I practice every single day, barely leaving the track to do anything other than eat and sleep. Conan and Noah are worried, but they’ll eventually understand. Sky keeps me company and senses my determination, and for once, he doesn’t argue with me.
When we get to qualifiers, I don’t hold anything back. My typical happy attitude is missing, replaced by furious determination, especially when I see Amanda giving interviews in her pit. When they come to interview us, I don’t let Sky do all the talking.
“We are determined to be the best, and we will earn the top two spots like we have at every race this year,” I tell them.
“How do you feel about the previous regulation team’s new drivers?” they query, and I know my smile is cruel.
“I feel nothing. They are not a threat to us. Money might havebought their way to this track, but talent is what wins it, and they’ll see that today. We will show them that. Now, if you’ll excuse us.” I move past them to the track, and Sky follows, chuckling.
“Damn, all I ever needed to do to get you like this was threaten Noah.” I throw him a glare, but he keeps smiling. “Use it,” he says when I reach my car. “Use it and beat them. Show them who you are. I’ve got your back, brother. I always have.”
Taking a deep breath, I nod. “We need to show her she can’t mess with us, not here.”
His smile is particularly mean. “Then how about we throw our plan out the window?”
“What do you have in mind?” I ask, knowing Noah will kill us.
“A little . . . warning.” Sky grins. “You in?”
My growing smile matches his, and I smack my helmet against his. “I’m in.”
Laughing, he strides over to his car, and I turn my head before I get in mine to see the driver for Nos glaring at me. My smile grows wider before I shove my helmet on and blow him a kiss, then I climb into my vehicle and wait.
My heartbeat slows as I pull up to the line and wait, ignoring the announcements as Noah’s voice sounds in my headset. “Sky, you good?”
“Good, old man.”
His voice softens. “Mackie, you good?”
“Good.” I smirk as I tighten my grip on the wheel.
“Okay then, do you both remember the plan? We’ll take it easy and lock in on the top two spots. No frills or showing off.”
“Sure thing,” Sky replies, and I hear his amusement.
“Of course, Noah, whatever you say,” I say, smiling as I sense his confusion then anger.
“You aren’t going to stick to the plan, are you?” We remain silent, and he sighs. “You have another plan that will stress me out, don’t you? Why do I even bother trying?”
“You’re cute when you plan,” I tease, and Skylar gags. “But sorry, we have our own today. See you at the finish line.”
I swear I hear him mutter, “It’s a good fucking thing he’s cute,” as the lights start flashing red, then amber. I prepare, my foot on the pedal, and when it’s green, I take off, driving up next to Sky. We remain steady in the middle. Nos is starting at the back, so we begin to let everyone else pass us.
“Uh, guys, the goal is to be at the front, not the back,” Noah grouses.
“I heard Mackie likes it from the back,” Skylar teases, and I flip him off without looking as we take the corner in sync, moving into formation before parting to allow the last two drivers to pass us, and then we move back, side by side. I can sense everyone’s confusion, but we keep it up as Nos’s regulation driver powers up behind us, and then Skylar and I share a nod and a smile.
He tries to go left. We move with him. He tries to go right. We move that way, like flowing water in perfect sync.
We block him, not even trying to win. We are simply sending them a message.
They are not welcome here.
We do it for the first lap, then when we hit the second, we floor it, easily catching up to the others. We overtake two at the first corner, using them to block Amanda’s driver as we move through their ranks until we are in the middle again, and by the next lap, there are only three in front of us.
That’s when we really show them what we are made of.
“Good. If you have finished fucking around, could you win the race please?” Noah grumbles.
