Page 187 of Revv

The lights come on, hold, then disappear and the whole grid launches at once.

Ajax gets the better start, Thorne slots in behind him, and I’m fourth heading into turn one. The rider ahead shuts the inside before I can even think about taking it, so instead of forcing something stupid, I stay wider, carry more speed through the corner and get back on the throttle earlier.

I drive past him on exit and settle into third.

Look at me growing and shit.

The first few laps turn into Ajax, Thorne and me trading tenths while the rest of the field starts dropping back. I stay close enough to watch where they’re gaining, where they’re giving something up, and where I’d be an idiot to try squeezing through.

A few laps in, Thorne drifts a little wide through turn nine and leaves just enough space inside to make every reckless instinct I have start talking.

Then Cece’s voice flashes through my head.

Don’t do anything stupid.

I almost fucking laugh.

She isn’t even on comms and, somehow, she’s still bossing me around from the paddock.

So I stay behind him.

The next lap gives me another shot, and this time I pull alongside him down the straight before the corner tightens enough that I know forcing it would be pointless.

I slot back in, wait, and a few laps later he finally runs deep enough into the braking zone to leave me something real. I take it clean, get half a bike ahead, and for a second I’ve got second place before the bastard cuts underneath me on exit and takes it right back.

I laugh inside the helmet.

Beautiful prick.

That’s the moment it really clicks. I still want the pass. I still want to beat him. I still want first because obviously I fucking do, but I don’t need it badly enough to turn half a gap into a crash just because my ego thinks it can.

By the final lap, Ajax is still out front, Thorne is defending hard and I’m right on his ass. I stay wider through the last section, get on the throttle early and launch onto the straight. I’m gaining, but not enough. Ajax crosses first, Thorne takes second, and I come across third less than a second behind him.

Weirdly, I’m good with it.

I wanted the win, but I raced clean, had pace and made both of them work for every inch. No stupid move, no wreck, no Andre screaming into my helmet because I tried to create space that wasn’t there.

Solid fucking afternoon.

On the cooldown lap, Thorne looks over and I flip him off. He returns it immediately. Ajax slows enough for us to come alongside and I lift a fist toward him. He gives me a nod back.

Good fucking race.

By the time we roll into the paddock, everything is loud again. Mechanics are moving around the bikes, cameras are everywhere, people are talking over each other, but I barely hear any of it once I spot Cece standing near the back with Echo and Bex.

Her arms are folded, eyes locked on me, and the second she realizes I’m looking at her, something in her face eases.

Relief.

That hits me harder than the podium.

I hand off my helmet and head straight for her. She meets me halfway, both hands landing against my chest while her eyes run over me like she needs to check for herself that I came back with everything still attached.

“You listened.”

I grin. “Jeez, Mama. You could at least try to sound more surprised.”

She shakes her head, but then her hand catches the front of my suit and she pulls me down into a kiss without looking around first or giving a shit who sees.