Page 29 of Falling in Reverse

Mindlessly, I push the trans brake button to release it, and my car automatically goes into gear as I tear off down the cracked pavement of the street.

My heart leaps from the exhilaration of the chase pumping through my blood. It’s so hard that my body begins to numb, and the exhaust of my car is the only thing I hear roaring in my ears.

I never see the other guy as I wind down to the end of the road in the next few seconds, finally letting off the gas when I’ve crossed the finish line.

The Nova slows on its own while I settle back into my seat, allowing the calm darkness to seep inside my ride and my breathing to catch up with itself.

Turning my car around, I make it back to the start line and find all my friends cheering there as I high-five a few on my way to my parking spot. I’m not sure how much I made on this race, I’m just happy that I won it in front of Dad.

He’s here tonight with my sisters for some fresh air and to get out of the house for a little while. I know that he’s been going stir-crazy, so it was perfect to bring him here to something he loved to do, too.

Parking the car, I pop the hood to cool it off and immediately head over to where the audience is watching everything go down. Dad is settled in the front seat of Juice’s truck while the girls are sitting in the back of the bed, watching the cars zoom by after each kickoff.

Getting to the passenger door, Dad’s already intently observing the next set of sprints set up with Nessa’s instruction. “Hey, Pops, whatcha think?”

His crystal blue eyes against his tan skin flick to me, and he gives me a weak smile. “Y-y-y-y-e di-d-d gooo-d-d, hon-e-e-e.”

“Bay!” Mae shouts, jumping up and down from the back of the truck. “I saw a pink car!”

I widen my eyes in surprise, even though I’ve already seen it. “Really? Should I go win it for you?”

“Yassss!!!” She claps her hands in tandem, little brown curls bouncing along with her. “I want it, please!”

Shit, I have literally no place to put it.

“Well, let me go see if it’s doing any more racing tonight and it’s yours.” And Levi is just going to need to find me a spot for the damn thing for the next ten years before she can drive.

“Bay,” Ellie says over the dark bundle of curls at her side. “Can I go to the bathroom?”

“Yeah.” I reach out for her to latch onto my hand so I can help her down off the bed of the truck. “Let’s?—”

“Wait!” Mae shrieks out like a mini pterodactyl, reaching out to seize our sister’s arm. “The blue car is gonna race, El.”

“But I gotta pee,” she retorts with narrowed eyes. “And I’ve been holding it until Bay was done racing, Mae.”

“Report back,” I tell our youngest sister, so she’ll release her death grip. “Take good mental notes so you can tell us everything when we get back.”

Ellie takes my palm and jumps over the side, while I break her fall by catching her underneath her arms.

And that’s when a heavy, thick one wraps around my shoulder, and the smell of turbo blue fills my nostrils. “Hey, winner, you gonna let me have that Mustang?”

I don’t have to look over at Juice when I say, “No.”

“I’ll trade you.”

With my interest piqued, I steal a glance over my shoulder at him. Bright blond hair slicked back from him constantly running his fingers through them. “For what?”

“’92 Ford Bronco.”

My focus promptly flicks to Dad, who just gives me a curt nod, and it’s not even something I have to question. “Sure.”

Juice smiles victoriously. “Really?”

“Absolutely.”

He’s quick to wrap his arms around me, lifting me in the air and twirling me around like a rag doll. “That’s my girl.” I’m smiling, but I still roll my eyes because he’s just extra. “I’m tellin’ you, girl, you should’ve dated me.”

I pat his strong chest as he places me down. “I did it for your own good, Juice. Levi would’ve killed you.”

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