I missed my Tate. The wildcat who fought back and smiled because she was happy, not because she was planning something to make me squirm. This new cool and calculated woman was a little scary, and I couldn’t keep up.
She walked away, and I swung my leg over my bike, starting it and revving the engine, the high-pitched whir loud enough to drown out any other noise here tonight. I pulled up onto the track and lined myself up next to Roman’s 2002 Pontiac Trans Am.
I loved to race, and even though this didn’t even compare to my usual venues, my heart still pounded like a two ton hammer.
Jax came over, affixing two Go Pros to my handlebars, one facing the track and another facing me. “She’s changed,” I commented to him, slipping on my black helmet.
He nodded, keeping his eyes focused on his task. “She’s definitely harder to impress now, so step up your game.”
I didn’t want to step up my game. I didn’t want to play any game period. I just wanted to take her somewhere. Cry, fight, even let her hit me, but at the end of it all, she’d be in my arms, her storm blue eyes looking up at me and desperate for only what I could give her. That was my Tate.
I jerked, feeling a hand squeeze my shoulder, and I looked behind me to see Tate climbing on the bike in back of me.
What the . . . ?
“What are you doing?” I barked, noticing her clasp Fallon’s half-helmet to her head.
“Riding,” she chirped. “It’s part of the deal.”
“Oh, hell no!” I growled, twisting my head farther around to scowl at her. “It’s too dangerous. Get off!”
“If I don’t go with you, then you don’t get your prize if you win,” she explained, her voice calm and even. “And if you back out of the race now, everyone will think you’re scared.” She shrugged. “Or too stuck-up to indulge us.”
“I don’t—”
“Oh, look,” she interrupted, jerking her chin in a cheery voice. “Here we go.”
I darted my gaze to Zack coming off the announcer’s stand and back at her as she adjusted herself on the rear seat.
I breathed in and out, not knowing what to do. Shit!
“Derek Roman,” Zack boomed through the megaphone, “and Jared Trent last raced five years ago this fall! It was one of the most memorable nights we had here . . .”
“Get off!” I whispered over my shoulder to Tate.
“Not happening,” she shot back. “Can’t make this too easy for you, can we?”
My eyes nearly bugged out as realization hit. Fuck. I twisted around to say more, but Zack spoke up again.
“Because it was also the first time we ever saw Tatum Brandt race!” he continued. “To solve the tie between Jared and Derek, we had their girlfriends race. However, the score never really felt settled, and now, five years later, we can give everyone a chance to see who the real winner is!”
Cheers and excited laughter rang out, and I looked over my shoulder, growling low at Tate.
“Get off now,” I ordered. “I can’t race with you hanging on to me!”
I heard her snort as she wrapped her arms around my waist and leaned down into my back. “It’s just a little pond, Jared,” she taunted, throwing my words back at me.
I shook my head, gritting my teeth.
She wasn’t going to let me race without her on the bike. I couldn’t race like I normally would for fear of hurting her. And backing out now wasn’t a choice because . . .
“Are you ready gentlemen?” Zack called, and I groaned.
“No,” I answered under my breath. And then I called behind me, “You better hold on.” I revved my engine as Derek’s Trans Am rumbled next to me.
Tate tightened her arms around me, and I wondered what Ben thought of all this. He was no doubt watching. Had Tate warned him before climbing on behind me?
“I’m going to get you back for this, you know,” I threatened her.
She nuzzled in close, her breath tickling my ear. “You can try.”
A smile tugged at my lips that I wouldn’t let loose.
“Ready!” Zack called, and I faced forward, tensing every muscle in my arms.
“Set!” Tate went rigid against my body.
“Go!”
Liquid heat flooded my body, and screams filled the air as we shot off, our tires spinning, kicking up smoke and the smell of hot rubber as we launched down the track.
My rear end wobbled with the extra weight I wasn’t used to, and I gripped the handle bars tighter, trying to stay straight. Derek shot off ahead of me, but I picked up speed immediately, accelerating ahead of him as Tate let out an excited laugh. Her scared arms tightened, and I loved feeling her warmth at my back. I always loved her on my bike.
But as we rounded the first turn, I immediately slammed on the brakes.
“Shit!” I growled, feeling the full measure of the extra weight behind me carrying me to one side and messing up my balance. I couldn’t round corners the way I was used to in races—speeding ahead and bending low to the ground—because I wasn’t on my racing bike, and I wasn’t alone.
Tate gasped, her body settling on my back, since she was seated higher up and leaning down.
I brought my foot down, grazing the ground as I rounded the corner and feeling her wobble at my back. Derek honked his horn, skidding behind me, and I slammed on the gas, charging ahead right after him.
I felt Tate’s chest shake against my back, and I knew she was laughing. I hardened my jaw.
At least she was quiet about her gloating.
I picked up speed, able to go much faster than Roman, but the turns killed me. It was no use.
He was able to make corners faster, because he didn’t have to slow down as much—or worry about the safety of another person in his car—and I couldn’t concentrate, because Tate was on my body and in my head, and she knew what she was doing. I couldn’t race like this.
My balance was off, and she knew I was worried about hurting her. In a car, she was somewhat shielded, but out here . . . I was scared shitless, and I wouldn’t take the chance. She shifted, we wobbled, and there was no way I could protect her if something happened.
By the time we rounded the fourth turn, Derek was already nearing the finish line, and I felt my stomach roll as I cruised past, pulling to a slow stop past the announcer’s stand and feeling the heat of embarrassment cover my skin.
Dammit.
Roman was crowded with spectators, and he climbed out of his car, smiling ear to ear.