs at his own joke.
    I slap Trey on the arm. “That was so not my fault and you know it,” I counter but am secretively okay he’s taking the lead on this one. I'd be a little worried about my ability to navigate the tight turns.
    “Don’t forget your helmets.” The man who gave up his seat in the car produces two black simple helmets with straps underneath.
    Trey cocks his head at the helmet and frowns, but I elbow him in the arm, and he reluctantly grabs both passing one to me before he puts his own on. Satisfied we’re both properly geared up, the employee nods once. With one hand on the side of the car, he walks along with us as Trey slowly edges the vehicle forward as traffic moves.
    When we’re stopped again, the employee leans closer to the car forcing Trey to retreat into my space. “Up ahead you’ll see Lombard Street. I suggest you allow the car in front of you to make it mostly past the curves before you begin down. This will allow you to gain more speed as you take each of the eight sharp turns that comprise this section of road.”
    He pauses in his memorized speech while Trey inches the car forward with traffic again. “Lombard Street was built in 1922 after being suggested as a way to reduce the hill’s natural twenty-seven percent grade by property owner Carl Henry. The curves allow for a shallow incline which is safer for pedestrians and vehicles. Although this isn’t the steepest incline in America, it is the crookest street in the world.”
    The ten or so cars in front of us seem to drop off as one after another slowly falls down past my line of sight.
    “Please keep your helmets on at all times and obey the five mile an hour traffic guideline when making your way down the hill.” Our guide smiles and winks at Trey with his parting words and then walks behind our car to stand on the sidewalk.
    “Thank God. I didn’t think he’d ever leave. Are you excited?” he asks.
    The car in front of us moves ahead. “Yes, I’m so excited.” My hands clap together in anticipation. “Do you think little L.D. will make it?”
    “Little L.D.?” Trey looks to me with an up turned eyebrow.
    I try to play it off cool, but my face turns red at being outed in my car naming game. “Yeah, I named him Lemon Drop, but it was too long so we’re going with L.D.” I shrug and try to wear my best “no big deal” expression.
    He laughs anyway. “Are all your names after food or is it a recent thing?”
    Two more cars make the drop as we get closer and closer to the famous crooked street ahead and I think about the answer to his question. “I’ve never noticed. It’s a recent thing, I guess. Not many of us had cars in New York. I named the Escalade Licorice earlier, so it must be new.”
    “Don’t ever tell Jake you named his car Licorice.” His head turns to mine with upturned lips on one side of his mouth and a devilish gleam in his eye that might sprout him horns. "Or maybe we should. I would love to see him riled up. Let’s get him to drive us somewhere tomorrow and mention it.”
    “No!” I hit his arm, but laugh as his smile grows while he stares into the distance.
    The traffic moves again and provides us with a better view of the street ahead. All conversation with Trey is forgotten as I watch the line of cars make their way down the steep road paved in red bricks.
    The crooked nature of the road creates oxbows of extra sidewalk and yard space with every curve. The inside of each is