Page 119

“You okay, baby?” It’s hard to hear Nate over the engine, but I feel his worry.

“I’m fine,” I promise. “Just wasn’t expecting that.”

“Happens to everyone. I’m going to get you off the wall, and we’ll get back to it, okay? Or do you want to stop? We can if you want.”

“No!” My heart is racing, and the whole situation’s overwhelming, but looking at everyone else having fun makes me want to try again. I don’t want to spoil this. “Put me back in.”

“That’s my girl.” Nate smiles, this beautifully blinding thing.

With the help of the very unhappy beta, they get me out of the wall. With a warning that we won’t have as much time as the others, he sends us on our way.

I don’t wait for Nate to get back in his car.

For three laps, I learn how to drive the go kart. How sharp the corners can be, how high the speed can go. What it’s like to pass someone, not caring that they’ve already lapped me.

And I have fun. A lot of it.

The wind pulls at my hair, biting through Nate’s hoodie and my leggings with the cool fall evening, but I love every second. In fact, when the red light flashes and the car slows, I’m so bummed, I immediately drag the guys back into line.

It goes faster this time, with most of the families heading out to have dinner and get ready for school and work in the morning. I get the first car, each of my alphas reminding me to be careful once the speed goes up again.

We’re buckled and waiting, the kart rumbling underneath me as the attendants go through the rules again.

“No one gets out of the vehicle. If there’s an accident, let staff handle it.”They look directly at my men when they say it and not a single one agrees. I can’t help my laugh as I pull out. We’re so getting kicked out of here, but at least we’ll have fun until then.

The second and third races are a loss for me, but I don’t mind. Every time I learn a little more about how to drive the kart and what to do on the track. And every time I drag the guys back into line, they offer tips and support. Teasing about my mistakes in a way that makes me feel loved, not criticized.

As we line up for the seventh race of the night, Nate slips icy hands under my hoodie, pulling me into him. It’s not the first time he’s gotten handsy and I can’t say I mind it one bit. Sleeping in my bed every night means we’re at a different pace than the others. These casual touches are normal. Needed, even.

“You want to win this time, kitten?” he whispers against my neck.

“Of course I do.” The sun’s setting, stealing the day's warmth with it, but I’m not ready to call it quits yet. I’m enjoying this too much to walk away.

“Good.”

That’s not suspicious at all. “What’re you planning, Nate?”

“Nothing you need to worry about.” His smile presses against my skin. “Just focus on winning and leave the rest to me.”

The attendants eye us warily as we step through the gate and onto the track again. The guys have been model citizens since that first race, but I think they’re still nervous one of them is going to snap if they get too close to me. A very real possibility.

Dez and I head to the front while Nate drags Connor to the back. He’s absolutely annihilated the rest of us all night, to the point that I’m actually excited to see what Nate has in store. It’s about time the pack lead goes down.

Being first on the track is a dream and the second we get the go ahead, I race to keep my spot—against my men, at least. Dez stays close, looking for an opening to pass, but I cut him off at every corner. Despite their start at the back, Connor and Nate are neck and neck in pursuit of us, slipping past the few remaining racers with ease. I keep first until we’re near the last two curves when Dez almost gets me. I cut him off, careful not to hit his kart and keep my place out of sheer luck. In doing so, I see the chaos behind me.

Namely, Nate veering at the last second and nailing the nose of Connor’s cart just as he’s about to speed ahead and pass us all for first.

I hear a shouted, “What the fuck?!” but I’m too busy crossing the finish line to care.

I won.I actually won!

Cheering myself to victory, I lead the cars in, hopping out the moment everything shuts down and flinging myself at Dez. “I did it.”

“Yeah, you did.” He leans me back, kissing me chastely before the bickering tears us apart.

“You fucking hit me!” Connor snaps, shoving out of the kart to whirl on his brother.

“It was a love tap.” Nate doesn’t stick around for more arguing. He bounds past the kids rushing for their parents and hauls me into his arms. “Number one, baby!”