She tilted her head, arms folding across her chest. "So you want me to come over because your sisters are fans?"

    Ethan scratched the back of his neck. "Something like that."

    Vanessa smirked, sensing his discomfort. "You know, most guys would ask me over for entirely different reasons."

    Ethan met her gaze without missing a beat. "I''m not most guys."

    She chuckled. "Yeah, I''m starting to get that."

    Then he did something unexpected.

    He reached into his pocket, pulled out his wallet, and held up a crisp bill.

    "I can pay you by the hour if that makes it more reasonable," he said, entirely serious.

    Vanessa''s eyes widened before she let out a sharp laugh. "You really just said that, huh?"

    Ethan, seeing her reaction, sighed and put the money away. "Figured you wouldn''t take it, but it was worth a shot."

    Vanessa shook her head, still amused. "You''re ridiculous."

    He shrugged. "I''m practical."

    She gave him a long look before finally softening. "I''ll come," she said simply.

    Ethan raised a brow. "You sure?"

    Vanessa nodded. "Yeah. Call it my way of saying thanks for today." She gave him a teasing smirk. "Besides, I gotta see if your sisters are really my fans or if this is just some elaborate scheme to impress me."

    Ethan chuckled. "You''ll see soon enough."

    With that settled, he pulled out his phone and dialed Zack.

    The call connected almost instantly.

    "Yo?" Zack''s voice came through, slightly muffled by background noise.

    "Change of plans," Ethan said. "Pick up my sisters and bring them to the mansion."

    Zack whistled. "Oho, what''s this? Big bro Ethan playing the family man?"

    Ethan ignored the jab. "Just get them there."

    "Fine, fine. Anything else?"

    Ethan glanced at Vanessa, then back at the car. "That''s it."

    Zack chuckled. "Got it. See you in a bit."

    The call ended, and Ethan pocketed his phone.

    Claire, the older one, was eighteen, with dark hair and sharp blue eyes, a confident smirk on her lips. She was dressed casually in a hoodie and jeans, phone in hand.

    Julie, the younger one, was about ten, with the same piercing blue eyes but an excitement that radiated off her.

    She clutched a stuffed animal in one arm while bouncing on her heels.

    Julie was the first to react.

    "OH. MY. GOD."

    Vanessa, amused, leaned forward slightly. "That''s me."

    Julie turned to Claire, gripping her stuffed animal. "Claire! It''s her!"

    Claire, usually composed, looked shocked. "Wait. What? Ethan, are you serious?"

    Ethan, ever calm, nodded. "Yeah."

    Vanessa smirked. "Big fans?"

    Julie nodded so fast it was a miracle her head didn''t snap off. "You''re my favorite racer ever!"

    Claire folded her arms and gave Ethan a look. "Okay, explain. You brought Vanessa Carter to your house? Ethan, since when do you casually hang out with celebrities?"

    Ethan sighed. "It''s not that serious."

    Zack, snickering from the side, muttered, "Oh, this is gold."

    Claire narrowed her eyes. "Wait. Are you two dating?"

    Vanessa raised an eyebrow and leaned back. "You wish," she teased.

    Ethan, unfazed, simply replied, "No."

    Julie, still buzzing with excitement, practically hopped in place. "Can I ask you a million questions? Please?"

    Vanessa laughed. "I''ll answer as many as I can."

    Claire sighed, finally sitting down. "Alright, I guess this means you''re cool."

    Zack leaned against the kitchen counter, watching everything unfold. "Man, this turned out better than I expected."

    Ethan glanced at him. "You doubted me?"

    Zack chuckled. "Not doubted. Just surprised."

    Vanessa smirked. "That seems to be the theme of the night."

    Julie wasted no time bombarding Vanessa with questions. "What''s your fastest speed? What''s the hardest track you''ve ever raced on? Have you ever crashed? Do you get scared?"

    Vanessa answered each one with patience and charm. "Fastest speed? About 230 mph. Hardest track? Definitely Monaco — those tight corners are brutal. Have I crashed? Yeah, but nothing too crazy. And scared? Only when I don''t have control."