Page 3 of Austin

Tyler nods to me and then to Beckett before checking out the crowd around us. The moment arrives, and I watch as his hand rises up to his face. I stare, waiting for the light to shine back at me.

When brightness fills my vision, I instantly release the clutch. My car jolts forward, and my head slams against the headrest. It takes a second to realize Beckett’s not racing. Confusion stumbles my mind as I question what I saw.

I know I saw a fucking light. I know it.

I slam on my brakes. My eyes drift to the rearview mirror to see Beckett still at the starting line, and everyone else is frozen in place.

I throw my car door open. “What. The. Fuck?”

Tyler’s eyes are big when Beckett hops out of his car.

“You jumped! I win,” Beckett yells while pointing at me.

“I did not jump. That light turned on, and I went. Are you saying it didn’t go on, Tyler?”

“It did, but …” He lowers the light toward a group of people, the same way he did at the start of our race.

“Why the hell did you point the light toward the crowd?”

I stomp my feet to the pavement with each step I take, trying to relieve my frustrations so that I don’t kill him with my bare hands. I’ve had a shitty day, and I’ll be damned if I lose a race due to a fucking technicality.

Tyler frantically looks around. “I … shit, I-I mean—”

“Spit it the fuck out before I get really pissed,” I growl.

“I wasn’t thinking. I saw someone cross the line over there, so I shined the light on them to tell them to back up.”

“You shined the light? The one thing that signifies the start of the race and you shine it on someone because they were over the fucking line? You couldn’t have used your hand or yelled at them?”

Tyler is rubbing his palm across his head. He looks like he’s about to puke. “I’m sorry. I really am.” He’s pleading for his life because he knows I’m about to end it.

“Does someone want to come forward and save this pathetic soul?” I yell toward the mob of people watching the drama unfold. “Who crossed onto the track before my race was about to start?”

The crowd moves back, except for one girl who looks like a deer in headlights.

“So, it was you?” I stalk in her direction.

“I didn’t mean to. I promise.” Her hands go up in surrender.

For a second, I get caught up in the sight of her pink polo shirt and khaki pants. She’s not like the usual girls who hang out at our races.

“She’s with me. Leave her alone,” Beckett calls out.

I turn to him and bite out at the irony of this situation. “Oh, really? She’s with you? Now, isn’t that convenient? Was this little stunt planned?”

The girl launches forward, speaking as fast as humanly possible, “No. I swear, it wasn’t. This is my first time here. I didn’t know there was a line.”

“Just drop it, Falcon.” Beckett pulls my attention away from the girl. “It was Tyler who shined the light. Leave her alone. We’ll have a redo.”

“There’s no doubt about that. Kyle,” I yell into the air until he steps out of the crowd and up to the line. “You start us off. Tyler, get the fuck out of my face.”

Beckett nods to the girl and motions for her to get back into the crowd.

“One change though.” I reach out for her. “She rides with me.”

The crowd lets out a gasp as I grab the girl’s hand and pull her toward my car.

“Leave her out of this,” Beckett shouts.