Page 19 of Rivals

“Fine, if I know you are on the top of your game it’s a challenge for me and I like a challenge. I like to push my limits on when I race. It’s what I want.” I give him an ‘are you satisfied’look.

Rathe shakes his head. “The moment you’re on this track you’ll have plenty of challenges. You’ll have a handful of the best drivers Indy racing has ever seen. You don’t need me to be on my top game to have a challenge.”

Technically, he’s right but it’s not like I can admit that I feel some strange pull towards him. I can’t even explain that to myself so telling him is out of the question, so I go with the lame cop out answer. “You’re my teammate and it’s better for Revv-It if you’re on top of your game. It’ll be better for me because it’s just one more challenge on the track. It all plays in together plus let’s face it you were a fantastic driver. If I’m going to race against you, I want it to be against that version of you.” Silence falls between us. We both hold each other’s eyes until I finally ask, “So, what’s it going to be?”

Rathe nods his head, his eyes determined. “Let’s do it.” We slip our helmets back on and nod at one another. We start from the second curve, the one that always seems to cause Rathe to back off. We aren’t very fast at first and we do a couple of slower laps. I glance over and see Rathe give me a thumbs up. I’m assuming that means he wants to speed up, so I’m not surprised that we both do. With each lap we accelerate a little more but so far Rathe hasn’t backed off when we come up to the second curve. I’m excited for him.

We’ve hit a true racing speed and we’re coming up to the second curve. I hold my breath as we come into the curve. If he’s going to back off, now will be the time. I ease off just a little and watch his tires to see if he’s going to let up. I’m sure everyone watching the two of us is holding their breath. I relax my grip as Rathe hits the straightaway without a moment of hesitation. Rathe pulls away from me and speeds up even more. There’s a sense of pride that comes over me as I watch him speed away and towards the finish line. He may technically be my rival but I’m still happy for him. Now, if only he can do this in a real race situation.

Nineteen

Rathe

As I cross the finish line, ahead of Sutton and at a speed that I can be proud of, I feel a weight lift off my shoulders. It’s been so long since I’ve crossed this finish line with a time that makes me feel like myself that I’m not even sure how to process it. I come to a stop in the middle of the track and start to climb out of the car. Sutton comes up behind me and does the same. I reach for her hand once she’s free of the seat belts and pull her out of the car and into my arms. Her scent engulfs me. She smells sweet, too sweet to be on this track or in my arms, but she is. She squeals in shock as I spin her around. We both laugh and for the first time since the day of that wreck I feel like myself again...finally.

“You did it!” Sutton exclaims, as I place her feet back on the ground.

I nod. “With a lot of help from you.” I may hate to admit that to some extent but it’s still the truth. I don’t think I could have done what I just did if it wasn’t for her help. She’s like part the devil and part an angel. She’s my rival and my cheerleader it seems.

“All I did was make a suggestion; it was up to you to take it. I’m so happy for you. How does it feel?” she asks. I don’t get to answer her question because a crowd quickly builds around us, demanding our attention and pulling us in different directions. The pit crews, Maxton and Tucker are all there, cheering for me. It makes me feel like I’m on top of the world.

A few hours later ,and a lot more trips around the track, mostly by myself since they pulled Sutton out to have her fitted for outfits for the upcoming press stuff. I’m standing in my dressing room, staring at my reflection in the mirror. There’s a light in my eyes that I haven’t seen in a long time. My smile isn’t forced for the first time in months. I look like the old me. I turn off the lights and step out of the room. As I turn to head for the hallway that will lead to the parking lot, I bump into someone. “Shit! I’m sorry,” I say, as I look down to see who I just nearly ran over. To my surprise Sutton’s blue gray eyes lock with mine.

She laughs. “It’s okay. I wasn’t looking either so no need to apologize.”

“I didn’t get a chance to actually thank you for today. We kind of got pulled in different directions before I could,” I tell her.

I watch as a blush creeps up her skin and into her cheeks. She bites down on her lower lip, uncertainty colors her features. “I really didn’t do anything. You don’t need to thank me. The driving was all you. I’m glad the idea seems to have helped.”

“It did. I haven’t felt this good in months. It’s like crossing that finish line at a top speed even though it wasn’t an actual race set something free in me. It’s like the old me raced back up within me,” I tell her. She gives me a curious look and I shake my head. “I’m probably not making any sense.”

Sutton giggles. “You kind of are. I mean, not completely but enough that I get what you’re attempting to say.”

“Good.” Silence falls between us and before I have time to have a second thought about it, I ask, “Do you want to go grab some food and maybe a drink?”

Her eyes go wide. Clearly, she’s shocked and if I’m being honest so am I. I didn’t expect to ask her to hang out with me. I mean regardless of what happened today on the track Sutton is still technically my rival. Despite that though she just possibly saved my career, and I can’t help but feel grateful to her for that. It’s all so confusing. I shouldn’t want to spend time with her, but I do. She’s gorgeous, smart, a hell of a driver, and apparently forgiving if she could find it in herself to help me after how I’ve treated her. “Sure,” she finally replies, quietly after some hesitation.

When we get to the parking lot, I offer to drive us and then bring her back to her car, but she declines. So, we drive in separate cars to this little dive bar with the best food. It’s a little hidden gem of the town. Only the townies know about this place. It’s possible Sutton knows about it, but since I’m not sure how long she’s actually lived here I can’t be sure. I pull around back and wait to see her headlights as she rounds the corner. She pulls in next to my SUV. As we meet in front of my vehicle I ask, “Have you ever been to Pat’s?”

She shakes her head. “No, but I’ve heard of it. It supposedly serves the best hamburger and fries in town.”

“Then you’ve heard right.” We head inside. Benny, Pat’s husband, is behind the counter filling a mug of beer from the tap as we enter. He waves a greeting, telling us to have a seat and he’ll be right over.

As Sutton and I take a seat near the back of the dimly lit, smoke filled bar I take a moment to truly see her. She has an incredible strength and confidence in her movements but there’s an underlying insecurity there too. I can tell by the way she fidgets when she thinks no one is looking. It makes me curious. It makes me want to know more about her. Benny heads over and takes our order. Sutton seems to relax into her chair a bit more and it makes me wonder if I have her pegged wrong. There’s no way a rich princess type would be okay with a place like this, let alone heard about it. Pat’s isn’t exactly a place on the charts in that part of the world. Maybe, Ryann was right, and I have everything all wrong but judging by the wall that seems to surround Sutton, I don't have a chance of finding out the truth. At least, not tonight.

“You know it’s rude to stare.” Sutton raises her head from her phone, and I’ve been caught red handed. I was definitely staring at her, but I won’t apologize.

I smirk. “Yeah, well sometimes you can’t help but stare.”

Sutton scoffs and shakes her head. “Oh really?” I nod my head in agreement. “And why is that Romeo?”

I shrug. “I don’t like to deny myself the few things created of natural beauty in this world. I mean, look around, it’s easy to find something that’s been made to be beautiful but it’s difficult to find something or someone who has it naturally. You, Sutton Pierce, have that breathtaking natural beauty.”

Her mouth is a slim, straight line, her eyes narrow as she studies me. Then she busts out laughing. It’s loud and beautiful and hits me full in my gut. “That’s a line of shit if I’ve ever heard one. Does that actually work on women?”

Just like that we’re back on an even playing field. “You’d be surprised.”

“By the lack of creativity on your part or lack of intelligence on their part?” She smirks and raises an eyebrow in question, and I’ll be damned if it’s not the hottest things I’ve ever seen.

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