“I—” I’m suddenly nervous and I don’t know why. In Greenwood, I’m popular. People want to know about me and my life, but here, I feel small. Like anything I talk about will reveal just how insignificant of a world I live in. “I’ve always wanted to come to the racing extravaganza, but it’s hard to get an invite.”
“For good reason,” the one with a shaved head says. “I’m Magnus.”
I send a tiny wave his way, swallowing roughly. “I completely understandwhyit’s hard to get invited. But I really wanted to come. I didn’t mean to start anything.”
“Ignore them,” Axl says, coming to my side. One of his drumsticks is back in his hand, whirling like there wasn’t an incident moments ago.
There’s a tiny opening into the woods off to the side of the track where foldout chairs sit beside the back of a truck. The tailgate is pulled down with an older guy sitting in the bed. He takes a sip from his flask, eyeing me suspiciously as we come upon what must be Axl and his friends’ spot.
“Hey, Lou, you still have that disinfectant?” His friend only grunts something that must mean “yes” because Axl goes searching for it.
I look back at Lou and narrow my eyes. Something about him is vaguely familiar. His hair is short, and his skin is covered in grime like he’s been under the hood of a car all day. He turns to me and squints, obviously recognizing me too.
“You’ve worked on her car before,” Axl says to Lou as hereturns with the cleaning solution. “Remember, a few years back?”
My eyes widen, remembering when I drove to Oakson Lake to repair my car because it was brand new and I didn’t want my parents to know. Axl had been there. He’d been the reason why I hadn’t been shunned out of the building to begin with.
The memory feels so vivid now. I can still see Axl’s hair, spikey and much shorter than it is now, the way he was going through a baggy jeans phase because that’s how they wore them in Oakson.
Energy sparked between us. I thought Axl’s stormy scent was messing with me, but now I’m not so sure. He’s always exuded this confidence, this charm, and I’ve always been mesmerized by it. But that day, it felt like somethingmore…something I needed to run away from with all my might.
I’m jolted out of the memory by soft hands guiding me to one of the lawn chairs. I sit down, letting Axl inspect my bloody knees. His lips purse at the sight of the scrapes, but he doesn’t say a word as he cleans them. I hold my breath, freaking out every time one of his fingers accidentally touches my bare skin.
Lou looks back at me and nods his head. “Right. The Mazda.” I grin, happy he remembers, but then he muttersstupid fucking car.
I rear back, confused, before Axl stands and hits him on the back of the head. “Come on, dude.Manners. You can’t grunt your way through a conversation with everyone.” Axl looks at me and huffs out a laugh. “He means the model. Our Lou here has very strong opinions about cars.”
“Oh.” I nod. “So, what’s wrong with a Mazda?”
“Too small,” Lou grumbles. “If it flips or hits a small boulder, it’s done for.”
“Oh, well. Good thing I drive a Scion now,” I announce.
“Also a stupid car.”
This time, a laugh escapes me. “Let me guess, you’re a truck guy.”
“I’d prefer a truck over something crushable.”
Fair point, I guess.
“There’s one thing for sure, neither a Mazda nor a Scion can do what these guys are about to,” Ledger comments, pointing out to the track. I realize he’s right. The cars begin to line up, their lights signaling the start of the race as they flash. The crowd erupts obnoxiously, and the sound is music to my ears.
I feel light on my feet, my stomach full of flutters, and then a dose of stormy goodness travels up my nostrils. Axl is there, his mouth curved in a delicious and dangerous smirk.
“You ready to party, Little Reckoning?”
I’ve never heard prettier words in my life.
SIX
Playing: “Safeword” by Halsey
Axl’s friends are a riot.They’re full of energy, laughing and bantering and passing around full joints. Ledger lets me drink from his flask, and Tini lets me have one of her mixed drinks she brought in a pitcher for herself. Apparently, the guys aren’t allowed to drink the concoctions she brings to these events, so they all groaned in frustration when she offered. All but Axl, who keeps his eyes on me throughout the night, amusement constantly tugging his lip into a sinful smirk.
A roar from the crowd echoes in the air as the round comes to an end in an absolute blood bath. Watching the sick Subaru Impreza WRX wreck was heartbreaking. Its royal-blue body flipped, smashing on its side before turning upright with a harsh thump. It was actually a little bit terrifying, but once it was announced that the driver was fine, I let myself feel the adrenaline rush it gave me. A little bit of fear bleeds endorphins through my veins, and I find myself even more hyped than I was before.
This place iscrazy,and I feel like I belong here.
