Page 95 of Crash Course

His reaction only fires me up. The entire week I’ve been wanting to be closer to him. Trying to let myself be vulnerable.

But he won’t accept any real responsibility.

I thought we had more in common despite him being born with everything, but it’s not true. The realization echoes hollowly in my chest.

“So you’re above accountability because you have money and power,” I decide. “The thing about being a good person is you have to do it even when it’s not convenient.”

The words are too sharp, but I can’t take them back.

He flinches. “You said pain wasn’t a contest,” he reminds me. “You only mean that when you’re winning?”

I jump up and rummage in my bag for a T-shirt, yanking it over my head.

“Townie.”

I ignore him.

“Shay—”

“You should probably turn in,” I say when I face back to Jameson. “Big day tomorrow. For me, too.”

Disbelief etches on his handsome face. “You’re serious.”

“I’ll walk you out.”

I hear Jameson curse under his breath. But he gets up and goes to the bathroom to collect his clothes. If he’s uncomfortable wearing the half-soaked jeans, he doesn’t let on when he emerges and follows me to the door.

“Night.” He bends to brush his lips across mine, but at the last moment I turn, letting them graze the corner of my mouth.

“Night.”

I let the door swing shut behind him, squeezing my eyes shut and resting my back against it.

It’s a full minute before I hear his footsteps recede.

28

Jameson

Miami is on fire.

The track is packed with fans who’ve come to watch the next generation of talent.

Since Luca’s announcement of the race, I’ve been focusing in, doubling down on my workouts and logging extra sim time. I review the intel and video of all my competition. Even my brother.

But I know him like I know myself. He’s not going to surprise me.

“You look extra grumpy,” Theo comments when he finds me in the dressing room before the race. “Especially for a man who could clinch the most coveted seat in racing today.”

I look up from my phone, where I’m scrolling through timing data. “It’s nothing.”

The life of a driver has a ton of ups and downs. Most recently, a big fucking “up” in the form of last night in Shay’s room, followed by a “down” when she basically escorted me to the door.

The chaos of our flight and bus ride culminating in new sleeping arrangements was irritating, but the moment I saw her in that towel, I forgot all of it.

Memories keep playing in my mind—how slick she felt in the shower. The way she gasped when I drew her down onto me. How her eyes, dark and hungry, got a little bigger every time I stroked into her.

I can’t remember a time before I wanted her, and having her come apart under me, around me…