Page 43 of Overtake
Her cheeky smile is something he hasn’t seen since Singapore. “Try to keep up, Conejo.”
Their lap starts courteous. But somewhere between turn 3 and the hairpin, something shifts. Maybe muscle memory from a thousand on-track battles. Maybe the absence of politics and pressure. Or maybe just the pure pleasure of driving with nothing to win or lose.
Petra finds a line through the chicane that makes Nico laugh out loud. He counters with a feint that has her shaking her head and grinning as he overtakes on the outside.
This is how it used to be. Before championship points and sponsor obligations brought money and pressure. BeforeGraham molded Wyn into something harsh and hungry. Before anyone cared that Petra was different, because all that mattered was how well you could drive.
They trade the lead back and forth, neither pushing too hard but both showing off just enough to draw gasps and cheers from their students. When Petra slides perfectly through the final corner, Nico right on her tail, their audience erupts.
“That’s proper racing!” Lena, their pink-streaked student from yesterday, bounces with excitement.
Petra climbs from her kart. “Notice how we gave each other space? How we could race close without making contact?”
“But you weren’t going full speed,” one of the boys protests.
Nico nods. “There’s more to winning than being fastest. Sometimes it’s about...” He pauses, watching Petra demonstrate the line again to her cluster of admirers.
“About what?” the boy asks.
“Fun.” Nico gestures for the kid to take his kart.
He steps back as the boy and one of Petra’s students head onto the track.
“Remember when we’d do this for fun?” Petra echoes his thoughts. “You, me, and the Pritchards.”
“Before everything got monetized?”
“Yeah.” For a moment, she’s just the girl who used to beat them all, then share her crisps and carrots because racing made everyone hungry. She’s watching the karts. “We were good friends once.”
Were. Past tense.
Nico wants to touch her but doesn’t dare.
“Miss Hayter!” Lena calls. “Can you show us the hairpin approach again?”
The moment breaks. Petra’s professional mask slides back into place. But Nico likes knowing that she remembers when racing was something she enjoyed doing with friends.
He smiles. It’s been a long time since he’s thought of their sport that way, and it’s not too late to remind her that they’re still friends.
And could be more.
As the session wraps up, their students cluster around for final autographs and photos. Lena hugs Petra, whispering something that makes her laugh, and Nico realizes he’s missed that sound since Singapore too.
The last kids filter out with their instructors and parents, leaving them alone in the cooling evening air. Petra lingers, fiddling with her gloves. It’s a habit that means she has something to say but isn’t sure how to get it out.
“About yesterday.” She tugs her glove down, one finger at a time, but pulls it back on. “I was a bit of a cow.”
“Only a bit?” The teasing comes naturally, like muscle memory.
“Don’t push it, Conejo.” She meets his eyes, but there’s no edge behind her response. “I’m not used to people having my back. Not for a while.” She gestures vaguely, encompassing everything that’s changed since they were dumb kids messing around in karts.
“Since it all got complicated?”
“Yeah.” She rolls her eyes. “I shouldn’t have snapped at you about the dinner invitation. Or back in Singapore.” She pauses. “You were being a friend, and I shouldn’t’ve brushed that off.”
The admission seems to cost her something, but her chin lifts in that familiar way that means she’s made a decision and will stand by it.
“I still am,” he says quietly. “If you’ll let me.”
