Chapter 4
Zane
Steam rises from the hood of my Camaro SS.
I may not have a lot – but dammit, I have my dream car.
I did a lot of shady shit to afford this car, but I got it.
Now I’m determined to save up enough money, so when I turn eighteen, which happens next week, I’m out of here.
Gone. Never to return. Winning races with rich assholes are one of my specialties.
See, my father used to need a getaway driver, or just a designated driver when he was drunk.
I’ve been driving since I was ten-years-old.
I know how to handle a car and how to drive in all kinds of conditions.
This lap is short, but hazardous with the black ice.
It’s a backroad that has a large curve. Then our route is a turn off in between two fields, that will loop back to our starting point.
First one to make it back gets two grand.
Two grand that I don’t have to lose, but plan to win.
Ryker’s luxury sports car pulls up next to mine.
It’s pitch dark on these backroads, freezing cold temperature, and an animal could jump out.
My car slides a little here and there from the patches of ice scattered all over the blacktop.
This is stupid… dangerous…and my adrenaline is at an all-time high.
A few of the people from the party have already showed up.
Not surprised to see Ryker’s ex-Allison, or I think ex…
Maybe they’ve already gotten back together.
Allison tiptoes and slides on the pavement in front of our headlights.
She lifts her hands in the air, holding a scarf.
Both of us revs our engines. Allison winks and then drops the scarf.
We zoom past her. I allow Ryker to pass me.
There’s a curve up ahead and I plan to get past it and then open up.
Ryker’s car fishtails, but he regains control.
The time it takes him, though, I use to pass him.
I focus on the road ahead. My car hydroplanes a few times, but I quickly take control.
Ryker’s headlights reflect off my rearview mirror and blind my eyes.
I duck my head, but then the brightness disappears.
I slow down and check it again. Ryker’s car has spun around and he is now facing the wrong direction.
A laugh leaves me, along with a shout, “WHOO!” I increase my speed as he tries to get his car turned around on the patches of ice. This victory means more to me than any of them could possibly know. It’s the perfect gift. Merry Christmas to me.