Page 8 of Rivals

“You’re impossible.”

I laugh. “Why? Because I don’t find Rathe McCall the irresistible ladies’ man that the tabloids make him out to be?” Shrugging I reach for a soda and open the can, taking a long drink.

Evanna laughs and shakes her head. “No, because you totally find him irresistible but won’t admit it.”

“I do not,” I tell her. My tone is harsh, and I know I’ve given it all away.

Her head falls back in laughter. “You totally do! I knew it. I knew the moment I saw his pictures online that you would be daydreaming about him while denying it to the ends of the earth.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about.” I make it a point to hop off the counter and busy myself with making a plate of food.

“I call bullshit! You totally know what I’m talking about you just won’t admit to it because that’s what you do. You act all badass and indifferent but really you care more than anyone I know. Rathe got under your skin and you aren’t sure what to make of it now.” I look over my shoulder at her, eyes narrowed, and she smirks at me. “I’m right, aren’t I?”

“No, you aren’t.”

“Yes, I am,” she replies, her voice triumphant. “Deny it all you want but you like him.”

“It’s kind of hard to like someone who never acknowledges your existence and treats you as if you don’t belong on the same track as him. Rathe McCall is just another spoiled, rich brat who thinks he’s above everyone else. He might be hot, but his attitude is ugly,” I rant.

Evanna gives me a sad smile. “I’m sorry. I really thought he might be different. He seemed so friendly and outgoing in his interview videos.”

I shrug. “It doesn’t matter. It’s just who he is. The interview videos are probably just for show.”

Evanna walks over to me, a wicked smile on her face. “You know what this all means, don’t you?” I shake my head as my eyebrows pull together in confusion. “You have to take this job and you have to race him. You have to win, and you have to knock him off his high and mighty pedestal.”

“I don’t know about all that.” I laugh at the picture she paints, but she isn’t necessarily wrong.

“Just wait and see.” She winks before grabbing a plate and piling it with food. I laugh because I have no idea where she puts it. As I’m standing there though my thoughts go back to Rathe and then Evanna’s words. Her words don’t make the worst idea ever. They’ve piqued my curiosity. Maybe, she’s right. Maybe, I need to step up and knock him off his stool and show him what real driving looks like. We may be on the same team, but we are definitely going to end up rivals.

Eight

Sutton

Sleep doesn’t come easily that night. Everything that happened throughout the day plays back through my mind in slow motion. I try everything from warm milk to counting sheep, yet I stayed awake staring at my ceiling. As soon as the sun started to break through the blinds covering my bedroom window, I crawled out of bed and got ready for the day. Somewhere in the sleepless night I had come to my decision. It was the only one I could make. I knew it all along, but I fought against it because I’m afraid of hurting others, but in the end, this is my life and I have to do what makes me happy. I leave a note on the fridge for Evanna and sneak out of the apartment. I take a long drive to clear my head and heart, both are so conflicted at the moment.

My dad always said to think with your head first, but to follow your heart. There’s a problem with that. Your heart is a flawed organ in your body. It’ll hide its true desires in fear of getting hurt or hurting others. It can be mischievous and difficult. It can build a wall that would rival the Great wall of China. The heart can master the game of hide and seek. It often wears a mask to protect itself and leaves your entire soul in conflict. Your head and heart could want the same thing, but the heart might mislead you. It might lie to you thinking that it’s doing the right thing but it’s wrong. My head and heart have wanted the same thing all along, but I was being played by my heart and now it’s time to find the truth within it.

I roll down the windows of my beat-up Camaro and turn the music up. The good ol’ 90s rock blasting through my speakers. I was never one to keep up with music of my time. I always loved the raw emotion of the 90s rock. The lyrics could move me and when the lyrics failed the music didn’t. Right now, Dave Matthews Band is my anthem and it’s exactly what I need. As the Revv-It Racing track comes into view one of my all-time favorite songs comes on and I know I’m making the right decision.

I notice a couple of cars already in the parking lot. Some people get here really early I think to myself as I park in a space. As I sit there letting the song finish, I notice Rathe climb out of a truck across from me. I watch as he moves so gracefully. Most guys I know don’t move like him. He’s beautiful to watch and I can only imagine how he must drive a car. I’m curious to see him in action. I take these moments to watch him even though I shouldn’t. I’m sure it isn’t going to help my thoughts stay away from him but something about how he moves draws me in. Who am I kidding? It almost seems like everything he does draws me in. It's ridiculous but he’s devastatingly handsome and he moves with such purpose that it's hard to take your eyes away from him. No wonder he was such a hit his rookie year.

Once he reaches the building and scans his badge through, I pull myself out of the car and make my way up to the front. As I approach, I realize I have no badge to get me inside and I didn’t spot Tucker’s car in the parking lot yet. I really should have thought this through better. However, as soon as the security guard sitting at the door spots me, he waves. Maybe, luck is on my side because he was also here yesterday. I walk over and notice his name tag says Patrick. “Good morning Patrick.”

Patrick is an older man that's a little on the heavier side. He almost reminds me of Kevin James. His eyebrows pull together in confusion. “How’d you know my name?” I point to the area where his name tag sits on his uniform. “Oh yeah, I forget about that.”

“It’s all part of the uniform, right?” I tease him with a shrug.

He nods his head. “Are you here to see Tucker Miss Pierce?”

“Please, call me Sutton and yes. Is he here yet?”

“No ma’am, but he should be here within the next twenty minutes. He’s a very scheduled man. He’s rarely late. If you want you go on ahead and wait for him in the stands,” Patrick tells me, as he motions back towards the track.

I debate on accepting his offer. Patrick seems like a nice guy and I don’t want to get him in any trouble. “Are you sure?”

Patrick chuckles. “Don’t you worry about me. I’ve been around here so long that I’m practically a fixture nowadays. They couldn’t get rid of me if they tried. You go on ahead,” he encourages me, as he unlocks the gate.

I smile and move through the gate. I turn back around to Patrick. “Thank you.”

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