Page 112 of Ace of Spades

When I glance up, Levi’s watching us.

Something raw and deep flickers in his eyes. Something that looks dangerously close to hope. For a second, I let myself imagine it.

A different universe. A different life. One where the world isn’t stacked against us.

Where Levi doesn’t have to hide how he feels.

Where I get to be his. All the way.

I smile at Josie and let her drag me toward the porch, feeling Levi’s gaze burning into my back the whole way.

Maybe it’s crazy.

Maybe it’s impossible.

But I feel it.

And maybe, I’m crazy enough to want it too.

Chapter30

Sienna

There’s a saying I heard once:

"Pressure doesn’t make diamonds, unless the pressure is put on the right stuff.”

With only four days left until we leave Breaker’s Isle to go to Houston, TX for the competition… we’re about to find out if SKC is made of the right stuff.

By the time I pull up to the garage, it’s already buzzing.

The first thing I hear when I roll into the SKC lot isApt by Rose and Bruno Marsblasting through the open garage bay.

Finally, one of Kick’s songs I can actually sing along to.

The second thing I see isabsolute chaos—Gramps and Kick are arguing over a set of pipes, Ghost is bopping his head while tinkering with an engine, and Joey is spinning around with a paint sprayer like he’s auditioning for a music video.

I cut the engine on my bike and kick the stand down, a smile tugging at my mouth.

The energy iselectrictoday.

Hopeful. Bright. And God, exactly what we need going into this thing.

I pull off my helmet, running a hand through my hair as I take it all in.

Even Levi’s different this morning. There’s a fire in his eyes I haven’t seen since he was on Grunge Garage. Today, he looksalive.

He tosses a hand up in greeting from a distance and my heart lurches for him. But I know we can’t be what we truly are in front of the world.

Gramps spots me next.

"Look who decided to grace us with her presence!" he hollers over the music.

I shoot him a wink. "Someone’s gotta keep you kids in line."

I set my helmet down and grab the marker from the whiteboard where the schedule’s still taped up.

"Alright, listen up!" I shout, clapping my hands.

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