We flipped our visors down. I nodded, and Ethan launched ahead, flying down the straightaway. I caught up, but instead of obsessing over passing him, I fixed on the first corner. The apex would test my speed. I leaned through it, then braced for the chicanes the track was notorious for, heart pounding, lungs burning.
I clamped the tank with my knees, shifting my weight as my upper body flowed with the bike into the second chicane.
After the third corner, my grip tightened. A hairpin loomed ahead, demanding every ounce of focus.
Dad’s voice filled my head.
Keep the bike upright. Slow gradually. Use both brakes.
I squeezed my eyes shut for a breath, drawing strength from him. He wasn’t here, but it was as if he still guided me.
I turned in, easing off the front brake as I leaned. His voice carried me through until I tore into the last stretch.
Adrenaline roared in my veins, every nerve alive, reminding me why I loved racing. I slowed at the finish line, chest heaving as I glanced around.
Ethan caught up a minute later, killing his engine before ripping off his helmet. “Damn.” He panted, wide-eyed. “Who would’ve thought you could do that?”
I swung off my bike. “Do what?”
“Well.” He inhaled and exhaled, trying to steady his breathing but not quite managing. “Everything you did out there. Like I said, this track’s no joke.”
I couldn’t tell if he meant it as a compliment. The way his pale blue eyes dragged over my face—half curious, half jealous—made my gut twist. I pulled off my helmet and raked a hand through sweat-soaked hair. “The track’s fine. I had fun, Ethan. See you soon.”
It had to be past five, and I needed to go. I rolled my bike into the garage to the sound of his dry chuckle.
“See you soon?” He followed me inside. “I thought we’d grab drinks. It’s Friday—what’s the rush?”
His tone was reproachful, but I owed him nothing. He wanted a race, and he got one. I wasn’t in the mood for drinks, least of all with him. And I’d be damned if I missed the showcase.
I glanced over my shoulder. “Maybe some other time.”
He smirked. “Sure. Whenever your busy schedule allows. See you, champ.”
Champ. I cringed inwardly at the nickname. Ethan finally left, and I changed as fast as I could before jumping back on my bike.
The two-hour ride to Stetbourg blurred past in a haze of anxiety. I worried more about being late than about a speeding ticket. Pushing the limit got me downtown with ten minutes to spare—enough to buy a bouquet of pink and white roses and rush to Kaia’s dance studio.
Families clustered outside, waiting to go in. Russell and my mother should’ve been here, but they’d chosen each other over Kaia’s showcase. Russell hadn’t even bothered with a convincing excuse about some important meeting. I wasn’t about to remind two grown-ass adults of their responsibilities.
I only cared that Kaia didn’t feel alone. I’d watch her dance, give her the roses, and leave.
The crowd streamed into the hall, and I followed, finding a seat in the back where she wouldn’t spot me. I wasn’t here to distract her.
When the lights dimmed, I balanced the bouquet on my knee and shifted on the plastic chair. A couple beside me clapped and shouted, “Go, Tessie!”
I didn’t know who Tessie was, but the second my gaze found the stage, every nerve ending lit up.
Kaia stood at the center, eclipsing every other girl. Taller. Brighter. My chest tightened, and I stared—finally letting myself.
The music started, and she moved first. My pulse kicked like the engine of a bike revving too high. Lights slid over her flawless skin, each beat syncing with the sway of her hips, the clean snap of her arms. The choreography was fast, intricate, but she flowed through it like the music lived inside her.
I couldn’t look away. Every grin she flashed at the audience shot through me, sparking something reckless, and when her smile melted into that fierce, focused pout, my stomach dropped like I’d taken a corner too fast. Racing gave me adrenaline, but this—watching her—was different. Sharper. Dangerous in its own way.
The crowd blurred. My entire body tuned to Kaia, every nerve buzzing as if she pulled me forward without even trying. I wanted to freeze themoment, keep her under the lights where nothing—not Russell, not school, not her shitty job—could dull her shine.
Applause exploded when the number ended. People leaped to their feet, clapping and cheering, but I barely registered it. My eyes hunted only for her, soaking in every second until she clasped hands with the others at the edge of the stage.
Applause and cheers filled the room as families rushed forward. My gaze locked on Kaia.
