Page 115 of Love Collided

What were you supposed to say to someone who is telling you they are giving up their life because they want to be with you?

Even worse, how could I tell him that I wasn’t willing to do the same thing? Even if he was willing to give up the life I didn’t want to be a part of, I couldn’t give up racing even if it did scare him.

“I can’t,” I finally said.

His face fell, and he stepped closer. “Why? Am I alone in wanting more than just hiding this and messing around? I want you, Scout, and I don’t want to hide it. I want to openly date you and not have to worry about the crew not finding out or my dad interfering.”

The tears were welling in my eyes and I wished for one second I wasn’t emotional. Chase didn’t seem to mind, wiping them away as he waited for me to respond.

“It’s not that. I can’t give up my racing, even for this. I could never stop racing and you’ve already made it clear you would rather me not.”

“I don’t want you to,” he said quickly. “I never really wanted you to. But I was dealing with the fact that I had already fallen for you and learning not to handle that while watching you wreck was less than ideal. It was selfish, and I’m sorry, but no. I fully expect to be your biggest fan at every damn race you go to.”

“But I’m telling you that I won’t give up anything for you when you’re giving up everything. I can’t stop racing. I can’t be with you if my family doesn’t like you. I’m not moving out of my apartment like you would be. I’m not leaving the garage. I can’t give any of it up, Chase. That’s not even fair of me and I know it, but I like my life.”

“I don’t want you to give any of that up,” he said, reaching for my hands. “I want to be a part of it. You have worked hard tobuild that life, and I am asking to have a place in it. I will give up my life that I’ve had because I don’t want it, but you want yours. There isn’t a requirement on how much we each need to give up to be together,” he said, smiling. “I think I’ll give up enough for the both of us.”

“Even if all of that was okay with me, the crew still has to agree to this. I know it sounds dumb saying they get to choose who I date, but I can’t go through them not liking my boyfriend again. My life is tangled in theirs and I don’t know that I could ever, or would ever want to, unravel it.”

“I know. You’re a package deal. But what if they are okay with this?”

I sucked in a shaky breath, trying not to cry again. “Then yes. I think we could try thisdating for realthing out.”

He smiled harder and leaned down to kiss me.

“What about tonight?” he asked, not letting me go. “Do I get to share that room with you?”

I smiled as his hands moved over me like he couldn’t touch me enough. I felt the same way. The thought that this had been over was leaving me more desperate for him than before.

“The crew is all still inside. If we go now, we will barely have to sneak in.”

“Even if they tell you that they don’t want this?”

“I have a big day tomorrow with the races. Maybe we keep this to ourselves for the weekend and talk to them when we get back?”

He smiled as his arm snaked around me, angling us back towards the hotel. “What happens in Vegas can stay here if we need it to, right? Let’s go. I like the idea of not waiting until Kye is asleep to sneak into your room.”

The weight on my chest had lightened, but it still lingered, a constant reminder of the mess I was inside. Despite my efforts not to, I had fallen for Chase. But actually being able to be withhim felt out of my hands, even if it shouldn’t be. I knew the crew would want what makes me happy, but I could never face them being at odds with any boyfriend I had. Desperation surged in me as I held onto him tighter, hoping that my heart had led me to the right person this time.

THIRTY-THREE

SCOUT

If I thoughtI was already setting myself up to get hurt before, it was nothing compared to waking up next to Chase when I knew he actually wanted a relationship with me.

It still felt surreal, like the entire night had never happened, and I would lose it all again. I rolled to face him, and his lips immediately found mine. Before I could worry more, he was making me forget everything for a while.

By the time we dressed and made it downstairs, I nearly felt invincible, which was good considering I had to race in a few hours. There were only two rounds for me today, and if I lost either of them, Holt had every reason not to let me on his team. Ash tried to assure me a thousand times that this wasn’t the end, even if I lost both, but I knew losing today would only make climbing back up this high even harder. Holt had already given me every opportunity to succeed. I just had to prove that I was a reliable driver. I had no excuses and wouldn’t start going easy on myself today.

We weaved through the casino to find where the crew told us to meet for breakfast.

“I’m suddenly pissed that I can’t be touching you right now,” he said.

“Why? We just dida lotof touching.”

“And I’m already deprived.”

Chase stepped in front of me, smiling as he pulled me to a stop.

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