“Then I should have let you place the order,”
She shrugs. “I would have ordered the same anyway.”
I glance at Leo again. The tilt at the corner of his lips has grown longer, and he’s watching her the way I’ve seen Zoan watch me. Not once has this man looked away from her. But whatever his unspoken equation with Lyn is, it’s clearly not reciprocated. She hasn’t given him so much as a shred of attention.
My writer brain is already catching glimpses of enemies-to-lovers energy here.
“Hey Lyn, why don’t you come with me to watch the race tomorrow?” I’ve already told her about the New York Underworld Grand Prix, in which Roxion is participating.
“I’ve got two tickets. It’ll be fun.” Having her with me will be an amazing experience in itself. And if I use my other ticket to bring her along, Zoan will have no ticket. I know he could get one elsewhere if he wanted, but a little inconvenience for him is welcome.
She grins. “Count me in. I’ve never seen a car race before. What time will we leave?”
“Six in the evening.”
She gives me a thumbs-up. “Pick me up on the way.”
I grin.
???
Okay, I didn’t sign up for this. I was expecting the roar of the crowd, the excited shouts of fans, and the chaotic energy of the stands. Instead, I end up in an exclusive trackside box overlooking the track, the only other person here being Iselyn. The main spectator area outside is alive with cheering and engines, but in this private enclave, it’s quiet.
We exchange glances from time to time. Neither of us knows much about this sport, and if there were other fans nearby, we could have picked up details from them.
“Has the race started?” she asks.
“I don’t think so. The cars are rolling very slowly. This is supposed to be a high-speed race.”
“Then why is everyone shouting so much?”
She’s right. I can even hear people yelling Zoan’s name. I must be officially mad.
Our drinks arrive, we take them.
I ask the waiter, “Has the race started yet?”
He looks at me as if I have nine heads. “No, ma’am. It’s just the formation lap.”
Lyn and I nod, pretending we understand the purpose of the formation lap. Of course, neither of us wants that incredulous look from him again.
He leaves after that. Lyn takes out her phone and starts a video for an explanation.
When the video ends, she looks at me. “You get it, right?”
I shake my head. She sighs. “Me neither.”
“Let’s not stress about it. We’ll pick our car colors and just cheer for them,” I chuckle.
She laughs. “Right, we’re here to enjoy.”
After a few more laps, the race officially begins. The wide screen in front of us starts showing the cars and the drivers inside them.
“Oh, look, Roxion is in the red car,” she exclaims, pointing as the screen shows his smiling face behind the wheel.
Then the next name flashes on the screen, making us both jump in our seats.
It announces: “Zloban Bennett in Higtwin’s UZ34.”
