Page 101 of Ace of Spades

According to the rules, each build team will start with the same base bike. We won’t know what it is until the day of the competition so that nobody can pre-fabricate pieces.

It’ll be a live build done over the span of a weekend. We’ll have two days. And by the end of day two, the country will vote on which crew will receive the honor of Grand Champion and receive the half million dollar grand prize.

It's chaos already and it’s perfect.

As the crew breaks up into assignments to start gathering supplies, I hang back.

Sienna’s wiping down the whiteboard, cheeks flushed, but eyes bright. She turns and catches me staring.

"Hey," she says, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "You’re not mad I didn’t ask?"

I step in closer, close enough to smell the shampoo she uses—something wildly sexy and fresh and so damnherit makes my chest ache.

"No," I say roughly. "I’m proud as hell."

Her lips part slightly, and for one reckless heartbeat, all I want to do is grab her by the hips, haul her against me, and kiss her until the world falls away.

But the crew’s watching and the walls have eyes.

So instead, I give her a look I hope says everything I can’t.

Soon.

Her cheeks turn pinker, and she smiles, small and discreet.

And just for me.

Chapter27

Sienna

When Julian and I were little we used to play a game kind of like hide and seek, but with a twist.

Instead of giving each other until the count of ten. We had an undetermined amount of time to hide.

Sometimes when I’d be hiding, Julian would forget that he was supposed to come find me because he kept counting until something else grabbed his attention.

A few times, I’d come out from whatever closet or bed I was hiding under to find him happily munching on a snack, feet knocking against each other, as he watched his favorite cartoon.

I’d be so pissed at him that he forgot about me, that I wouldn’t talk to him the rest of the day.

But then he’d beg and plead and promise that he wouldn’t do it again and that he did actually care and he wanted to play with me. After a little groveling on his part, I’d give in and we’d go back to being the best of friends.

Well, today feels a lot like that.

Accept, there’s no groveling. No acknowledgment on his part except for a fewBeen a little busytexts.

The rain pounds against the windows in heavy sheets, drowning out the sound of the TV flickering across the darkened living room.

I curl deeper into the corner of the couch, trying not to feel so... alone.

Today was a win for sure. Levi actually went for the build-off idea. I’ve been putting it off wondering how and when I should tell him, but the response from him and the crew… it was everything.

But tonight, Julian’s out again.

Some college party he didn’t even bother inviting me to. Another excuse. Another lame brush-off.

I know he’s building his own life and it’s nothing personal. But tonight, it kinda feels personal.

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