Page 129 of Rear View
I straightened my spine, offering him the full force of my glare when I said, “AndIcannot stress how much I no longer care.” With that, I left, pulling out my phone to fire off another email to the dean, a squealing Zoya hot on my heels.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Xavier
The Parc Ferme was hopping. The energy on fire. It coursed through my damn veins, eager and ready to go. The zero car got into place, waiting for the green light to head out. Our crash the week before had messed with our standings, but we’d make it up.
Alec held his pace notes, scanning them again and again, his eyes focused while Zoya stood in the entrance, camera up, taking pic after pic of all the drivers.
I tugged my racing suit over my shoulders and sealed myself inside.
“This is pretty wild,” Mr. Nolan said from my right, brows lifted as he took in the chaos. “Are you used to it, yet?”
I grinned. “Not even close.”
Ryah’s hand brushed mine and my chest inflated. Christ, I loved her. Couldn’t get enough. Knowing she was with me, that she’d heard my darkest truth and still looked at me like she was proud to be mine, it hit hard in the best fuckin’ way.
Yara stood off to the side, chewing her nails as she eyed the car. She’d felt like shit after the drive-shaft incident. Had made the crew check it six times already. Thing was solid.
“We’re up in three!” Earl called.
Mr. Nolan clapped me on the arm. “Good luck, son.” Leaning in, he pitched his voice low. “And kick all their asses, would you?”
I barked a laugh. “I’ll see what I can do.”
Mrs. Nolan wiggled in and pecked my cheek. “Thank you for keeping my girl safe.”
I inclined my head and offered said girl a wink. “My pleasure.”
Ryah’s arms circled my waist when she whispered, “I think they like you.”
My grip flexed against her, digging into her hip. It felt good being a part of something. I wasn’t family, not yet, but it sure as hell felt like they wanted me to be.
Running a knuckle along her temple, I asked, “You good here, darlin’?”
She smiled. “I’m good anywhere you are.” That smile tightened. “Just be safe.”
“Always, yeah.”
“Yeah.”
She pressed up onto her toes and I met her there, kissing her slow, and gentle, and respectful…’cause her goddamn parents were watching. Her needy fingers twisted in my suit, dragging me closer, and she let loose a soft little mewling sound.
Pulling back, I nudged my face along her jaw and groaned. “You’re killin’ me, dream girl.”
That pretty blush stained her cheeks. “I love you.”
“Love you too.” I kissed her once more for good measure, then turned to Alec and thumped his back with a fist. “Ready?”
“Let’s fucking go,” he said.
A smirk took me as we closed in on the car. Palm latching over the handle, I popped my door open and reached for my helmet on the seat.
“Xavier! Do you have a comment?” someone called from my right.
A media scrum stood just beyond the barrier there, clustered around something, mics stuck toward it as they all ducked under the rope and approached, twenty paces out and closing. Two familiar faces that had my chest imploding stood at the center.
“Oh, shit,” Alec said, his stare wide when it locked on me. “What do we do, X?”
