5. Skylar
CHAPTER 5
SKYLAR
I ’m early for once, and I see Alek’s shock as he pulls up, coffee in hand. I push from my car and head his way, plucking the cup from his grip and sipping it. “Thanks, bro.”
He frowns. “Evan made that for me.”
“For me? Such a sweetheart on my first day.” I grin, slinging my arm around him. “Come on, show the new kid around.”
He grabs his bag, hauls it over his shoulder, and pushes me away. “He did make you lunch,” he admits as he digs out a box with a Post-it note on top.
I flip it up and smirk.
“Are you sure your boy doesn’t want me?” I wiggle my brows then dodge the fist heading for me with a laugh and back away. “Just joking. Don’t worry, I have a victim in mind.”
“I know.” He smirks, pulling off his shades as he stretches. “I saw your boy last night.”
I perk up. “Bones? Was he missing me?”
“Not even a little.” He grins, running his eyes down my form as I slump. “But you’re getting to him. You get under his skin.”
“I knew it.” I bounce at his side as we head to the garage. “He’ll be mine. I’m like a virus you can’t get rid of.”
“How attractive. I’d bet a month’s wage it would be sexually transmitted,” he deadpans.
“Alek, it still freaks me out when you make jokes,” I tease as I stop at the entrance of the garage, peering around in awe. I try to hide my excitement, but when my eyes land on Alek, he’s smiling.
“Welcome to Starfire”—he sweeps his hand out—“your new home. Come on, let’s go meet Noah.”
I nod, craning my neck to look around as we walk. I try to appear cool and mysterious, but it’s impossible. I’ve been dreaming of racing for a garage like this since I was old enough to know what a car was. Now is my chance, my opportunity, and with Alek as my mechanic, nobody stands a chance. I’m going to be the best fucking racer they have ever seen.
“It’s nice to finally meet you.” Noah holds out his hand, and I shake it as he gestures for me to sit. “Alek has told me a lot about you.”
“Only terrible things, I hope,” I joke before I realize what I’m doing.
His eyebrow rises as he laughs. “Good to know you have a sense of humor. You’ll need it.”
Alek leaves us, and I sit. He observes me. I know he needs me, and I try not to act too eager. I don’t want to come off as green, even if I am.
“You’re a street racer, right?” I nod, and he grins. “Good, at least you know the basics. It’s no less cutthroat here, but there are different rules. First, no more street racing. If you get arrested, we’ll drop you. Got it?”
I swallow but nod. I can handle it.
“You don’t party nights before races, and you will meet the minimum hours for practice and exercise—I will check. You will study the cars in your free time, and you will be signed into promotional contracts you must commit to. No fighting other racers and nothing illegal. Got it?”
“Got it.” I knew this was coming. Looks like I’ll have to settle down.
“Don’t worry, you can still have fun. I’m not a total asshole. Party, fuck, do whatever you want, just don’t get caught.” He smirks. “We’re a team here, a family, and we have each other’s backs, but you racers are our heart. Don’t let us down. If one of us fails, we all fail.”
Panic winds through me as I begin to feel the pressure. I just wanted to race. I never considered how it would work within a team. I’m not really a team player, but I’m going to have to be.
“Look . . .” He spreads his hands. “We are going to get on just fine, Skylar. You’re an extroverted attention whore who craves the adrenaline of racing. You only feel alive there, right? It’s your home and the reason you do everything. You struggle to maintain relationships, and you probably have family issues.” I gape, and he grins. “I know because I was a racer. We all have our own issues. I’m a narcissistic perfectionist still chasing a trophy I never got to win due to the accident I had. What do you think? Can we work?”
“We can,” I murmur, hating how quickly he understood me.
“Don’t worry, I’m just good at reading people.” He winks. “You’re not that obvious. Come on, I’ll introduce you to Mackie, who will be your racing partner, and the rest of the team. We are throwing you in the deep end with the first qualifying race next week, so until then, you’ll live, eat, sleep, and breathe racing here to get you prepared.”
“I can do that.” I look at him before we leave the office. “Noah, thank you for taking a chance on me. I know there were plenty of others who wanted this spot, so why me? I’m a street kid, a nobody.”
“A nobody who loves racing just as much as we do. It doesn’t matter where you came from, Skylar. It matters where you’re going.” Slinging his arm around me, he steers me from his office. “Like I said, family, and family always has your back.” He whistles, and the sounds of the garage quiet down. “Guys, come meet our new racer, Skylar Warren. You better remember his name because he’s going to be a champion.”
Noah wasn’t kidding. I have already been measured for suits and helmets, given a locker, had my picture taken for promos and websites, and signed more contracts than I can even count, and I haven’t even seen my car yet.
It’s obvious they are all ramping up for qualifications, and they expect me to catch up. Luckily for them, I can.
I finally escape and wander the garage, and Mackie steps into my path. I met him briefly earlier, but we eye each other now. We will be teammates, working as a unit to dominate the track and earn trophies. It’s hard to build that kind of familiarity and bond in just a week, but we need to.
He finally smiles at me. “Want to see your car?”
“Hell yeah.” I follow him into one of the bays, and my mouth drops open at the beauty.
“Alek just finished painting it yesterday. It’s all yours.”
I eye the incredible blue paintwork. He added his own twist, and there’s a blue sky over the back half, making me grin. He expects me to stay, and for some reason, that makes me happy. Mackie watches me the whole time, both of us trying to feel each other out. He’s younger than I am, but he has a shit ton of experience, just no medals as of yet. He’s never been fast enough or had a good enough partner. If he’s not careful, it could be his last championship. He needs this win, and I can work with that kind of determination.
I do not like to lose.
I check the engine before climbing in, getting used to the inside and the seat.
He watches me as I sit in it, and I arch my brow. “Problem?”
“Not at all, just wondering if you can hack it,” he admits. “I need someone I can rely on, someone who can keep up and get us where we want to go. If you’re here to fuck around, leave now because that championship is ours. So, are you going to help us get there or not?”
Sliding from the driver’s seat, I stand toe to toe with him. “Help? I’ll win it for us.”
The smile he gives me makes my own grow. “Good, then let’s see what you’ve got.” He steps back with a grin. “Guys, we’re heading to practice. Get the gear and cars ready.”
The whole garage is out here waiting. It’s evident they want to see what the new racer can do, but it won’t be a wasted show. I’ll be the best they’ve ever seen.
I borrowed a suit for now. They weren’t joking about rules—we have to suit up every time. It’s a little snug, but I make it work. My helmet is waiting on the roof with my gloves.
“Think you can keep up, pretty boy?” Mackie teases as he reaches my side. I almost snort, since he’s probably the prettiest man I have ever seen in my life. He’s not my type, that’s for sure, but even I can appreciate his looks. After sliding his gloves on with practiced ease, he arches a brow at me.
Leaning into my car, I smirk at him. “Keep up? The only thing you’ll see are my taillights.”
He laughs, knocking my helmet as he heads to his own car. “Then show us what you’ve got, newbie.”
I struggle into my gloves, and Alek walks my way, helping me into my helmet.
“Show them what street racers are capable of.” He pats my shoulder and steps back. “And do not crash my car.”
“Alright, boys!” Noah calls. “Five laps. Fastest time wins, loser buys dinner. Give it your all. We can work on your team the rest of the week. Today, show each other what you’ve got, then we can focus on weaknesses.”
Nodding in understanding, I climb into the car and fasten my belts. I grip the wheel and slide my hands along it.
Mackie pulls up alongside me, tapping his window as I nod. Glancing back at the track I have seen a million times, I take a deep breath. My heart begins to race as the usual adrenaline before a race fills me.
This time, though, there is a lot more depending on it. When I lose on the streets, I lose some cash, but here, I’ll lose my chance. I’m good under pressure. If I didn’t win, I went hungry. I always win.
I’m not about to start losing now.
The flag drops, and we take off at the same time, speeding down the stretch, but at the first corner, I’m slower and he’s not. He swings in front, his taillights ahead of me.
It’s different than what I’m used to. The helmet is getting in my way and the gloves are slowing my movements, and it’s the only reason Mackie slips past, but I’m a hunter. I follow behind him, watching his moves and learning them, and then I perfect them, using them against him.
I tail him for the first lap, making it look like I’m simply fumbling, but on the second stretch, I swing from behind at the first corner, overtaking him like he did me, and then I accelerate, moving faster around the S-bend until I shoot out onto the stretch. He’s farther back in my mirror, and I smirk, but I don’t let up. I put as much distance between us as I can, but during the third lap, he starts to catch up. I block him every time he tries to make his move, and when we pull over the line on the final lap, he’s behind me.
Climbing from the car, I tug off my helmet and grin as Alek gives me a proud smirk. Noah whoops as the mechanics clap, and I grin, but when a door slams, I turn to see Mackie.
I expect his annoyance as he heads my way, since it was a dirty trick, but he grins and lifts his fist, and I bump it with mine. “The championship is ours if you race like that, killer.”
“Then let’s get that trophy,” I murmur.