Page 7 of Fast

I observe my best friend’s conflicting emotions playing on his face. On one hand, he’s preening under his older brother’s praise; on the other hand, he’s annoyed at the way Atlas just talked to him.

“I wish you’d stop calling me your baby brother,” he grumbles. “There are only two years between us. You make it sound like I’m ten years younger than you and Ares.”

Yup. Right on cue, Atlas has Chance into a headlock and is rubbing the top of his head with the heel of his hand, chuckling like a lunatic.

“Aww, but where’s the fun if I can’t rib my baby—sorry, younger brother—a little bit every now and then? No seriously, Chance,” his tone turns serious, as he lets him go. “I owe you one. Thank you for covering for me. And I was thinking that if you want me to sit tomorrow’s race out so you can ride my bike, I’m ok with that.”

It’s impossible to miss the surprise on Chance’s face. “Really? But that’s your spot and you hate me even touching your bike.”

“Nah,” Atlas shrugs. “I don’t want you taking my bike for a joyride, but you’re as good a driver as me and Ares, and you proved it today. If you want to race, you earned it fair and square.”

Ares agrees with his twin brother like he always does. “Atlas is right. But regardless of who races tomorrow, you know there’s a spot for you on our team. We can cut you the same deal as Lev and it won’t be inconflict with your hockey schedule. It would be just the Super Bike League, anyway. With our little team, we can’t even think about competing on the traditional pro circuit. That’s why we worked so hard to get contracts with the team of a big constructor for the Moto GP.”

Chance would be too young for the Moto GP anyway, since he won't be seventeen until next year. The junior league would be a different matter, and the Hunter name would get him plenty of offers at least to try out with all the major teams. But unlike me, Chance’s sole focus is on hockey.

“Thanks. That means a lot.” He says to his brothers. “But you know riding a bike is something I like to do just for fun. Today’s qualifier was cool, but it isn’t something I’m interested in pursuing seriously.”

I see the disappointment on Atlas and Ares’s faces, but they’re quick to hide it.

“Fair enough,” Atlas says. “But if you change your mind, there’s always going to be a spot for you, alright?”

His older brother’s approval means more to Chance than he cares to admit; pride is written all over his face when his older brothers treat him like an equal.

I understand that feeling and I’m not the only one in town. The Hunter name carries a lot of prestige in Star Cove, starting with Scott, the guys’ father. As a retired pro hockey player, he owns one of the biggest mansions in town and his talent agency has jump started the career of more than one NHL player.

The twins, his eldest sons, are even more popular than Scott, if possible. They’re the town's golden boys, plain and simple. They’re starting at Star Cove College this fall, and word around town is that Coach Harrison would give both his nuts to have them play for him. Atlas and Ares, however, don’t share the same all-consuming passion for hockey as Scott and Chance. Their real love is racing. Possibly on two wheels and on something that isn’t street legal, like the bikes they ride for the Super League.

I love speed in all its forms, whether it’s on skates, in a car or on a motorcycle. What can I say? I’m a thrill seeker and I’m never gonna apologize about it.

That’s why, despite not being blood, Atlas, Ares and Chance are more like brothers than friends to me.

I share Chance’s passion for hockey and the twins’ love for racing.

Talking about love, another thing we all appreciate is pretty girls. This is where Chance, Ares and I are on the same page; we have fun, but none of us is interested in being tied down any time soon. Atlas is a different story. He has always been in love with the Heather, the Hunters’ next-door neighbor.

They started dating officially when Heather turned sixteen, and I have no doubt that Atlas intends to marry his girlfriend one day. Heather and his twin brother are the only things that compare to racing for him. This much is clear.

“Congratulations on smashing today’s qualifications,” Heather smiles in our direction, but her eyes are fixed on the new girl. “Do you guys have a new fan?”

Her arm circles Atlas’s waist in a show of possession. I don’t envy Heather one bit. While Atlas is totally devoted to her, she has to fend off the advances of every girl and woman in town. So I’m not surprised that she’s staking her claim in front of a newcomer; especially one as pretty as the girl we just rescued from Cal Fox’s claws.

“I’m not—” the girl starts saying, but Ares comes to her rescue. Again.

“We actually just met her. The guys and I stepped in when we caught Fox trying to put his hands on her without her consent. She’s going to stick with us this weekend until we can give her a ride home to Shell Cove. Sorry,” he rubs the back of his neck, his eyes intent on our pretty new friend. “With all that commotion earlier, I didn’t quite catch your name.”

“It’s Zara,” the girl offers.

Heather assesses the new girl for a moment. “So you’re going out with Calvin Fox?”

“I guess I am. Was. I’m done with him. I’m going to let things cool down between us, and then I’m breaking up with him.” She touches her cheekbone, where the red is turning into a shade of blue and a bruise is forming.

Heather’s eyes flash with shock. “Oh my God. Did he hit you?”

Zara’s pretty green eyes drift down to the ground. “He did. I wasn’t in the mood to have sex with him and he…” her voice trails off, embarrassed.

I see the moment Heather’s reservations about the new girl melt away. “Oh my fucking God.” She leaves Atlas’s side to wrap Zara into a hug. “I’m so sorry, Zara. Are you ok?”

At first Zara’s body is rigid, but it doesn’t take long for her to accept Heather’s hug. “I’m not, but I will be. I thought Cal loved me, but I guess I was wrong.”

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