Page 3 of Speed Crush

“In what country?”

Lily breezes past me to taste-test from the casserole pan. “Mmm. He’s not wrong.”

Levi smirks. “See? That’s how I knew she was the one—first time she moaned like that; it was over my cooking.”

Lily snorts. “It was over your abs, and you know it.”

I cringe. “Okay, let's cool it with the heart-eyes and honeymoon flashbacks. I don’t want to choke on the love fumes.”

She smirks. “Okay, F1, you hungry or just here to flex your cheekbones?”

“Little of both.”

Levi dishes up three bowls and slides them onto the counter. We gather around like it’s old times, only now there’s no dorm, no ramen, no vodka in sports bottles.

“So,” Levi says, dropping into the conversation as I take the first bite, “you ready to be our celebrity attraction?”

“Define ready.”

Lily gives me a knowing smile. “Mega Max Velocity Park opens in three days. You’re going to be the shiny thing we dangle in front of the press.”

I feign ignorance and raise a brow. “You promised peace and obscurity.”

Levi laughs. “You get that after the grand opening, Noah. Right now? We need a little F1 sparkle.”

“I’ll give you sparkle,” I mutter, then glance at Lily. “This is really happening? Mega Max Velocity Park. One track. One mile. Nolimits. Rain, Snow or Shine. Full mile track?”

“Yup! I’m impressed you did your homework with the marketing slogans! Yes, it's all built and it's beautiful,” she says gleefully. “Thanks to a certain goalie-turned-gold digger.”

I smirk. “I see what you did there with the gold pun.”

“So where exactly was this famous Narnia door, the source of all these fortune?” I ask, glancing around the amazing commercial kitchen.

“Right there, where our kitchen expansion starts. Knock down the walls, from the commercial sink all the way to the back wall!”

“Wow… And you found enough gold to build this huge project for the city! It’s really incredible.” I marvel.

Lily and Levi both chime in, nearly in sync. “It’s going to be the biggest change Cedar Falls has seen in generations,” Lily says, gesturing with her fork.

Levi adds, “It’s not just a track—it’s the kind of thing that’ll keep this town on the map.”

Lily nods. “Jobs, events, tourism—it’s a real economic engine.”

I smirk. “Still can't believe you two pulled a fantasy novel plot twist and funded a multi-million dollars go-kart park with it.”

Levi shrugs, “It’s more than a novelty indoor go-kart racetrack, Noah. It’s the thing that will bring people together, create jobs, and actually give kids around here something to do other than loiter outside the gas station. And it’s not just the kids. We want to attract official events, too.”

Lily smiles and beams at me. “And you—you’re the spark. The big draw. The cherry on top.”

“Yes, my friend,” Levi finishes, “You'll be the opening act that’ll light the whole thing up.”

I shake my head, “I’m still getting used to the idea that I am really here, in your beloved town, guys.”

“You’ll love our town too, Noah,” Levi says, lifting his beer with a smirk. “Who knows? Maybe you’ll find something precious here as well.”

I crack a smile and raise my glass with his.

Precious isn’t even in my vocabulary. But maybe... maybe it is time to learn a new language.

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