The sound of another engine seemed to blast onto the track from the other side. Like a bullet a car shot out onto the road and joined Drew.
It was a bright-yellow Nissan Skyline with an all-black hood and black spoiler on the back. It was flying, just like Drew, but I could make out a yellow blur on every tire, and I knew it must have some kind of lit-up wheel well to make it glow.
The body of the car was low, so low it almost sat on the ground, but it looked fierce that way, like it hugged the road and literally floated.
Even though the car was fucking sweet, my stomach tightened.
“You should have given him a warning he wouldn’t be alone. He’s not expecting another driver out there.” I worried.
“There’s lots of unexpected in racing,” Hopper replied mildly.
It pissed me off. “Yeah. But putting a driver in danger to prove a point is a dick move.” Yep. I just cussed at the richest man in the state and his lackey. Did I give a flying fuck?
Apparently not.
Neither man seemed offended. I wasn’t worried about it anyway. If this was the kind of shit Drew could expect from these two, then screw this. He’d be better off on the indie circuit.
At least there we already knew everyone were assholes.
I expected better from these guys.
“I’d say he’s handled the track buddy just fine,” Gamble pondered out loud.
The yellow sports car drove right up alongside the Mustang and matched his pace perfectly. Even though from this distance I couldn’t tell, it still seemed like the drivers were measuring each other.
A few seconds later, the Skyline gunned it and pulled ahead, the sound of its accelerating engine filling the air.
C’mon, Drew.
The car worked as he shifted and sped forward. He pushed it to the point I started to worry. He had to be going close to one hundred eighty and gaining. I reminded myself this was a closed track and it wasn’t like he was out there with someone who didn’t know how to drive.
“Who is that?” I asked, realizing I had no clue who they were.
“One of my sponsored drivers,” Gamble replied. “Figured we’d see how Forrester did with someone with some professional experience.”
I felt pissed off all over again. It’s like they wanted him to fail, and I felt guilty. I knew that Skyline was probably better equipped than the Fastback.
I should have known better than to worry about Drew. That guy always knew how to come out on top.
I watched on pins and needles as he approached the yellow car on the inside. In response, the car glided over, cutting him off.
He hung back, shifting… giving the impression of being defeated. But I knew better.
Seconds later, Drew cut to the right to swing out wide around the outside of his competitor. The car seemed to anticipate his move and swerved at the same time.
The back end of the Skyline nearly clipped the front end of the Fastback, and I muttered a curse. Drew hung in and hit the brakes—well, the emergency brake.
He made a hard turn immediately and went straight for the grass on the inside of the oval. Just as his front tires hit it, he made another hard turn, jerked the car back onto the asphalt, and punched the gas.
He soared past the yellow car and swerved out in front of it, taking the lead.
Hopper made a sound, and I grinned.
The two cars battled it out, weaving in and out of one another and pulling some tricks they wouldn’t be able to pull on a track full of cars.
We all stood there and watched until Gamble signaled for them to bring it in.
Drew slowed and brought the car to a sliding stop nearby, but the yellow car breezed right by and disappeared into the tunnel it came out of just a few minutes before.
It was just as well. I felt like decking the guy for his jerkwad driving.
Drew’s face was split into a wide smile as he jogged forward, and there was a distinct light in his blue eyes. He was totally high right now—on speed.
I jogged a few paces in front of the men and offered him a fist. “That was some tight driving out there.”
“Hells yeah,” he swore. He leaned close. “I think I tore up some shit, though. Gonna need some new parts.”
I nodded, already figuring as much. He would have had to in order to keep up with that Skyline.
“Mr. Forrester,” Hopper called, and both of us turned. He waved us over. “Let’s talk!”
“You talked to them?” Drew said softly as we walked toward them.
“Yeah. Haven’t made up my mind about ‘em yet.”
I felt him gaze at me out of the corner of his eye but didn’t say anything because we joined the men. After introductions were made between Drew and Hopper, Gamble took over the conversation.
I guess since he was the one with the money, the final say so went to him. Still, I had a feeling he and Hopper knew each other a long time and could communicate without saying much and stay on the same page.
“You drive well.” Gamble began. “I definitely see why your family speaks highly of you.”