Page 32 of Collided (Dirty Air 2)

Liam and I walk through the pit lane before I snag an unsuspecting Albrecht crew member.

“Hi. Can I borrow you for a few minutes? It’ll be quick, I swear.” I drag our new helper toward a small pit table away from any watchful eyes.

The poor gentleman attempts to protest as his alarmed brown eyes scan Liam and me.

“I’d go along with it. She’s kind of stubborn.” Liam passes us ten plastic cups and a couple beers.

“Well, excuse me,” I scoff. “You know how to play flip-cup?” I look at my new competition.

The stranger nods. We set up the game, except since it’s only two of us, I have to chug multiple cups myself.

By the last one, I’m gagging from lukewarm beer.

“You’re shaming my culture.” Liam laughs as I cough into the camera.

“Sorry, my bad. I didn’t know Bud Light came from Germany. Forgive me for my expensive taste buds.”

Liam laughs as he turns off the video.

“Okay… I’m going to head out now. Thanks for the beer.” The Albrecht crew member practically runs away without me saying goodbye.

I nod in the direction he left in. “Shy guy. He barely looked at me.”

“I think that’s because he was too busy watching your lips wrapped around the rim of the cup.”

“That explains his terrible performance. He barely got past the second cup. I didn’t think I was that distracting, but I’ll take it.” I purse my lips.

“So fucking distracting.” He huffs under his breath. “That and the way your throat bobs from chugging beer like a champ.” Liam winks at me.

My cheeks heat on command. Do I distract Liam, too? I ignore my impulse to ask him. “Quit flirting with me. You’re sidetracking me, and we have other items to complete.”

We snag an unintended golf cart from a random security officer. Liam drives it toward the Bandini pit so we can show Maya our completed item.

I stop recording the short video of Liam driving. “You know, we don’t make a bad team.”

“If only you’d agree to working together on a different set of items.”

“Ha. Ha. Hilarious. Have you been saving that all day?”

“Yes. I can’t help it when you chose a list that I can’t get out of my head.”

While his tidbit is interesting, I carry on. “If you had to choose a few items for your own bucket list, what would you pick?”

“Is time travel on the table?” His eyes darken as he stares straight ahead, focusing on our destination.

“I think bucket lists usually have to include items you can actually accomplish.” I hide my surprise at his question.

“Then I don’t think I have anything I want to do.”

“Oh, bullshit. There has to be something you want.” My question is interrupted by Liam’s phone ringing.

He tugs it out of his pocket. I catch the name Lukas before Liam presses the ignore button, shoving it back into his jeans.

“Who’s Lukas?”

“No one,” he half growls.

Whoa, where did that attitude come from?“Um, okay then.”