“I’m not some piece of metal,” I argue.
James grins at Cara as he wraps his arms around me from behind. “Of course, you’re much more precious.”
Cara balks. “Okay, I stand corrected. I’m going to have to get used toyou, Murphy. I’ve never seen you so smiley. It’s kind of freaking me out. I didn’t even know you had dimples.”
“Right! I thought the same thing,” I exclaim.
That only makes James squeeze me tighter.
Months later, James and I stand on the cliffs by the barn. Together we both hold matching envelopes with the Revers seal. My palms won’t stop sweating. Revers still needs to accept us after all, then we can talk scholarship. Funny how I always bypassed that part.
On the count of three we both rip through the envelope, paperwork aflutter.
“I got in,” James says, stunned. “Medical track.”
I scan until my eyes snag on the first word. Congratulations. “I did too—” I don’t even finish before James wraps me in his arms and whirls me in a circle. Then as if remembering he puts me down. “What about the scholarship?”
“I don’t know,” I laugh. “Someone grabbed me before I could look.”
He grins, dimples carved in happiness. “Oops.”
I pull out the page. “I didn’t get it.”
“What? Are they out of their minds?” He actually sounds indignant for me.
I poke at his papers. “What about you?”
He frowns as he tears out the form. “There’s no way. There’s—” His frown deepens.
“Did you not get it?” I shriek. I didn’t think dropping out of the running would mean it going to someone else, but it could have.
“No. I did. Someone made the biggest mistake alive.” He looks at me. “Farren.”
He’s so astonished, and I’m so relieved I start laughing.
“Are you laughing? This is not right.”
I hold up another paper. “I got a rider scholarship. Called the recruiter, Willa, last week. She was so happy I took her offer.”
Realization hits and his features soften. “For me.”
“For us,” I clarify.
“Farren—” he starts like he’s planning out a lecture, like he’ll pull up a report to indicate how I deserve the money more. And as cute as that sounds, I don’t regret my decision. For once not a single doubt floats into my brain. I don’t want to compete with James Murphy. I just want to be with him.
“I want to make a deal,” I interrupt.
He eyes me.
“Help train me to race and I’ll—”
“Continue to be my girlfriend. You don’t have to do anything else, Walsh.”
I lift an eyebrow at him. “Feels like I’m getting the better end of that deal.”
He laughs. “Not a chance.”
I blush at the sentiment. That I am enough as is, with him. “This will be our easiest deal yet,” I confirm, sliding my arms around his neck.
