“Cut the crap, Firebird. You’re digging yourself a hole.”
I bristle. “Excuse me? You show up unannounced and basically jump me—what were you expecting? Big, fuzzy energy?”
“Yeah, you must feelsothreatened right now…”
“No,” I correct. “If I felt threatened, you’d be dealing with a broken leg, Conley.”
We’re staring each other down hard. I ball my fists tighter.
“So, when were you planning on telling me?” he asks.
I pretend to think. “I usually wait until, like, the third date before I bring up my hobbies. They say it’s good to keep a little mystery, you know?”
His jaw ticks. “A hobby would be like crocheting, Amy! Tearing doughnuts at a hundred miles an hour in the middle of fucking nowhere isn’t.”
“Crocheting?” I laugh. “Wow, I had no idea you were into crafts. You really are full of surprises, aren’t you?”
“That’s it, yeah. Keep treating this like a joke. What are you playing at, exactly?” He frowns. “I’ve seen you drive twice, and it was pathetic. You went the fucking wrong way down a one-way street just this afternoon. So how come I find you the very same night illegally racing on public roads?”
Urgh. Is my lousy performance going to haunt me for the rest of my life?He sure does get a kick out of goading me about the stalling thing.If only he knew I kept fucking up because of him… God, he pisses me off.
And you know what? Screw this guy! I just won the race tonight—can’t he relax for a second? Maybe hit me with a “Good job, Amy,” or “Amazing skills, Amy”?
“So that’s what this isreallyabout, then,” I say slowly. “Isn’t it? You should be happy I’m actually better than you thought. Think of all the hours of training you’ll be saving.”
He snickers. “Wait a minute—you think you’ll still betraining? Amy, do you haveanyidea how much time I wasted on you? Not to mention how high-risk that was for the business?” He shakes his head.“Why am I even asking you? Of course you fucking don’t. You’re so far from Campus Driver material, it’s out of this world. I told you about the dean—I warned you he’s got hard-core rules we need to live and work by,” he continues. “And you don’t even give a shit. I told you a million times we have a brand image, and you’re out there casually running illegal races, for fuck’s sake. I’ve got better things to do than train a girl who has zero respect for our reputation!”
Oh, okay—you like your punches head-on, huh?
“What aboutyourreputation, sweetie?” I snarl. “Don’t you screw, like, every other passenger you pick up? And now you’re gonna get all high-and-mighty withme?” I laugh. “And by the way, what wereyoudoing at the race tonight?”
“Okay… So, first, I don’t screw anybody on the job,” he cuts in. “And second, I thought we were going to some random party. It’s not my fault Dwayne ambushed me!”
Aha! So that’s how that happened. Gee, thanks, Dwayne. Whoever the fuck you are, I hope you burn in hell.
“Didn’t your parents ever teach you not to get into cars with strange men?” I eyeball him.
He presses down on his eyes, massaging his temples, and I know I’m pushing too hard. I know that if I could just soften a little, I’d have a better chance of wriggling out of this mess—but backing down has never been a strong suit of mine.
“Shit,” he says, breathing hard. “All I wanted was a chill evening.”
“Thisreallydoesn’t have to be a big deal, you know. Okay, so we had a quick race. You’re acting like I held your mom at gunpoint, or something.”
“Yeah, just a quick,illegalrace, with a little betting thrown in for good measure. You’re right, Amy—no big deal. What’s a few years in jail, at the end of the day?”
“I don’t—”
“You want to screw your life up, Amy Hitman? Be my guest. But I live mine by the book, and I don’t want our business wrapped up inyour bullshit. One of us screws up, and we all go down. And you’ve just shown me you don’t give a crap about anyone but yourself.”
I sit up straight. There’s a violence to his words, and they’ve sliced right through to my core. Racing is my passion, and sure, it’s not legal—but the way he’s throwing it all in my face doesn’t feel right. I don’t deserve to be spoken to like this.
“Go fuck yourself,” I spit. “You have no fucking clue what you’re talking about.”
It’s true, I have a hard time sticking to the straight and narrow, as Raven so often reminds me. Hearing it from Lewis somehow makes it hurt so much more.
He’s standing there frowning, like he’s reading my thoughts. I swore to myself that this year would be different. I planned to make an effort, and this Campus Drivers thing was my shot at getting back on track once and for all. I suck in air, exhaling through my mouth.
“Maybe I’m not a model citizen, but I’m not a monster,” I start. “So, okay—I didn’t tell you about it, but I can explain why. That race back there? It was my last.”
