Aftershocks tremble in our connected bodies. Her scent and softness wash over me in waves of pleasure. Our breaths settle and she dips her face down to nibble on my lips.
‘A long time ago,’ she says, catching her breath, ‘you told me that time will go on regardless. You should take your own advice, because holding onto all this hate, all this anger … you’re only punishing yourself. We have to choose each other. It doesn’t matter how much we love each other, we need tochooseeach other. The past won’t change, but we can decide where to go from here.’
I wrap my arms around her waist, holding her close, not letting her go. Because she’s mine. She’s safe. And just as I promised, she’s got that fire in her eyes.
Chapter 27
Gianna
PRESENT
People who live in glass houses, shouldn’t throw hard stuff.
Wait, that doesn’t sound right. Maybe it was ‘sharp things’? Or rocks. I think it’s rocks.
Whatever it is, the saying goes a little something like that. And I get it, I do. I can’t be angry that street racing happened at the carnival when I’m a street racer myself.
But if I had a rock right now or, even better, my crystal selenite tower, I’d throw it at Mayor Arblaster’s face.
I’ve been avoiding the spittle from his mouth for the last twenty minutes as he looms from behind his large oak desk. His arms are waving about and his face is so red he’s about to burst.
Another dollop of bubbly saliva flies from his mouth and I don’t dodge it in time, feeling it splat right below my left eye. I pointedly wipe it away.
Gross. Ar-blasted.
‘Iknewthis would happen. I’ve received several complaints asking the Heritage Society to bulldoze the site. You put innocent lives in danger!’ he shrills an octave higher than I thought possible. ‘Booker Bay is a peaceful town. I can’t have any more of these shenanigans.’
‘I’m sorry this happened, but it wasn’t my fault,’ I argue.
‘Then whose fault is it?’ He stares down at me, navy eyes burning like the core of a flame.
‘Sir—’
‘There’s nothing more to discuss, Gia.’
‘Then why am I here?’ I lean back in the chair, its wooden frame digging into my back. ‘Am I only here so you can say “I told you so”, or am I here to help find a solution for the bad media?’
Bad mediais a bit of a stretch. It’s not like any news stations are involved, but the videos are circulating on socials and I know the other Booker Bay councillors are pissed. The dirty looks and hushed whispers I got as I came through the council building’s grand entrance gave it away.
‘Solution?’ he guffaws with a twisted grin, stretching the elastic of his suspenders before letting them snap back. ‘Why would I wantyouto find a solution when you caused all of this?’
‘So it’s my fault some people broke into the carnival and raced?’
‘They’reyourpeople.’
I shift, pushing back the sciatica-trigger with a screech along the hardwood floor.
‘I don’t know who those racers were,’ I say firmly, ‘but this wouldn’t happen if Hammer Time Circuit was properly open, sir. Then the town would have a place to practise this sport, legally and safely, instead of doing it on the street.’
He heads over to the small backbar rack in the corner of his office to pour himself a shot of whiskey.Sure, alcohol on the job is what he needs right now.The fireplace crackles, sending sparks off the iron hearth, but the tension in the airkeeps my skin chilled. The mayor recaps the crystal decanter and takes a loud sip from his glass.
‘We’re just lucky Dellenty was on duty and managed the situation before anyone got hurt,’ he states.
‘Lucky? Four years ago, I didn’t see a single police officer until I was at the hospital. Last night, there was one race that lasted ten seconds and cops flooded the scene. Tell me why that is? Actually, no need – I already know you had them on standby. Youwantedthings to go wrong. You want the racing community to be the bad aftertaste in the mouth of Booker Bay.’
Mayor Arblaster grunts but doesn’t respond. Instead, he crosses the floor, places the empty crystal tumbler on the desk and resumes his comfy-looking seat across from me.
I bet he never gets back pain from it.
