“That’s us, double trouble, the big race gods.” Sky offers his hand, and she looks from it to him with a smile, then he drops it with an arched brow. “Who are you anyway?” he asks.
“Skylar,” Noah scolds. “Ignore him. They are used to being surrounded by racers and mechanics. They are rude.”
She lets out a fake, little giggle and leans into him, making my eyes narrow. “Oh, it’s fine. I once visited a track, so I understand.”
“Oh, you must know all about it then,” Skylar remarks, widening his eyes innocently. “I didn’t get your name.”
“Amanda Winchester the third,” she answers.
“Ah, well, my full name is Skylar Warren the first, dick—” I shove a cookie in his mouth as he chokes on his next words.
“It’s nice to meet you,” I say, each word like acid on my tongue, especially when she looks at me and digs her red-tipped nails into Noah’s muscle.
My phone rings loudly, vibrating on the table, and I glance at it to see Conan’s name. I glance back at Noah to see his lips tilting down, but I ignore him as I snatch it up.
“I have to take this. I’m taking an extra five.” I turn away and answer. “Hey,” I greet, softening my voice. “Did you finish editing?”
I leave Noah and his new girlfriend behind. The last piece of my heart falls from my chest.
It’s done.
It’s fully over.
He’s moving on, and so should I.
FOURTEEN
Iwatch Mackie leave, and this horrible feeling claws at my chest. When I glance at Skylar, he’s shaking his head. “You’re an idiot.” He stands, wiping crumbs off his chest. “Nice to meet you, Amanda.” He departs as well, leaving me with her.
She instantly drops the act, and I steer her into my office. Once the door is shut, I look at her.
“Enough,” I snap, shaking off her touch as I sit on my desk. She huffs and looks at the worn chair opposite it before perching on my desk in disgust. “Why are you really here, Amanda?” I ask. “And what is with the nice act out there? What do you need?”
“Just putting on a show in case our parents are watching and reporting back,” she grumbles, looking at her nails.
“This is my garage?—”
“And you’re a fool if you don’t think they have spies in your life,” she retorts. “I like Mackie. He’s cute.”
“Don’t,” I warn, clenching my fists. I have no doubt she picked up on the way I was looking at him.
“Is he the one?” she asks, looking at me, those poisonous eyes narrowed. She’s smart, way too fucking smart. “The reason you refused the engagement?”
“Leave him alone,” I warn her.
“So it is him.” She smirks. “Your parents thought there was someone else. I figured I’d find out for myself. Does he know about your family? About me? Should I go ask him?” She stands, grinning at me. “Or maybe I’ll simply play with him myself. He is a bit rough for my taste and clearly doesn’t have money, but that always makes them so desperate to please me.”
The idea of seeing those cruel nails anywhere near my Mackie has me seeing red, and I’m on my feet before I know it. I’ve protected him and my people from this side of my life, which is just another reason why I can’t let anyone close, but here it is, in my office, ruining everything I’ve built.
“Amanda, let me make something very clear.” I lean in, and she backs up, hitting the wall. My face shows my anger, and for the first time ever, she looks scared of me. Good. “Don’t ever try to mess with my boy or his life. Understood? You can play your games with me and our parents, but if you bring him into this, I’ll finally start to pay attention, and you don’t want that, trust me.”
“You don’t scare me, Noah,” she protests, but her eyes are a fraction too wide and her breathing is too heavy.
“Yes, I do, and I should. I never fought you or my parents over the shit you pulled, but for him, I will. You are not the only one with money. You are not the only one with power. Don’t forget who I really am.”
“That’s why we are so perfect for one another,” she says. “We are both cruel and twisted. You can still have him. I don’t care. The marriage can be in name only. We don’t have to be faithful to each other.”
My fist smashes into the wall at her side, and she jumps. “I told you and I told them, but let me repeat myself. I will never marry the person they chose. I will never marry you. Now, don’t ever show up here again, and if I even hear a whisper that you have looked at Mackie wrong, I will tell your prissy parents what their daughter really gets up to with their money.” I reach past her, and she flinches, but I just open the door and step back. “Now go while I’m still being nice.”
