Page 104 of Brazen Mistakes

“Then I stand by that being messed up. You can drive my car whenever you like. I’ll even make you a key.”

The way my heart pounds in my chest can’t be healthy. “You don’t have to.”

“I want to, Clara. You shouldn’t be stranded by circumstance. You should be free to fly as fast as you like. Just don’t get my car impounded. Trips would be pissed.”

My laugh is loud in the small space. “I won’t get your car impounded.”

“Don’t say that with such confidence.” He pulls out his phone, popping a single earbud into his ear. “It’s a busy night for this, but if you’re as good as you say you are, this should be fun.”

“What exactly are we doing, Jansen?”

“We’re getting into a police chase.”

My stomach drops at the same time my heart picks up its pace, dragging me out of my moodiness and into pure adrenaline. “I thought we weren’t stealing anything?”

“We’re not. But wearegoing to speed. There should be a straight empty stretch in about three minutes. No one’s ever there. Floor it when I say so.”

“Jansen—”

“You know you want to, beautiful. Don’t be responsible. Just once, take a risk because it’s fun. Not because you’re forced to, or because someone needs you, or because it’s something to learn. Drive. As fast as you want. Just because it sounds like fun.”

I glance at him, my hands gripping and releasing on the steering wheel. “You have a police scanner?”

“Yup.”

“Where was that when we were stealing cars?”

His grin makes goosebumps prickle up my arms. “Where’s the fun in knowing if they’re coming? It’s the unknown that makes you feel alive. Now, after this next exit.”

“If I end up in jail, I swear—”

“Then don’t get caught.”

A startled laugh escapes me as we pass the next exit.

And I realize that this is exactly what I need.

A chance to let loose without the ever-humming need to keep the guys safe. To be the kind of girl that does dumb, dangerous stuff just because she can.

To feel adrenaline without the weight of imminent doom.

The pedal hits the floor before Jansen can chide me into it, and the whoop of joy he lets out has me laughing full out, my hands calm and in control on the wheel, the junker beneath me roaring with more power than I’d expected.

The exits fly by as the car picks up speed; the speedometer inching higher than I’ve ever had it, and a lightness comes over me.

God, this feels good.

Jansen’s gaze heats the side of my face, his excitement and pleasure permeating the car, the urge to either squirm or preen strong. But at this speed, the road needs all of my attention.

I’m inching well past 120 when the mood shifts, Jansen leaning forward in his seat. “Two exits, then hop off.”

I slow down enough not to slip on the ice as I zip across two lanes. Red and blue lights spark to life behind me as I pull off, and I decelerate as safely as I can, but I’m still out of control.There’s no way I should be at this speed with this amount of ice on the road. A frantic giggle escapes me as Jansen points for me to take a right at the top of the exit.

Fishtailing around the corner, I control the slide and shoot down the street, taking a left where Jansen points, as the lights flash again in the rearview. I skitter around the next corner, narrowly missing a parked car, taking two more rights in quick succession until I zoom into an alleyway. At Jansen’s direction, I dart into a driveway, then knowing what’s next, I switch off the car and headlights.

Eying the mirrors, I hold my breath as the flashing lights pause at the end of the alleyway. Jansen focuses on whatever he’s listening to, but he grins one second before the cops inch past the turn.

Once the cops are gone, I punch Jansen in the arm. “I thought you were kidding about a car chase!”

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