Page 58 of The Fake Date Deal

“Sir? Get inside.”

I craned to watch Rafael flouncing away. He didn’t go into the drivers’ rooms, which meant he’d come down here just to goad me. Just to get my back up before the race. Well, if he thought that would save him, he had another think coming. All he’d done was focus my need for revenge — not for myself, but revenge for Eve. For how he’d treated her, for my own bad behavior. I’d beat him to show her she was better than both of us. Better than anyone who’d treat her that way. I’d been as bad as he was, but I was ready to change. To do what it took to be the man she deserved.

I paused with my hand up to pat my car roof. Paused to scan one more time for Eve in the stands.

She hadn’t unblocked me. Hadn’t reached out. But maybe, just maybe…

Rafael waved at me. Pushed up his helmet. My gaze passed over his wide, smarmy grin. He didn’t matter, not anymore. All that mattered was somewhere, up in that crowd, Eve might be watching. And, if she wasn’t— if she wasn’t, I’d find her. I’d go to New York. I’d send a plane over to skywrite my message. I want to be better. Please let me try.

The crowd heaved and roiled. Heat shimmered off them. I saw placards with my name. With Rafael’s. If Eve was in there, I’d never find her.

“Good luck,” called Rafael. He waved to the crowd. They surged forward, parted, and there. My breath caught. She was beautiful, radiant as I’d ever seen her, her silver-blond hair bright as a halo. I squinted into the sun, trying to read her expression. Was she angry? Hopeful? Wishing me luck?

“Eve,” I yelled. “Eve!”

The crowd closed in around her. Placards jounced up and down. I strained for another glimpse, but I’d lost her. Somewhere to the side of me, Rafael laughed. I clenched my teeth so hard I heard my jaw creak, but she wasn’t a ghost this time. She was real. She had come.

“For you,” I whispered, and patted my car roof. I clambered inside and set my hands on the wheel. She’d given me this chance, and I wouldn’t blow it. I’d win the race for her, then I’d tell her. I’d show her. I’d lay it all out for her, everything in my heart, and if she still said no to me, it would be to me. Not to one stupid side of me, one awful, crude moment.

I’d show her all of me and let her decide.

CHAPTER 23

EVE

I’d come for revenge, to watch someone lose. Marco or Rafael. Either would do. Maybe they’d both lose, come in dead last. They’d be so busy trying to vanquish each other, they’d miss all the other cars flooding past them.

I’d come for revenge on the men who had wronged me. That, and to get away from New York. I’d had all I could take of my parents, of Gabriella, everyone trying to get me to smile. I didn’t want to smile. I wanted to win.

I wanted Marco to win for me, like an old-timey knight, and then we’d ride off in his gleaming Audi. Ride into the sunset and?—

I kicked myself. No. I didn’t want Marco. Gabriella had one thing right: I’d been a doormat too long. Let everyone but me decide who I was. Well, I knew who I wasn’t, and I wasn’t that girl. I wasn’t somebody who let men disrespect me, who came crawling back for their crocodile tears. I was here for revenge, and for space to breathe.

The drivers were on the track, waving up at the stands. I sat down to hide myself. Marco couldn’t see me. If he knew I was here, he’d think I’d forgiven him.

“Marco!” screamed someone. “Marco Barone!” The crowd strained forward, erupting in cheers. I pulled out my phone and scrolled through my feed. If Marco did see me, I wouldn’t be looking. I’d be bored on my phone, in my own world. My phone, which was buzzing right now in my hand, badges popping up, news alerts, socials. I tapped on a video, Marco and Rafael. Rafael laughing. Marco bunching his fists. Rafael saying something, then?—

I gasped. “Oh, my God!”

Marco lunged, frothing. Security came running. Rafael was still laughing, egging him on.

“What the hell?” I fished out my earbuds. Played the clip through again.

“I never lost—” said Rafael, then an engine roared, backfired. I cursed and scrolled back, but it was part of the clip. I strained to hear through it, but it was no use.

“You were stupid,” growled Marco. “You walked away from—” More roaring. “—you could hope for or want in a person, you had all that and you threw it away. So if you want—” Static. Rafael’s laughter.

“Projecting much? She break your heart? Guess even my castoffs, for someone like you?—”

Marco bellowed — no words, just rage. He flung himself forward and I scrolled back.

“You were stupid,” he said again. “You walked away from… you could hope for or want in a person, you had all that and you threw it away. So if you want?—”

I scrolled back again.

“—you could hope for or want in a person, you had all that and you threw it away.”

And again.

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