Page 23 of Overdrive (Speed Demons #1)

Suzuka.

This was where dreams had been shattered. WhereAyrtonSenna andAlainProst'srivalry reached its peak. Where JulesBianchi'scrash had cast a shadow over the sport I loved. The weight of history lingered in the air, a constant reminder thatSuzukawas as dangerous as it was iconic.

My time had been respectable—better than respectable, actually—but I couldn't shake the nerves that coiled in my stomach. Even with all the telemetry data to dissect, all the adjustments to make, I knewSuzukawasn't a track you conquered. It was one you survived .

I glanced down at my phone, half expecting something fromCallum. It had become a habit, looking to see if he'd messaged me first or liked one of my posts. And there it was—a notification from Instagram. The post he'd made about Shanghai.

Keep bringing the heat—this grid needs it.

A smile tugged at the corners of my lips, though I hated myself for how much his acknowledgment meant to me.

I'd already seen the fan edits, the memes, the endless commentary about our so-called rivalry, but his post had added fuel to the fire.

He was making a statement, one that was as much for the public as it was for me.

My fingers hovered over the screen before I typed out a quick reply.

@aurelie.dubois.47: Hope you’re ready for more of it. ;)

The second I hit send, my stomach bottomed out. Shit. Why did this feel more exhilarating than an overtake?

I stared at the screen for a moment longer, wondering if I was playing a game I didn't fully understand.CallumFraser was a distraction I couldn't afford, not when every session and every race was a fight to the finish. But damn it if he didn't make it harder to keep my focus.

With a sigh, I turned back to the telemetry data on my tablet. There were adjustments to be made, corners to analyze, and a race to prepare for.

The man who made my pulse race? He'd have to wait. And if I couldn't keep him out of my head by race day… I was in deeper trouble than I thought.