Page 84 of Austin

I hate him. I hate him so much I can’t even think of enough expletives to express how much I hate him right now. And, in case you’re wondering, the him in question bounces back and forth between Austin and Beckett because I also can’t decide who I’m angrier with.

Austin didn’t even bother coming home to tell me he was racing my brother again. He called because he knew I’d be fuming.

Good thing because he missed a swift kick in the balls that I was planning on giving him as soon as the words, “I’m racing Beckett tonight, and I don’t want you there,” poured out of his mouth.

Just reciting it in my head has me kicking the dashboard in front of me.

“Watch the dash, girl,” Eva says beside me as we pull up to the secluded part of South San Francisco where Gregg set up the race between Beckett and Austin. Eva had to make some calls to find out where the race was, and thank God she did.

I see Beckett, already waiting and leaning on his Mustang.

“Jalynn, why are you here?” he yells as soon as we exit Eva’s car.

“Because, when my brother and boyfriend decide to go behind my back and race each other, you can damn well be sure I’m gonna be here!” I push him in the chest, and he falls against his car. I pound my fists into his leather jacket and show him just how angry I am. “What are you racing for tonight, Beckett? You finally got your car back, so you’re wagering it again?”

He grabs my wrists and holds me still, keeping me from hitting him anymore. “Stop it, Jay. You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

I try to twist out of his grip, but he’s holding me strong. “I know something’s up, and one of you’d better tell me or else I’m going to start screaming so loud that everyone within a ten-mile radius will hear me.”

“I have this under control. I promise. Just calm down and get on the sidelines, Jalynn.”

“Not until you tell me what the hell is going on, Beckett!”

“Let her go.” Austin’s authoritative tone echoes from the crowd behind us.

Beckett’s eyes lift and widen as he gently releases me, and I fall back on my heels before turning swiftly to Austin.

He’s wearing his oversize sweatshirt, the same one he wore the night we met, along with his LUNATIC hat peeking through underneath it. I can’t see his eyes, but his lips are set in a thin line. I don’t know if he’s unhappy with the way Beckett was handling me or the fact that I’m here. Whatever the reason, I don’t care.

I lift my chin and hold my ground as he walks up to me, leaving the crowd behind him. I feel the pull, the one that I’ve felt from the moment I stepped into his car and he took me on the ride of a lifetime.

My eyes are stern, and my jaw is set, yet inside, I want to melt right into that ugly-ass sweatshirt. I’m tethered to this man, and there’s no way I’ll ever be able to walk away.

“I told you to stay home.” He places a hand on my elbow and draws me near.

“I don’t take lightly to being told what to do.” I pull my arm away from him and square my shoulders back.

He lets out a low grunt from inside his throat. “You’re really earning that nickname right now.”

I grit my teeth. “I am not being a Gomer Pyle. Now tell me what is going on because I’m ready to cause such a scene that your race will never start, and your thirty-minute window will be up!”

“Fine.” Beckett steps up and loudly whispers in my ear, “I threatened Austin with telling everyone he’s Falcon.”

“You what?” I scream.

Austin places a hand over my lips, pulling me into him and away from Beckett and the crowd.

I’m twisting and turning as he pulls me away from the people and the lights until we’re out of earshot.

“Will you calm the fuck down, so I can explain?” he says as he lets me go.

I start to march right back toward Beckett. “I have to talk to my brother. If he thinks—”

“You’ll do no such thing.” He yanks me back into him.

I pull my arms away and wave them around as I try to explain, “He’ll listen to me. Beckett always listens to me. He can’t just threaten you every time he doesn’t get his way. He can’t use my boyfriend as leverage just to race. And what about you? What happened to not wanting to run anymore? This is running, Austin. This is running away from us!”

“Jalynn, look at me!” he shouts, bringing my attention, which has been scattered around everything from the cars to the exhaust smoke to the music and boisterous crowd, back to him and into the deep blue that holds my soul.