Rush: Don’t go to the race tonight.
I stared at the message until the screen dimmed.
And the dread in my chest exploded into something heavier.Something worse.
Something that told me, this wasn’t just about cars anymore.
CHAPTEREIGHTY-ONE
ASTRID
“You’re both here?”I asked with my brow arched as I stared at Calix andFrasier at Calix’s front door.I glanced at them to see if I could figure out their motives because they had been hating each other’s guts lately.“How’d you make it here before me?”
Frasier moved out of the way to let me in.“We left school early.”
I stepped inside and kicked off my shoes, my backpack slung over my shoulder.Diya’s car was parked in the driveway, but she hadn’t answered the door herself, like she usually did when I came over, which meant … something was off.
My stomach twisted.I could only imagine how much hate she was getting right now.
Calix shut the door behind me.“Principal gave us a pass.”
I side-eyed him.“We both know you didn’t ask the principal for a pass.”
“You know us, babe,” Frasier hummed.“We’re good boys.”
Lips curled into a smirk, I headed straight for the fridge because I was hungry.“Yeah, sure.Good boys.That’s what we’ll call you.”When I didn’t find anything appetizing in the fridge, I looked at Calix.“Where’s Diya?”
“In her room.”
“All right, well”—I started toward her room—“I’ll see you boys tonight.”
Frasier captured my wrist.“We need to talk about the race.”
“Is that why you’re both here and not fighting for once?”I asked.“Let me guess.You’re both going to tell me not to go.”
“Because youshouldn’t,” Calix said, his voice firm.“Rush texted you, didn’t he?”
Frasier leaned on the counter.“The cops are going to be there, Astrid.It’s not just a few kids racing for fun anymore.There’s money involved.Reputation.And after what happened last time?It’s going to get ugly.”
I crossed my arms.“And you’re both still going.”
“That’s different,” Calix said.
“Why?”
“We just …” Calix looked over his shoulder to make sure Diya hadn’t popped out into the hallway, and then he grabbed my hand.“We want you to stay here tonight.With Diya.She needs you.And we don’t want you getting hurt.”
His hand tightened around mine, and I stared up into his desperate eyes.I had never seen him so serious before, and I hated that he wasn’t wrong.I should stay here, away from the drama, so I didn’t get hurt.Because that guy seemed crazy.
Before I could answer, I heard footsteps down the hall, and I yanked my hand out of Calix’s.Diya appeared at her bedroom door in leggings and an oversize hoodie, hair pulled back into a messy bun.
Her smile didn’t meet her eyes.“You’re here.”
Fuck, she looks terrible.
“Yeah,” I said, walking away from the guys and toward her.“Just got here.You know, you don’t have anything in your fridge.Those assholes ate up your entire grocery run already, and it’s really pissing me off.”
I tried to keep it light, keep it casual, usual, so she wouldn’t suspect a thing.Though I could feel their gazes burning into me from behind, as if telling me again not to show up tonight.But I’d see how I was feeling after my talk with Diya.
