“Incredible.” Sky sighs wistfully, and Sanjay shakes his head with a grin.
“And you, Mackie? Are you single? I’ve got plenty of race bunnies here if you want in,” he offers.
Downing the shot, I push the glass back. “No thanks.”
“He prefers them mean and unattainable,” Sky whispers loud enough for me to hear as music pumps around me. It’s not my usual scene. I prefer a bar or drinking with friends, but I’ll admit my muscles unwind with the music as I scan the crowd. The place is full, even this early, and I see people watching us. It makes sense, considering Sky is well known and Sanjay is clearly a regular, but the eyes on me surprise me, so I turn away. I’m not looking for a quick hookup.
“I have those too,” Sanjay says as he pours me another shot and slides it across the glass table. “But something tells me you already have someone in your heart.”
“What is this, therapy?” I mutter as I down the shot and turn the glass upside down.
“Eh, we actually call this place church, which is why Sky said confess your sins. Nothing is judged here, and all is forgiven. It’s whowe are.” Sanjay shrugs. “But you don’t have to speak if you don’t want to. You can just drink.”
“I didn’t want to do either,” I mumble, and his eyebrows rise. “Sorry, I’m not good company today.”
“I’ve been friends with Skylar for years, don’t worry about it,” Sanjay replies, and he turns to grab another bottle as Skylar nudges me.
“The alcohol not working?” He frowns. “You really don’t want to talk? I’m worried, brother.”
I know he is, and his concern lessens my annoyance.
“Alright then, you know what you need? More than alcohol?” Standing, he leans over to Sanjay, and they exchange something before he drags me up. “Say goodbye, Mackie.”
“Goodbye, Mackie,” I tease, and Sanjay waves as Skylar drags me from the club after only two drinks. Once we’re outside, he tosses something at me. I catch it midair and realize it’s keys.
“It’s Sanjay’s. Don’t crash it. Keep up if you can, race boy. If you win, I’ll leave you alone, but if I win, you have to talk.” Skylar climbs into his car and revs the engine.
Turning, I see the car facing his. It’s a gray Skyline with blue stripes down it. Brands cover the top of the window, and when I click the fob, neon lights flare on. Glancing at Skylar, I finally get what he means, and honestly, it sounds amazing.
Driving away from everything, not on a track with expectations, just me and speed.
Climbing into the borrowed car, I pull the race straps over my shoulder and hit the engine. It roars to life, the screens flashing blue, and I check out the modifications, shaking my head. Sanjay is clearly a street racer, but the car is cool as hell. Revving it, I glance up and meet Sky’s smile before he speeds past me. I pull away from the curb and swing into traffic, following him.
We could get into trouble, and if Noah finds out, we are dead, but that only encourages me.
Speeding up, I weave through traffic and chase Sky’s taillights, only this time we are not working together. We blast through red lights, and I swerve around an SUV to pull alongside him. Grinning, I meethis gaze, and he points ahead. I curse and swerve, almost fishtailing to avoid the slow truck in the lane separating us.
He pulls ahead, driving out of Pine Valley on the main drag, and I manage to get behind him as the road clears out. It spirals up into the hills, and I drift around the bends alongside him. My heart pounds, overrun by the roaring engine as I let go and I leave it all behind, focusing on the feeling of freedom.
At the last bend, I pull an illegal move and swing around him, pulling to a stop at a pullout, winning. Sky pulls in behind me and kills his engine, laughing and clapping as he gets from the car. Shaking my head, I get out as well, but I’m smiling as I lean into the warm engine, and he joins me.
“You won. I’ll leave you alone with it,” he says as he nudges me, “but if you want to talk, I’m right here, brother. You are the closest thing to family I have. You know that, right? I care about you a lot, Mackie.”
Turning my head, I meet his eyes and realize he means it. “I know.”
Sky loves his friends so deeply, how could I not? Sighing, I rub my face as my heart slows, and I stare out at the skyline of the place I came to love because of the man I followed here. Every decision I have made was to follow in his footsteps and be close to him.
Maybe it’s time I made my own decisions.
“I’m done with Noah,” I admit. Saying the words out loud makes it final in my mind. “I can’t keep doing this. I’m going to move on.” I glance at Skylar, the final nail in the coffin. “Blizzard offered me a job, and I’m considering taking it. It would be a fresh start. Noah was the only reason I stayed?—”
“Only? Not even for me?” he teases, but he is worried.
“I love you, Skylar. You are my brother. I love racing with you, but I don’t know if I can spend every day working under the man I love and move on from him.” Looking out at the city, I let the heavy decisions weigh me down. “I haven’t decided yet, it’s just a thought, but I want to be happy, Sky. I deserve to be happy, and I’m tired. Maybe a clean break is what I need.”
“That means we would be competitors,” he mumbles.
“It does,” I hedge.
