“Go.” I shoot him a look of confusion. “Press the throttle,” he instructs, and I do as he says, watching the needle move higher. “Now slip the clutch.” When I feel the car wanting to move, I drop the handbrake and move off the line. The engine growls, and I listen to it, keeping an eye on the rev counter and changing through the gears as I race down the road. When I cross the line, I brake and bring the car to a halt before turning and heading back to Beth and Aaron.
Aaron has a smile on his face when I pull over. “Best yet.”
“Again,” Max commands, and I do as I’m told and line her up. We drive it a few more times until Max decides we’ve done enough for tonight.
“It’s been a long day. We’ll come back tomorrow.”
Aaron and Beth hug me before they climb into the truck and drive off. Max hangs back, resting on the hood, watching me.
“How you feelin’?” Max asks, watching me closely.
“Nervous.”
“You’ll be fine.”
“You think? In my head, I can do it, but I don’t know. Tonight was an eye-opener. Maybe I don’t have what it takes.”
“Of course, you do, Storm.”
“What if I don’t?” The enormity of what I’m about to do is starting to sink in. Closing his eyes, he runs a hand over his face. He looks tired; we all are. We’ve put in crazy hours in the garage, and when I’m not there, it’s all I think about.
“Let me race,” he says softly. My head snaps to the side, eyes widening with horror as icy panic grips me.
“No way. What if something happens to you?”
“What if something happens to you,” he implores.
I shake my head defiantly. “If I don’t race, all bets are off. You know that.” His shoulders sag with defeat. “I know, but I can’t stand you putting yourself in danger.” I reach for his hand and lace my fingers with his. “I won’t let anything tear us apart, not Zach or the outcome of this race.” The vehemence in his voice helps to ease my worry.
• • •
The last two days are spent fine-tuning the car. Aaron fits new tires and tweaks the suspension. At night, I practice at the quarter mile. Max is as critical as ever, but I need to hear it. Every time he tells me that I’ve done something else wrong and makes me try again, I grit my teeth and do as he says. Sometimes, I get away really fast but other times the tires spin and I waste time. Maybe I’m starting to feel the pressure because I’ve never had this problem before, but then I’ve never had so much riding on a race before.
The night before the race, Max and I go to the quarter mile alone. He told Aaron to take Beth home and get an early night, too; there’s a lot to do tomorrow. The look of relief on Aaron’s face said it all. I think the pressure is getting to him as well. Everyone is tense, and I’ll be glad when this is over with, and we can get back to normal. If I win. If I don’t… well, I can’t even think about it.
By the third run, I’m tired and making stupid mistakes, not to mention the serious doubts I’m having about whether I can do this.
“Last try then we call it a night.” I could kiss him for saying that, but it can wait until after this run. I line the car up and glance over at him to check he’s ready. He gives me a curt nod, and I press down on the throttle, readying the car. I slip the clutch and floor it, taking off down the quarter mile and over the finish line.
“Better.” He smiles when I stop the car past the finish line.
I put the car in gear ready to drive us to the garage, but he stops me. “Storm.” I can’t help smile at the sound of my nickname falling from his lips; it does something to me every time, and I look at him expectantly. “There’s… ah… I’ve got something I want to give you.” His hand slips into his pocket and he pulls out a little pouch.
“What is it?” I ask a little wary, not sure what to expect. Something for luck? He holds out his hand, a gold band entwined into an infinity knot lying in his palm.
“It was my grandmother’s; she gave it to me and told me to give it to someone special.” He twists it round in the palm of his hand. “I’ve kept it, waiting for that person. Now I know it’s you who I’ve been waiting for. I would have given it to you four years ago if I thought you would have stayed. But I didn’t and I’ve had it all this time, just waiting for a second chance to ask you not to leave and stay here with me.” My hands fly to cover my mouth and muffle the small cry that I can’t hold in. Tears flood my eyes as I take in his earnest expression and his heartfelt words.