Ressa?
I roll my eyes. Get with it, Van.
Beck
Tessa + Rome = Ressa
Graham
This is unimportant. We’re thirty minutes out from the race.
Nervous jitters fill my stomach.
I’m testier for this race than I was for Bahrain, and Rome actually qualified well yesterday. The need to succeed is stronger than before, and I can’t figure out why. I’m always eager to please. The competitive nature all Halstons possess has been there since my first breath, but it’s more pressing today.
I search the paddock for Rome. I don’t see many drivers lingering; most are already in their own private tent areas, preparing.
Quinn, tucked behind our pit wall, catches my eye and waves a Styrofoam cup in front of her face.
I point to myself. “For me?”
She nods with a smile.
I rush through the crowd, eager for my Diet Coke, when a golf cart zips past. I come to a sudden halt and grab onto my headset before it falls to the ground.
The golf cart slams on the brakes the same time I send a glare in its direction.
This asshole!
Beau, in his half-zipped red-and-yellow race suit, twists in the passenger seat with a nasty smile on his face. “Watch where you’re going, Halston.”
“You watch where you’re going!” Quinn shouts.
I bite my tongue instead of feeding into it. Having words with anyone on Pierce Racing will do nothing but make my heart race faster, and that’s the last thing I need right now.
Beau snaps his eyes to Quinn, who stands with her hand on her hip. Beck comes up behind her and puts his arm over her shoulder.
The golf cart takes off again, and Quinn flings his arm away.
I finish walking toward them and take the Diet Coke from her hand.
I sigh. “I love you.”
I wrap my lips around the straw and take a huge swig of soda.
Quinn glares at Beck. “I had it under control.”
He grins. “I know. I just wanted to touch you.”
She rolls her eyes and turns back to me. “Are you okay? What a dick.”
“That’s Rome’s stepbrother.” I look down the paddock, and Beau is completely out of sight. “They hated us before, and now that Rome is on our team, theyreallyhate us.”
Quinn raises a brow. “Enough to run you over?”
I wouldn’t put it past them.
My text tone goes off, and I glance at Beck with a flat expression becauseof coursehe told the group that Beau almost ran me over.
