Page 83 of Race to Me

When he doesn’t respond, I furiously pull the door handle and step out into the blistering rain.

“Skyler!” he shouts, hopping out and running after me.

I whip around, pissed. “You are so stupid! You know that right? I mean holy shit, Foster ... It’s dangerous! Does Ryder do this?”

He nods. “When he wants the big bets, yeah. We all do.”

I can’t help the sarcastic laugh that escapes me as raindrops pelt my arm. “You freak out about an imaginary situation where I could get in the car with Brett drinking, but you’ll risk crashing during a tropical storm?” I don’t let him reply. Instead, I allow the raging storm to fuel the anger inside of me. “Better yet, you of all people should not be riding in the rain. You know what took your parents from you, so why would you risk being taken from me?”

My words changed something inside of him, and his hard edges stiffen. A vein in his neck tells me I crossed a line. “Don’t fucking bring my parents into this!” Foster yells, shaking his head to sweep the dripping tousled hair off his face.

“I knew you were reckless, but I didn’t know you had a death wish.” I throw my hands up. The delicate flutter of butterfly wings inside me has turned into a swarm of murder hornets trying to saw their way through my stomach lining. “If you do this, lose my number.” I threaten.

“You can’t be fucking serious, Skyler.” He sneers, his voice booming over the cracking lightning and echoing roar of angry thunder.

“Deadly.” I snap. I’d do anything to keep him safe. He kept me safe.

Why can’t I do the same for him?

He rethinks his anger momentarily, and his sharp edges soften for a brief, fleeting moment. “What were you going to say in the car, Sky?” he asks, and I know exactly what he’s referring to.

I clench my lips tight.

“I love you more, Skyler!” he hollers against the sound of thunder.

My heart skips a monstrous, glorious beat. “Then love me enough to not do this.”

He looks up at the sky, and his marble-like appearance being barely illuminated by the covered moon brings me a moment of peace in the storm. “I ... I can’t,” he finally admits.

I walk closer to Foster until I’m directly in front of his perfectly haunted, handsome face. “Then you don’t love me.” I sneer. My fear for his safety overrides the warm, gushy feelings inside of my chest.

His white t-shirt is soaked by the rain, and his hair is drenched. “Fuck this shit.” His face goes stoic, his black irises matching the swirling storm brewing around and between us. “Fucking leave then, Skyler. Go!” he shouts.

I turn to walk away, and a groan of relief escapes me when I notice the taillights of a familiar Jeep. I rush over and knock on the plastic window with tears masked by the falling rain. “Brett,” I cry, climbing into his seat. “I can’t stand him!” I lie, knowing I’m just upset.

He leans back in his seat, and the roaring sound of Foster peeling out in the rain shatters my heart. I hope he’s careful, but what do I care if he doesn’t even care about himself? A lot. That’s how much.

A strand of my hair is moved, and Brett wipes away the tears. A desperate laugh mixed with a cry shakes my chest. “He’s so fucking stupid!” I shout.

Brett nods in agreement. “I warned you. And since when do you cuss?” He looks amused but concerned. “What happened? What do I need to do? Knock his face in?”

I laugh at the thought of them fighting. Clashing like night and day, but it’s happened before. “He’s racing tomorrow.” My eyes have cleared slightly; enough to take in Brett’s features. He looks upset. “You okay?” I ask, and he laughs, wondering why the crying girl with dripping streaks of war paint is asking if he’s okay.

“Is he seriously racing during a storm?” A look of worry crashes over his face. “You’re not going, right? You don’t ride with him in the rain. So help me God if he puts you in danger—” I cut him off with a shake of my head. Apparently, neither of these guys wants me to be in a vehicle with the other.

“Can we just go back to the dorm? I’m freezing.” I shiver. He leans back and grabs his letterman from the backseat. It’s warm and dry, and I hug it around my shaking body.

“Do you want me to stay the night?” he asks.

I shake my head, frowning. “No, I know you’ve got your party.”

“Parties are after every game; I can miss one. Besides, Kate left with Ryder. You’ll be alone.” Brett counters.

“I’ll be okay.” I lie as he drives out of the lot.

The black war paint bleeds down my cheeks when I walk from Brett’s Jeep to the dark, lonely dorm.

I don’t want to fight anymore; I don’t want to battle.

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