Page 123 of Crash Course

“I heard you’re a finalist,” he says.

“And I’m glad to see you’re alive,” I tease.

“Barely.” He stops behind me, bending to brush his lips over my neck. “But my condition is improving as we speak.”

I’m swooning from the feel of his mouth on my skin when loud laughter fills the cafeteria.

We both look up to see Eden’s eyes gleam. “My friends said I should have just called, but this was definitely worth coming in person for.”

“Hi, Eden.”

“Jamie!” She bounces out of her chair and throws her arms around Jameson. He hugs her back.

She pulls away to scan her brother from head to toe, frowning. “It looked bad.”

“I’m okay. I promise.” He stares her down, but with an expression that’s full of calm and patience.

It takes me a second to recognize what’s happening.

Eden’s visit wasn’t about me. She came home to check on him.

My chest aches at the realization that he does have someone who looks out for him, even if it’s from halfway around the world.

A bell sounds, alerting us to the top of the hour.

“We have to go to class.” I rise, and Jameson reaches for my book bag.

“To be continued. Jamie, get us a dinner reservation,” Eden instructs.

“We don’t have time for dinner out tonight, Eden.” Despite his words, there’s genuine regret in his tone.

She frowns. “But I came all this way to see you. The last time you came to see me, things weren’t the best.” There’s a tiny crack in her polished facade. “Now I wanted to see my brothers and cheer them up heading into the biggest race of their lives. Is that so bad?”

Jameson hesitates. “We’re going to São Paulo.”

He says it as if it means something more. Megan and I exchange a wary look, and our uncertainty is confirmed when Eden claps her hands together in delight.

“Perfect! There’s always room for one more on the jet.”

39

Shay

“We should have become guests of ARI a long time ago,” Megan vows as we land on the tarmac in São Paulo. It’s hot and sunny even in November.

If I wasn’t sure how mesmerizing it is to be part of the spectacle of F1, I’m getting it now. After we drop our belongings at the hotel, we head directly to the track. The atmosphere is electric—the fumes on the grid, the heat and sweat and purpose. The fashion of the spectators, the commentators, the executives. Today is for qualifying, and it feels as if an entire city, an entire country, came out to be entertained.

The season has come down to this final race. ARI is in second by a hair, but the big story is how fast Ignite has closed in for third. For a new team, they have no business doing this well.

I’ve been so caught up in my life at the academy and the fight for next year’s seat, the stakes for the actual team have been more remote.

Not anymore. There are billions of dollars of engineering on display. The fastest cars, the most cunning strategists, the most elite drivers are here to compete.

The guys are already standing over the cars in the ARI garage. Theo’s in chinos, a T-shirt, and designer sneakers. Jameson’s wearing a sand-colored jacket and matching tailored pants, his crisp white collared shirt open underneath. I take a moment to ogle as he crosses to us, tugging his aviators off his face. “Hi.”

“Hey.”

His gaze flicks down my outfit, lingering on my legs. “You look beautiful.”