Page 20 of Fueled Hate

“Your boy, huh?” Parker says, nibbling on Willow’s neck before his hand drops to her side, tickling her as she squirms against him. “I’ll remember that.”

“Please do,” Willow says, then looks over at me. “Care to place a wager on your boy?”

“Nope. I’m not even sure I’ll be there.”

“I’d bet against that.” Willow laughs, unbothered by my irritated glare.

Yeah, I’d bet against that too. I know I’ll be there, but there’s no point in jumping at the chance to act like an eager pit bunny. It’s bad enough I want to go. Hopefully, I can just watch the races and not have to deal with Kyle. My guess is he’ll be so focused on Dylan racing, I won’t have to worry about any unwanted repeats of last night. I can hope, but I won’t be placing any bets on that one either.

13

Dylan

“There really isn’t much competition. The GT350 isn’t stock, but it shouldn’t be a problem because the driver hesitates at launch.”

“Okay.” I noticed that too.

“When you launch, don’t—” There’s nothing he can tell me that I don’t know. We both know the tricks, rules, ways of the track. This is nerves talking and I can’t allow his to affect mine.

“I know,” I say bluntly, cutting Bryce off. “It’s not like it’s my first race.”

“No, but it’s the first one here, and the first one since—”

“I. Got. It.”

Bryce shifts, looking at me with concern, which isn’t common for him. Usually, he’s the first to take a risk, but we both know there’s a lot at stake and a lot of baggage I’m carrying with getting back on the track, especially this one. “If you can’t do it, I wouldn’t think any less of you. You don’t have anything to prove.”

“Yes. I do.” I push off the car as Bryce grabs my arm.

“Would Noah want you to do it?”

“I’d ask him if he were here but he’s not. I have to do this. I thought you understood that.” I move to walk away, but Bryce doesn’t release his grip.

“I understand and I back you one hundred percent. Just make sure you’re doing it for the right reason, because when you drive onto the track this time, things will be different.”

“They’re already different.”

Bryce releases my arm, rubbing his hand on his chin. “If anything happens, I’m telling your mom I didn’t know shit about any of this.”

“Deal, but you know she won’t believe that.”

Bryce drops his face in his hands, shaking his head then looks up. “Fuck. I know she won’t, so when you get your ass out there, keep your head straight and your eye on the prize.”

“That’s always the game plan.” I give him a reassuring nod.

“What’s the prize, Dylan?”

“Winning,” I say bluntly. “The prize is winning.”

“Everything else is a bonus.” Bryce finishes the motto that we’ve lived and some have died by. “Focus. Drive. Win,” Bryce says, sounding confident but looking concerned. I’d say he’s more nervous about the race than I am. Because there’s nothing about this making me nervous. I’ve been waiting to get back on the track for months, and I’ll make sure when I drive off that it was all worthwhile.

“Line ’em up!” Parker hollers, waving me over.

Dropping into the driver’s seat of the Subaru, the door catches before closing.

“Keep your head straight and you’ve got this. Focus. Drive. Win,” Bryce repeats as I give him a reassuring nod. “Give ’em hell, Dylan.”

“Will do.” There’s no turning back. I couldn’t even if I wanted to, but there is no part of me that wants to back down. I wasn’t built like that.