Page 75 of Revved up & Ready

“Really?” I ask, surprised.

“Fuck, yeah. You’re my friend. He’s my friend,” she says, tugging on her shirt to show off the black and yellow. “Why wouldn’t I?”

It’s been a while since I had a new friend. The last ones I made were more interested in helping my ex cheat than actuallycaring about me. Bea’s willingness to jump into my life is a refreshing gift. “I think I love you,” I giggle.

“You do.” She nods. “We’re besties now. Don’t worry about it.”

When the interviewer reaches Cam, he’s already straddling his bike at his mark on the track.

“Qualifiers were close for this race. You were only a quarter-second from first,” the tall, dark-haired woman says. “Were you disappointed you didn’t grab pole position?”

“I’m pretty sure pole position means starting the race first,”I whisper to Bea.

“Disappointed?” Cam laughs. “You know me. I’ve won more races from second on the grid than from first. I like having someone to chase, and no one’s more fun to chase than Ludlow.” I try not to get hung up on the“you know me”part.He probably only knows her in a professional capacity.

“Tell me about the adjustments you’ve made to your bike and tire pressure based on today’s heat,” she asks.

“We’ve taken everything into account. Don’t worry,” he answers with a chuckle. When she leaves, I remember him saying this is his least favorite part.I wish I could be there with him, standing by until the race starts.

When the racers take off, Bea comments, “This feels awfully chill for a race.”

“Iwishthey raced like this, but it’s just a warm-up lap.”

As Cam rounds the halfway point of the track, my heart rate speeds up. It’s almost time. Almost time for the race. For the risk.The tattoo across his chest that reads ‘No Risk No Story’flashes in my mind.Is a story really that important, Cameron? What if the story is:today I raced zero motorcycles, got in zero crashes, and lived happily ever after? Sounds like a good one to me.

Dandy’s wet nose bumps my hand.

“Hi, sweet girl,” I greet her, reaching through her fluffy fur to rub her head.

She’s crawled off Bea’s lap and is now walking circles on mine. After seven or eight turns, she settles with a plop and a heavy dog-sigh. Dandy may not look anything like her owner, but their energy matches—comforting, steady, and insistent that no one should have to handle anything alone.

Doing my best not to lose my shit, I go through a calming breath exercise I found online this morning, petting Dandy in time with each exhale.

“He’ll be okay,” Bea reassures me, resting her hand over mine where it sits in Dandy’s fur. “And no matter what,youwill be okay.”

I look down at the pile of encouragement in my lap and spot the tattoo on the inside of Bea’s forearm:No Matter What.

“What’s this tattoo for?” I ask.

Bea turns her arm up, running her thumb over the ink. “I got it with my childhood best friend. He has one that saysNo Matter Where.”

“I don’t think I’ve heard you mention him before,” I say, taking in the details of the script. “What’s his name?”

“Teddy,” she says, her voice softening. “He’s a doll, but we don’t really talk anymore.”

Feeling a twinge in my chest at the rare sadness pulling her features, I say, “If you ever want to talk about him, I’m here to listen.”

“Thanks, bestie,” she says, squeezing my hand but offering no more about whatever happened with Teddy.

The green flag waves, and the motorcycles rip away from their starting marks—thirty or more racers going over one hundred fifty miles an hour as they head into the first turn in a terrifying mass of engines and leather. Cam and Ludlow are outfront, and by turn four, there’s enough distance between them and the pack that I can breathe a little easier.

“This isn’t so bad,” I admit as Cam crosses into his third lap. When my petting slows, Dandy presses her little head into my palm. “Okay, that’s fair,” I say, resuming the motion.

Announcer One: Hacker is ripping around these turns.

Announcer Two: What he said to Jolie at the beginning is true. He thrives on the chase, and Ludlow is giving him a good one.

The camera zooms in, showing Cam’s front tire lifting off the track as he comes out of a turn.

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