Crashing Hearts (Pine Valley College #2)

46. Skylar

CHAPTER 46

SKYLAR

I know my boy is safe with Alek, Noah, and Evan, but I still look for him after my interviews. As expected, many people are curious about the attacks, but I skip over those questions like Noah advised and focus on our race.

We’ll be starting soon, so everyone is at the track. I’m alone, and I drink water in the silence for a moment since I know when I step out there, everything will change. One way or another, I will make history today. I have to win this for Mackie, Noah, Bones . . . and me.

“Well, well, well,” Conall says, and I turn to see him holding his helmet, heading my way from his pit. “Is the great Skylar Warren nervous?”

“Not even a little.” I smirk. “You?”

He grins, running his eyes over me. “Not for a second. I’ll win today, while you’ll be the last to cross that line—if you make it at all.” Whistling, he saunters out, and I watch him go.

A bad feeling builds in my stomach, but I can’t let them down. He’s just trying to freak me out. It’s a last-ditch effort to stop me from competing so they can retain their titles.

Blowing out a calming breath, I close my eyes and remember my boy’s words this morning as he helped me dress.

Focus on the finish line, nothing and nobody else. I’ll be waiting for you, so come and get me.

He knows how to motivate me, that’s for sure. Opening my eyes once more, I tilt my chin up, smile, and step out. The crowd screams and music plays, but the din turns deafening when I step out onto the track. I search the stands until I find him.

He’s shouting with the others, wearing my name on his jacket as he jumps between Evan and Alek. I blow him a kiss and head over to Mackie. We bump fists and offer each other confident nods.

“This is what it’s all been for, brother,” I tell him.

“Time to bring it home,” he says. “Lead the way, and I’ll protect your ass. Show them what we are made of.”

Nodding, I head to my car and shove on my gloves as I take one last look at my boy. He’s grinning and clapping with everyone. He’s right. I can do this. I’ve raced a thousand times before.

It’s just like any other race, only this time, I won’t just be bringing home money. I’ll also be a champion.

I know what to do, as does my body.

Shoving my helmet on, I climb into my car and turn on the headset.

“All good?” Noah asks.

“All good here, old man,” I tease.

“All good,” Mackie replies.

“Remember our plan. Stick to it and you’ll cross that line,” Noah says. “I don’t like their attitudes today. Stay safe, okay? We’ve taken every precaution, but I want this to go smoothly.”

He feels the anticipation in the air as well. It’s been too quiet.

Something like this only revs up, it doesn’t slow down or stop, but I have to trust that I can deal with whatever will happen.

We get into line, and the lights flash red repeatedly. Noah can’t hit me because he’s too far, so it’s now or never. “Noah, if your boy wins, are you going to reward him?”

“What are you talking about?” Noah snaps. “Focus.”

“I’m talking about Mackie. Are you going to give him a kiss as a reward?”

“Skylar!” they both bark, and I chuckle.

“You know everyone can hear this,” Noah hisses.

“Good, they’ll help me hold you to it. Besides, I plan on dramatically kissing my boy, so no one will be looking at you. You’re welcome, Macks.”

“I hate you,” he mutters as the lights flash orange.

“If you win, I’ll reward you both—not sexually. Skylar, get your mind out of the gutter.”

“Was going to say you’re not my type, old man. I prefer them young, pretty, and a beast in bed.” I chuckle as I rev and prepare. We go quiet, my heart slows, and adrenaline pumps through me. My body knows this feeling better than its own heartbeat.

Orange.

Orange.

Green.

I’m off before it fully flashes, Mackie right at my side. We shoot out in front since that’s where we’re starting, with the others hunting us. I don’t particularly like it, but it’s something we have worked on and planned for.

Mackie and I form a block that lasts the first lap. Blizzard and Red Check try to pass us, but we manage to stop them from slipping by. On the second lap, they have figured it out, and they trick Mackie into moving and soar past.

Patience , I remind myself. I make it look like I mess up and slow to keep pace with him, and four cars shoot past—two Blizzard and two Red Check. Smirking, I speed after them.

The hunter is back.

“You take those two. I’ll take Conall and his wingman,” I tell Mackie.

“Got it, brother. Let’s clear the way.”

I let him get in front so we form a line. He rides their ass the next two corners before slipping past, and I follow in his wake until we are behind Henry from Blizzard and Wills from Red Check. As we shoot onto the next straightaway, Mackie jerks to the left and I swing out, using the momentum to drive behind them.

“Yes, brother!” Mackie calls, and I don’t bother looking back because I know he’ll block them.

I accelerate, as do they, until we pull away from the pack, Mackie keeping them back. This is between us.

My aim is the Blizzard car, Conall’s, and he’s my entire focus as we head into the final lap.

It all comes down to this. Pushing my engine as fast as it can go, I let the rest of the world fall away. My gloved hands clench on the wheel as I shift the gear and fly around the next corner. They are just a little ways in front now, but I’m catching up while letting them think they are safe.

That bad feeling from earlier has disappeared. I thought they might have fucked with my car, but as I push it to its limits, I know Noah’s precautions paid off.

Toma from Red Check, who’s hot on Conall’s ass, suddenly swerves and falls back. I keep going, speeding toward him. It could be a trick to make me slow down.

“You see this, Noah?” I ask.

“Keep going,” he advises.

“Got it.” I shift into the highest gear, the speedometer maxing out, but suddenly, his car swerves and starts to spin. Smoke fills the air as he fishtails across the track in front of me.

Toma is totally out of control, and realization hits me.

It isn’t my car they fucked with, or even Mackie’s.

It’s the other team, and as he slows to a stop in the track, I have a choice—hit him and kill us both or try to avoid it and crash. I’ll get hurt, but there is only one option, right? Blizzard did this. I know it. They fucked up Red Check’s car, expecting this to happen.

“Skylar!” Noah roars.

My hard-won instincts from the streets are the only thing that give me the ability to avoid killing us both, but as I fishtail to avoid him. I have a white-knuckle grip on the wheel to hold it, but the car hits the edge of the track and throws us.

I’m going too fast, which is what he was betting on.

For a moment, I’m weightless, then I crash back down.

I hear the crunch as my body is thrown. I can barely see, barely know which way is up as I roll before I come to a stop against the outer barrier.

Everything is fuzzy, and my head is still spinning.

There’s pain in my shoulder and leg.

I still feel like I’m tumbling, even though I know I’m not, but my body doesn’t seem to care. I feel hot and cold at the same time, adrenaline forcing me to shake.

Blinking, I realize I’m sideways in the car. The hood is smashed up into the glass and smoke billows from it. As I slowly turn my head, my vision spins as I see the other side of the car is completely wrecked.

The sound of sizzling reaches me, and I know I need to move.

I can’t seem to though. My body won’t respond, and my brain is slow to process as well.

“Get out of there, Skylar!” Noah roars.

“Sky, I’m coming. Hang on, I’m coming!” Mackie pleads as I hear engines roaring my way.

I lift my head groggily, scanning the crowd numbly as something drips into my eyes. The audience is on their feet in horror, and there’s my boy, hopping the fence and rushing past Noah, his eyes wide and terrified.

I try to smile, but I’m on the verge of blacking out.

Something is very wrong.

I realize I’m not getting out in time as the dripping increases, and oil spills into the car.

My heart crashes just like I did as the truth hits me, causing more pain than this crash did.

I’m going to break his heart, just like everyone else did.

“Sorry, angel,” I whisper, knowing it will be my last words.