Page 52 of You, Me, and Lucky Number 13

“I can’t tell you that right now,” Ainsley says, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “But just know it’s important. Really important.”

Now my curiosity is piqued. Ainsley’s life is usually an open book, a whirlwind of social media posts and dramatic pronouncements. Whatever this is, it’s serious enough for her to keep it under wraps, and that’s saying something.

“Okay,” I say, even though I want to pepper her with questions. “But you owe me the details later.” I can’t wait to hear what kind of drama she’s gotten herself into this time. Maybe it’ll even take my mind off my own tangled mess of a love life.

“Deal,” Ainsley says. “Thanks, Lola. You’re a lifesaver. I owe you one.”

I hang up the phone, a strange mixture of unease and excitement swirling in my stomach. What is Ainsley up to? And who is this mysterious man she needs to fake date? My mind races with possibilities, each more outlandish than the last. Knowing Ainsley, it could be anything from a celebrity crush to a long-lost childhood sweetheart.

But as I tuck my phone back into my pocket, a flicker of guilt pricks at me. I just lied to my cousin, told her that my relationship with Cole was a sham, a performance. It’s a lie I’ve been telling myself for weeks, a way to protect my heart, to maintain a semblance of control in a situation that feels increasingly out of control.

“Everything okay?”

Cole’s voice, low and close, makes me jump. He’s turned to face me now, his gaze searching mine with an intensity that makes my breath catch in my throat. His eyes, usually warm and full of laughter, are shadowed with a concern that makes my heart ache.

“Yeah, fine,” I say, forcing a smile. “Just my cousin, being her usual nosy self.”

He nods, but the shadow of doubt still lingers in his eyes. And as I meet his gaze, the realization hits me with the force of a rogue wave. He heard me. He heard me tell Ainsley that our relationship was fake, a performance, a lie. He heard me reduce everything we’ve shared, the stolen kisses, the whispered confessions, the moments of raw vulnerability, to a carefully constructed façade.

And now, he thinks I don’t love him.

The thought, sharp and cold, pierces through the warmth of the afternoon, leaving behind a chilling emptiness that threatens to swallow me whole.

CHAPTER TWENTY- TWO

COLE

The air’s electric,crackling through the stadium like lightning. The crowd’s roar hits me like a physical wall as I stand on the grid. This is the second to last race and, it’s a big one.

But the usual pre-race high? It’s drowned out by something deeper, darker. A fire in my gut that screams,This ends today.

I spot that dipshit Chad across the way, the hate in his eyes running full throttle. He thinks I’m going to crack. That he’s got me cornered.

He’s dead fucking wrong.

I’m not rolling over. Not today. Not ever.

I glance at Lola by the pit wall. My heart’s hammering, but when our eyes lock, everything steadies. She’s more than just my race engineer, my support system; she’s in this fight with me. My anchor in the storm.

The announcer’s voice, a booming presence that reverberates through the entire stadium, cuts through the tension. "Ladies and gentlemen, it’s time to race!" The crowd roars its approval, a wave of sound that washes over me, a reminder of the stakes, the pressure, the weight of expectations.

"Drivers, start your engines!"

The roar of twenty engines erupts, the addicting sound of raw power that vibrates through my very bones. I grip the steering wheel, feeling the familiar surge of adrenaline, the focus sharpening, the world narrowing to the track ahead.

The green light flashes. Game fucking on.

I push the Viper to its limit, engine howling. My world narrows to a pinpoint. Me and the car, we’re one organism now, every move based on pure instinct. I know Lola’s in my ear, but right now, it’s just me and my car, but I feel Lola’s presence, her strength—a beacon cutting through the chaos.

Burning rubber fills my lungs. Wind claws at my face. The crowd fades into the background. All I see is that finish line shimmering in the distance.

Lap after lap, I dig deeper, pushing past the pain and exhaustion. Fueled by that inferno inside, the need to win, to prove myself. To keep her safe.

Chad’s a blur in my mirror, relentless. But I’m not scared. He won’t quit. But neither will I. The finish line’s close now. I can almost taste victory…

Then it happens.

A sudden jolt. The car lurches. My careful control from moments ago slipping away. Tires shriek as the Viper swerves. The engine stutters, a death rattle that threatens everything.

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