Put your fucking foot on that fucking accelerator, you annoying, arrogant, asshole, prick!
So that’s what he did.
Could he catch Anker? He didn’t know. He just kept listening to that voice.
The checkered flag was just up ahead. He could see it. And before he realized it, as though it were someone else crossing the finish line, it suddenly hit him.
The race was over.
CHAPTER FORTY
ROCCO AND NICO
Rocco made his way through all the smiles, the slaps on the back, and the cheers. People were saying things to him. He could hear sound, but he couldn’t make out any words.
Where is she?
Soon he would be up on that podium, celebrating not only his win in this race but for the entire season. Frantically, he scanned the crowd.
And then he saw the dark hair and that small hand reach up and sweep back a strand that had fallen in front of those dark eyes. His heart raced. His hands itched.
Nico.
“Nico!” he shouted.
She smiled and waved. “Congratulations!” she cried in order to be heard above the roar.
He pushed through the crowd and grabbed her arm. How in the hell was he going to find some place private? And then it hit him. He weaved into the complex, made a quick right, and ducked into a restroom with her.
“Just tell me one thing, Nico. You didn’t make that move, collide with Clarke for me, right?”
She stared at him a moment and then burst out laughing.
“I didn’t sacrifice myself for you,” she said. “Clarke hit me. I didn’t hit him.”
He sighed. “Oh, okay, good. I mean it’s not good you crashed. But—”
She shook her head. “I know what you mean. I’m not the Little Mermaid. I’m not turning myself into sea-foam.”
He frowned. “Huh?”
She bit her lip. “Get over yourself.”
He grinned. “I don’t know if I can. I’ve got kind of a big head.”
Nico lowered her eyes, but he caught the corner of her lip twitch.
“It’s okay to smile, you know.”
Nico lifted her chin. “I know.”
“So, you didn’t hurt anything?”
She shook her head. “Just my pride.”
He placed his hand under her chin, feeling her soft skin beneath his calloused fingers.
She flinched, but she didn’t pull away.
