Finally, the caution light pop’s up and it’s time to move. I race off the line and the attendant yells to “Slow down.” I know he’s yelling at me. I’m not supposed to dart out of the gate, but I’m excited and I really, really want to beat Cole. Bragging rights are a beautiful thing, especially when it’s against a man’s man like Cole. I can see him brooding over the loss already. The thought only fuels my excitement.
I drive as fast as I can without getting the stink eye and shaking fist from the attendant. I want to turn around and look for Cole, but I refuse to break my concentration.
As I come around the last corner, I see the green light and a teenage girl waving a plastic flag. Green means go.
Game on!
I punch the gas and hold on tight. The wind is whipping through my hair and laughter bubbles out of me. I take the next curve without lifting from the throttle and slide through the corner like I’m Danica Patrick. I can feel my face splitting with the grin I’m wearing. I’m having a blast, and it’s for me. Not to beat Cole, although that would be a bonus; right now, I’m just enjoying the moment.
Our group of racers must be good because we don’t have one caution. All fifteen laps, I keep the throttle matted to the floor and fly around corners, laughing and grinning like a fool. When the caution light comes on, I slow my kart and drive back into the lineup. I wait until we’re given the all clear to unbuckle my seat belt and climb out. My feet barely hit the pavement before I feel his strong arms lift me up.
“Hell yeah! You killed it out there!” He squeezes me tight before placing me back on my feet.
“You got beat by a girl,” I tease him.
I don’t get the response I expected. “Sweets, I’m six-foot-four and weigh 180 pounds. What are you, five-six and a buck ten? Your cart was lighter than mine,” he tries to rationalize my win. “Besides, I’m good with you beating me.”
That’s the part I didn’t expect. “Oh, yeah? And why is that, Mr. Hampton?”
His hand on the small of my back, he leads us away from the karts and through the exit gate, away from the mass of people. He stops next to a pillar, turning so he’s leaning against it. His hands wrap around my waist and he pulls me close.
I’m watching him, waiting for an answer. He tucks my crazy, windblown hair behind my ear, his eyes locked on mine. “You want to know why?” His voice is husky.
A nod is the only response I’m capable of.
He brings me closer, a feat I would have thought impossible, our bodies touching everywhere.
Soft vs. hard.
“I’m good with it because I get to take the winner home with me.” He smirks.
I slap my hands against his chest as we both lose ourselves to the laughter of his statement.
“I might be going home with you, as you say, but you won’t be reaping the rewards.”
His smile is still there, but his eyes show a different emotion altogether. One I can’t quite decipher. “The reward is being with you.”
My mouth drops open.
He kisses me on the forehead and releases me. “Now, which one do you want to ride next?”
Just like that. No big deal that I’m swooning in the middle of a damn go-kart track thing—whatever this place is. No big deal that he just made my heart skip a beat, that my plan to steel my emotions just flew out the damn window. No big deal that he’s chipping away at that wall I built, refusing myself intimacy with anyone who didn’t want more. No big deal that those six words just got him what he’s been after for months. It’s in this moment that I realize it’s always been inevitable. I’m going to let Cole Hampton give me what he assures will be the best night of my life. Then, I’m going to have to pick my heart up off the ground and act as though it’s no big deal.
How does one come back from that?
We spend the next three hours racing from track to track, acting like teenagers.
“I’m done,” I tell him. We just finished what feels like ride number fifty, and I’m exhausted and hungry.
“Hungry?” he asks.
It’s like he can read my mind. “Yes.”
“Starving,” he replies with a boyish grin. Holding his hand out for me, I don’t fight it, lacing my fingers through his. He leads us back to the sidewalk. “What sounds good?”
“Anything. I’m not a picky eater.”
He nods and we walk about a block before he stops and points to a pizza place. I smile, letting him know it sounds good to me. We spend the next hour eating and talking about random things that mean nothing but in this moment feel like everything.
“I didn’t think you were ever coming back,” Logan says as soon as we walk onto the bus. Looking around, I see the four of them sitting around the table playing cards.
“Didn’t know we needed to be.”
“Well, we were getting worried. You’ve been gone a long time.”
Kacen laughs. “Baby, we told you she was fine. She was with Cole.”
Cole, who is standing behind me, gently runs his fingers up my spine. It’s like he’s trying to tell me that he agrees with Kacen.
“You should have just texted me.”