CHAPTER 22: THE RACE

Braelyn’s POV

"How about my bet?" He asked. I was curious what he had in mind. He was always unpredictable.

"What do you want?" I answered. He smirked. "Have you ever enjoyed the thrill of a race before?" He inquired

I quirked my brow. "You want me to ride with you while you race." That was his wish. Something so simple.

He nodded.

"How about we do something more fun instead?" I knew I had grabbed his interest and curiosity. Before he asked the question in his mind.

I said smoothly. "I want to race. Just me in the car." I declared. He was taken aback.

His brow cocked at me. "You want to drive the car yourself." He asked once more.

My request was rather surprising. Lucien could not believe my request. He thought I was joking until I joined the next race which Amber also participated in.

"You weren’t joking at all." He was completely astonished. I smiled.

"You aren’t the only one who had fun while growing up," I replied before getting into the car. Amber slid into her vehicle, I gripped the steering wheel tightly waiting for the signal

I didn’t know when the Last time I raced, I was already remembering the feeling of my heart pumping, adrenaline rushing through my veins and the scent of gasoline in the air

Amber drove her car beside mine to the starting line grinning like she’d been waiting for this moment. Her confidence oozed through the tinted glass as her engine growled to life. I gripped the wheel tighter, the vibration of the machine humming through my chest.

Her window lowered, "I don’t know what got into you, Braelyn, but this isn’t a joke." She scoffed. "Better quit before you humiliate yourself and Lucien."

I glanced at her with a smile on the tip of my lips. "Lucien would be touched by how much you care for him. Why don’t you propose to him already?" I taunted and her face turned ugly.

"Oh, I remember you can’t. You were too chicken to do it in the past, and now you have lost your chances for good." I added and watched her face go red. I loved the feeling.

I didn’t know the last time I felt like this.

"I can’t wait to wipe that smug look off your face." She sneered, then rolled up her window, still fuming. I smirked, glancing back at your steering wheel.

My grip tightened. "I can’t wait either for that day." I scoffed while rolling up my window.

It had been years since I last raced, a distant memory from my university days. Back then, I was a wild card; it was also on these similar tracks that I fell in love with that man.

"Don’t remember any random jerk. Focus on the race." I sneered drawing in a deep breath.

The moment I pressed my foot on the pedal, something primal stirred inside me: the old rhythm, the ache for control, the intoxicating mix of danger and freedom. My pulse raced in perfect harmony with the revving engine.

"Ready?!" someone yelled over the speakers. My eyes were fixated on the front. A tall lady dressed in jeans bum shorts and a crop top stood holding a hankie

Everyone’s eyes were locked on that handkerchief. She smiled at the drivers

"Go!" she screamed as the piece of fabric fell from her hand and a shot rang through the air.

The cars lunged forward.

The first few seconds were a blur of smoke, screaming tyres, and flashing lights. Amber wasn’t bluffing, her car easily took the lead while I was behind.

This was going to be fun. I stepped on the gas and manoeuvred between two cars with ease, the sound of roaring engines echoing in my ears. The night air hit my face through the open window, carrying the smell of fuel and adrenaline.

I drifted past other cars, leaving chaos behind through my sneaky tricks. The sky was now dark, street lights hummed as we drove zipping through the night.

Amber was still ahead, but not for long. I could almost taste her frustration each time I gained on her. We were inches apart now, neck and neck, headlights cutting through the orange haze.

"Come on..." I muttered to myself, taking a sharp turn, tyres screeching. The crowd’s cheers blurred into background noise. I wasn’t just driving, I was feeling and reliving all those moments. Every curve, every vibration, every heartbeat syncing with the car’s pulse.

Amber glanced at me from her window, her expression tightening. She didn’t like that I was catching up. I smirked and pushed harder, the car surging forward.

The second mile was quickly finished, then the Third. It felt like we were the only ones on the track. I was surprised I still had this much skill after years.

We were on each other’s throats, engines screaming in a deadly duet. I overtook her once, then she reclaimed the lead. By the last stretch, we were almost side by side again, sparks of competition lighting the air between us.

The finish line came into view, a streak of silver beneath the floodlights.

Then it happened. Amber rammed her car into mine. The car was pushed off course, but I managed to pull it back. To the track but the nightmare wasn’t over.

The steering wheel stiffened in my grip. I frowned and twisted, but it didn’t respond. The car jerked violently to the right, my heart lurching in sync. "No, no, no—"

Amber’s car sped past me. I saw her face flash through the window. My eyes went wide, terrified, before my car spun, almost going off track.

The world tilted. Metal screeched. My vision blurred with lights and shadows, the sound of gasping voices from the crowd fading into static.

For a split second, all I saw was Lucien standing in front of the crowd. Worry etched on his face, his unreadable eyes somewhere in the distance, watching.

My car was still spinning, the finish line barely away. Amber was almost there!!