Page 147 of Hyperspeed
He kept going, words tumbling out in a furious mess. But I was stuck on one thing.
You’re going to resent me.
As if I ever could.
Didn’t he get it? I didn’t care about the title, not if he wasn’t there to share it.
I’d won before. Alone. But since Rev crashed into my life, I couldn’t picture racing without him. Couldn’t imagine the league meaning anything without his voice in my ear and his hand in mine.
“Fucking hell, Kai. I can’t believe this! Why would you—”
“Because I love you, you idiot!” I roared, silencing him.
His chest was still rising and falling with anger, but when I cupped his face and pulled him in, he slumped against me like his fight had drained away. The red glow on his skin faded, replaced by a shimmer of soft gold, pink, and amethyst.
“You’re everything to me, Revvy. If I haven’t made that clear, then I’m saying it now. I’d give up every championship if it meant keeping you safe. There’ll be other races, other wins, but if you’re not there with me, they’ll mean nothing.”
I pressed my forehead to his, breathing him in as the medics started moving again, scrambling to get the shuttle ready.
“I’d give it all up again in a heartbeat, as long as you’re still by my side.”
“So,” he murmured, eyes locked on mine, his breath brushing my lips. “What you’re saying is . . . if I want the championship, all I have to do is threaten to quit and you’ll hand it over?”
I laughed, deep and unfiltered. Full of relief and joy. Rev joined in, his skin lighting up the space between us. We leaned into each other, shaking with laughter, grinning like idiots.
Looking at us, you’d never guess one of us had just crawled out of a fiery wreck, and the other had pulled off a rescue dramatic enough to go down in ASL history.
And yes, for the record, that legend was me.
“I love you, little comet.”
“I love you too.”
When the medics told us it was time to go, I helped Rev settle into the back of the shuttle. As it began reversing toward the pit lane, the fastest route back, I reached out and grabbed the driver’s shoulder.
“The race is over, yeah?”
“Yeah,” they said. “They’re waiting for you two so they can start the ceremony.”
“Think we can follow the track and cross the finish line in the shuttle?” I asked.
“Are you sure?” Rev squeezed my hand, eyes hopeful.
I kissed his nose and glanced at the driver, waiting for their answer.
“Don’t see why not,” they said with a grin.
So we followed the track, dodging cracks in the asphalt and bursts of steam from the vents. I hit the button to lower the back window, pulled Rev onto my lap, and we waved to the crowd as we neared the finish line.
And when we crossed it, we did it the only way that felt right.
Together.
Fast Track to Forever
Rev
My eyes should have been on my teammate as he accepted his championship trophy. But I was drawn to the man beside him, standing in second and grinning like he’d won something greater.
