Page 63 of Ride

Padma flipped through the binder on the table. “You as well, Amena. Have you decided on the flavors, or do you need more time?”

I cut into the vanilla and strawberry topping sample, tasting the mixture together. “That is too rich, it would have the kids bouncing off the wall.” I washed the flavors down with a glass of water and tasted the chocolate sample. My left brow fluttered at the sweet caramel and chocolate.

Sarai pecked away on her phone.

“The chocolate and caramel, just light on the caramel topping.”

Padma scribbled down notes. “Did you want the cupcakes the same?” A soft smile creased her face.

I turned to cast a matching smile. “Have the cupcakes with vanilla only.”

Padma walked away with the binder. “I will get on that right away.”

Sarai picked up her folder, and I grabbed my bag to follow her out to the cars. “Listen, the cost is taken care of already. Laikin was adamant about covering everything.”

I swallowed down my anger. “I hate to be like a taken care of girlfriend. I can handle my own bills.”

“When you have a man that loves you and wants to spoil you, let him.”

“Malik spoils you?”

Sarai stretched her arm out for a one shoulder hug. “He has no choice, girl. I had his bigheaded child. I better get spoiled.”

I laughed and threw a thumbs up and signaled goodbye.

Standing outside my car door, I held it open and yelled, “Send me the magazine details!”

“I got you!” Sarai shouted back.

* * *

A few hours later, I walked through security at the race track, holding Kayne’s hand. Winter was right beside me. Security handed us VIP badges, escorting us to the private elevators to get to our section. Laikin always kept his phone on private to focus on work, and I hoped he would take home the big win going into Kayne’s birthday.

“Is that little Kayne?” Malik held up his hand for a high-five.

Kayne jumped up to high-five him. “Uncle Malik!”

“What’s up, nephew? You got a big birthday coming, right?”

“I do, turning four.” Kayne showed four fingers in the air.

The crowd roared as names were called when they pulled out onto the track. Each team came from the pit and waved at the crowd. Laikin smiled and pointed in our direction. I helped Kayne up so he could get a better view.

“Girl, I might find my future husband here,” Winter commented, fanning herself. I hugged her shoulder.

All the drivers jumped into their cars, revving their engines. I helped Kayne hold the #1 sign with Laikin’s name printed on it.

The event started. Once the warmups finished, the starting light system began sending all the cars into a formation lap. I watched Laikin move in and out at a fast, steady pace. Deep down I worried about his career choices but understood that Formula One racing was his passion.

Laikin’s car passed another, which put him in the lead, and set my nerves on the edge as their speeds surpassed hundred miles per hour. Deep down I felt like his biggest cheerleader as I clapped my hands and held up one of the signs Kayne had with his name flashed across it.

“You got this, Laikin!” I jumped in excitement and the crowd became more and more boisterous at him completing each lap. I shielded my eyes from the sun and took a deep breath as the race started come to an end.

“He’s going to win. I can feel it.” I pressed a hand on Winter’s shoulder, and she lifted her hand for a high five.

I scooped Kayne up into my arms to get a better view of the race, when in the blink of an eye, another driver closed in on Laikin and grazed his car hard to the point it pushed him off the ground. I could see he lost control of the wheel from the sound of screeching tires, and the sparks of fire from undercarriage made my stomach drop. The car twisted in circles before it hit the barrier on the side of the track.

My heart beat faster, eyes bulging with the revelation of him being hurt or worse, and anxiety ran high at seeing his car half destroyed on the side of the wall. Winter grasped my hand and we said a silent prayer, as the red flag went up. The rest of the cars slowed down, and we watched medical support speed to him and I scrambled down the bleachers to get a better look. A crew member held a fire extinguisher and sprayed his car. His helmet came off once the scene was safely contained. They moved to pull different straps over him, and I anxiously wanted to run and find out what I could do to help.

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