I stare at the steering wheel, my fist tightening around the leather to stop my hands from trembling. My breaths become shallower as thoughts plague my head.
What if I lose control?
What if I crash and hurt Chloe in the process?
What if I—
“What do you think of us placing a bet?” Chloe grabs onto my clenched hand and releases my fingers one by one from the wheel. She links our hands, holding mine hostage.
I focus on her touch rather than the panic building up inside of me, settling deep within my bones. “A bet?” I croak.
“A bet. I bet Noah beats you.”
“You’re betting against me?” The audacity of this woman. To think I invited her to a weekend of torture and free alcohol.
“Of course. Noah is the reigning champion and all.” She smiles tauntingly.
“What do you win if I lose to my brother-in-law?”
“Hmm. If I win, I get to give you a blowjob.”
The breath I take turns into a fit of coughs. “What?” Maybe it’s worth losing for that prize alone. But Noah would gloat for days, and I’m not sure any blowjob is worth that special kind of torment.
“Did you hear me okay or are you woozy from the blood relocating itself from your brain to your dick?”
What is it about this girl that has me constantly breaking out deep belly laughs?
She squeezes my hand. “So, is that a yes?”
“Sure, Chloe.”
“And what do you want? If you win that is?”
I want to wipe that smug grin off her face. “When I win, I get to go down on you whenever I want.”
“Whenever?” She wheezes.
“Whenever I want. Whichever way I want. What do you say? Let’s make a bet.”
“Deal.” She shakes our already clasped hands up and down.
I push aside my worries because I have a new goal. Beating Noah wasn’t enough. Beating Noah while securing a hookup with Chloe has my skin buzzing with a different kind of excitement. One I allow to feed my adrenaline rush.
This is just like driving your other cars. You’ve practiced these exact moves with your leg before.
Noah and I drive up to the checkered line.
My sister lowers her window and waves from the passenger seat. She presses a button on a remote, and the red light from the camera on our dashboard flashes on and off. “The camera is filming. The first person past the finish line after ten laps wins.”
“Good luck,” Noah calls out.
“See you in my rearview mirror.” I rev the engine once, letting the rumbling soak into me. Energy crackles around me as my confidence grows.
And at the end of Maya’s countdown, I surge down the racetrack with Chloe screaming beside me. Tires squeal in protest as Noah and I rush side by side across the pavement. My heart threatens to pop out of my chest, and my hands tremble from the fresh rush of adrenaline.
“Oh my fucking God, this is the stupidest thing I’ve ever done!” Chloe cries out.
“Oh, Chloe. If this is the stupidest, you’re clearly not living.” I look over at her, smiling at her.
She’s always been beautiful. But her by my side while I battle my demons? It’s a look that can’t compare.
“Focus on the damn road!”
“I’m confused. Did you expect me to go slow?” I push against the accelerator, surging past Noah’s car and cutting him off. I press my foot on the brake and smoke billows from the tires.
“Oh, God. I’m sorry I don’t pray to you enough, but now is the best time. Please don’t let me die.” She presses her palms together.
I chuckle, switching gears to match the curves and straights of the track. “You’ll only die when my tongue is fucking you into oblivion. I promise.”
“We are on camera!” Chloe’s waves at my sister’s vlog gear.
“Don’t worry. My sister has someone who edits her videos.”
“How is that a good excuse?”
I laugh, ignoring her.
Noah zooms past my car at the next straight, pushing me to outsmart him. Back and forth, we fight for first place within the second lap of the race. Every muscle in my body tightens as I force the car to its limit.
I don’t have time to second-guess myself, let alone worry about crashing at high speeds.
“I hate you!” Chloe screams again as I turn sharply, the car’s tires locking in submission. We drift, leaving behind another plume of smoke.
Laughter explodes out of me. “Have fun with me.”
“I’ll have fun once you lose this damn race!” she shrieks.