The Player Penalty (SteelTrack Racing #3)

25-Julian

“How do I look?” Lily tucks the headset behind her ear before fiddling to get the right fit.

“Like you need your clothes ripped off.” She swallows back a laugh and licks her lips. I pretend to be confused. “Oh, you mean the sign on your back? It’s fantastic. An excellent fashion statement.”

“You have one on, too, you know.” The annual go-kart race might be my favorite race of the year, even if I’m not the one behind the wheel. It’s fun and lighthearted, a way to compete without the typical high stakes. This year, RMS has three teams entered, while Jake and Sarah compete under their new company’s name for the first time.

“How long do we have? I want to see my dad before it starts.”

“Five minutes.”

She forgets to say goodbye and leaves me standing alone. It was a surprise the first time it happened, but now I realize she shifts gears without even realizing it.

One of my favorite pastimes is indulging Lily. When she isn’t available, my other one is antagonizing Boone Rivers. Luckily for me, Jake has already started the job.

“Let’s make a bet. Whoever loses has to throw the race on Sunday,” Jake says. His cocky smile tells me how much joy the conversation brings him.

Boone pinches the bridge of his nose. “That’s unethical, and I’m not that dumb.”

I throw an arm over his shoulder, which is immediately shrugged off. “There’s always another opportunity.”

“Both of you at once,” Boone says.

“I’m going to win today,” says Jake.

His unending positivity bothers Boone in a way I’ve never entirely managed. Jake doesn’t even do it on purpose; he’s genuinely a sunshine and rainbows kind of guy.

“You’re going to try,” I say.

“I’m going to succeed.” Jake delivers another grin.

They actually believe they have a shot, and they’re wrong because it’s their wives driving the go-karts, and the two of them do not care, not even a little. Sarah and Maddie threw the race last year to blunt their competitive streak. In a shocking twist that surprised no one, it didn’t work. Boone discovered Sarah and Jake were in a relationship thirty seconds after the race ended, and that started up a fresh round of oneupmanship. Luckily for me, I witnessed it from the sidelines.

We will win today because I have a secret weapon: Lily Webb. She kicks my ass in Mario Kart and then carries that same instinct into go-karts. She can maneuver incredibly well in the little things and completely trusts every instruction I give her.

Great friends make great teams.

“You’re both welcome to try,” I say to them both and flash a cocky grin of mine. “You know what they say about second place and first loser, right? See you after the race.”

“What the fuck, man?” Jake says to my retreating back.

“We’re going to kick your ass,” Boone calls out.

I turn to face them, take a few steps back, and indicate one and then the other. “First loser. Second loser. Same thing.”

At least they’ll work together this one time.

Occasionally, a fan or fellow racer will assume I’m less competitive or capable. I don’t get into brawls like Jake and Boone once did, and I never sound off in front of the cameras. That doesn’t change the fact that one of my greatest pleasures in life is destroying everyone else on the race track.

Well, that and making love to Lily.

∞∞∞

The course is simple, lacking the imaginary world of cheese found in a specific video game. It’s a dirt course with hay bales and a lane only three karts wide. They need to be able to pass, after all.

“How are we doing?” she calls through the headset.

“Take this turn and then the inner lane,” I say, following her movements through my binoculars. The things aren’t necessary, but they add an element of fun to the entire affair. “I don’t know who it is. She gets nervous when someone approaches. She’ll slow, and that’s your chance.”

“Pedal to the metal. Pressing down on the throttle.” Lily squeals as she moves up one more spot.

Who knew she enjoyed racing metaphors more than me?

“Got her. Now hold the center.”

“You think we can spin anyone out?”

I laugh at her question. Lily’s competitive streak comes out exactly one day a year, and I get to witness it up close. “There isn’t enough room. I can get you in another car if that’s what you want.”

“Negative.”

I check out other parts of the track and notice two karts moving side by side. The numbers on their back aren’t visible, but that isn’t necessary. Like I said, it doesn’t matter what Jake and Boone want if their partners aren’t willing to play along.

Boone is yelling while Jake is quieter, but his frantic hand movements tell enough of a story. Clowns. Both of them.

“Next turn is clear, and then it’s time to come in for the pit stop.”

∞∞∞

“Thirsty?” I remove the cap before handing over a water bottle. “Can I get you anything else?”

“Our enemy’s tears.”

I shake my head while pride fills me. I get to see this part of Lily all the time, and it’s breathtaking. My guts still twist up after recalling my initial impression of her. I don’t remember a time in my life when I’ve been so glad to be wrong.

“There’s a good chance you’ll get that. Are you looking for tears from anyone in particular or the entire field?”

“We can be reasonable about this,” she says, returning the empty bottle. “Most of them.”

“We’ll do that. Now get back out there.” I slap the kart to make this part extra authentic, and she takes off.

Sarah and Maddie are both still in their pit boxes. What did I say about the first loser?

∞∞∞

“Three laps to go.” I scratch at my jaw, telling myself to remain calm. Early confidence leads to dumb moves, and the race isn’t ours. Yet. “The next one is hugging the right wall. Speed around the turn and brake.”

Lily does so, and her appearance surprises the other racers. Her foot slides off the pedal, allowing Lily to pass.

“Did you see that? We crushed her.”

I’ve created a monster. I love it. “One more. Keep it up, and the opportunity will appear.”

“Where is she?”

I check out the course and count the number of turns. “A quarter lap ahead of you.”

“We can’t do second, Julian.”

“We won’t, sweetheart. Keep going, and let me be your eyes.” Lily slowly gains, but the final lap grows closer. “There’s nothing yet.”

“Is this it?” Her disappointment is loud over the headset.

“Maybe,” I start, taking another scan with the binoculars. “She hit the wall. Gogogogo.”

Lily takes her final turn and passes, putting her in first place.

Unbelievable.

“I knew we would win,” she says, crossing the finish line.

∞∞∞

“Come here.” I swing her in my arms. “Look at us. Two-time champions.”

Sarah and Maddie take turns hugging her, commenting on how they tried their best, but the pedals didn’t work, the steering wheel fell off, and the brakes locked up.

They make a great team, just not a winning one.

Later, after the plastic trophies are handed out, we wind up under a giant canvas tent with 80s pop songs and some appetizers for entertainment.

I sip the sweet fruit punch and observe Lily talking with her father. She’s likely giving him a detailed account of the race all the way up to her fantastic win. Pete picks up the small trophy, holding it with the same care he would one for the cup championship. He listens carefully, smiling with pride over her every word.

It’s odd in some ways. He’s gruff with everyone in the garage and always demands perfection. With Lily, he gives nothing but love and patience. She has her own struggles, but we led very different childhoods in this regard.

“I thought we had it this time.” Jake takes the seat next to me. “You two were good today.”

Jake’s challenge is convincing his partner to care. Sarah views it as fun with her best friend instead of a competition.

“We worked out a good strategy,” I say back.

Lily senses my stare and smiles shyly before focusing on Pete. She points at me and then mimes a driving motion.

The two of us have plans later, or we will once I ask if she’s ready to leave.

With me.

“You two are good together,” Jake says.

I pretend to misunderstand his apparent fishing expedition. “We’re friends.”

Technically, it’s still true.

“Bullshit. You look like a man in love.” His cocky smile is all confidence, like it always is. “I would know and take it from me. Married life is great.”

I choke. “You should stop right now.” Lily would freak out at the insinuation as much as I did. Wouldn’t she?

“That’s good advice,” Boone says, taking the empty chair on my other side. “You should steer clear. It would save me the headache.”

“I wouldn’t give you aspirin for a migraine,” I say.

Jake says, “That’s a confirmation if I ever heard one.”

“I turn a blind eye to all your other flings,” Boone says. I grit my jaw as my irritation grows. “You can’t do that with her. She’s an employee, for starters, and that’s an HR nightmare.”

“Look who you’re married to,” I say, then consider a bit longer. “Neither of you have any room to speak about that issue.”

“Okay, I’ll own that,” Boone starts. He squares his shoulders and begins again. “If you start something with her, think long and hard about how you finish it. You can’t block her number or leave in the morning afterward. That is Pete Webb’s daughter.”

I’m stuck between a hopeless romantic for an angel on one side of me and an annoying dark-haired devil on the other. “I’m aware of who she is.”

I would have started something between us even earlier if she’d been someone else. Hell, I barely recognized her a year ago and came close to plotting another conquest.

At some point, I can’t even be sure when, my desire for her grew, and my interest in every other woman disappeared. Now, I only want her.

“What’s your favorite part of racing?” I ask them both.

“Winning,” Jake says without preamble.

“The strategy,” Boone says a heartbeat later.

Mine is taking risks. “You two have a great evening. Married life sounds amazing.”

I get up.

Jake Knowles will think he won a matchmaking victory, while Boone will stew over Pete’s reaction. That’s been his concern lately. It doesn’t matter because neither of their opinions matters to me.

“You want to get out of here?” I ask Lily, interrupting her conversation.

She stands so quickly that the chair wobbles. “Let’s go.”

Pete follows and moves to stand between us. “You have class tomorrow.”

“I’ll see she gets there,” I say.

His glances move to Lily, me, and finally back at Lily. “You know what I’ve said about him.”

Oh, I can guess.

“We’re friends, Dad. It’s nice having a friend again.”

I yank her hand, and we leave the tent.

“Where are we going?” she asks.

“Anywhere but here.”