Redeemed (Dirty Air 4)

I push aside my worries because I have a new goal. Beating Noah wasn’t enough. Beating Noah while securing a hookup with Chloe has my skin buzzing with a different kind of excitement. One I allow to feed my adrenaline rush.

This is just like driving your other cars. You’ve practiced these exact moves with your leg before.

Noah and I drive up to the checkered line.

My sister lowers her window and waves from the passenger seat. She presses a button on a remote, and the red light from the camera on our dashboard flashes on and off. “The camera is filming. The first person past the finish line after ten laps wins.”

“Good luck,” Noah calls out.

“See you in my rearview mirror.” I rev the engine once, letting the rumbling soak into me. Energy crackles around me as my confidence grows.

And at the end of Maya’s countdown, I surge down the racetrack with Chloe screaming beside me. Tires squeal in protest as Noah and I rush side by side across the pavement. My heart threatens to pop out of my chest, and my hands tremble from the fresh rush of adrenaline.

“Oh my fucking God, this is the stupidest thing I’ve ever done!” Chloe cries out.

“Oh, Chloe. If this is the stupidest, you’re clearly not living.” I look over at her, smiling at her.

She’s always been beautiful. But her by my side while I battle my demons? It’s a look that can’t compare.

“Focus on the damn road!”

“I’m confused. Did you expect me to go slow?” I push against the accelerator, surging past Noah’s car and cutting him off. I press my foot on the brake and smoke billows from the tires.

“Oh, God. I’m sorry I don’t pray to you enough, but now is the best time. Please don’t let me die.” She presses her palms together.

I chuckle, switching gears to match the curves and straights of the track. “You’ll only die when my tongue is fuckin

g you into oblivion. I promise.”

“We are on camera!” Chloe’s waves at my sister’s vlog gear.

“Don’t worry. My sister has someone who edits her videos.”

“How is that a good excuse?”

I laugh, ignoring her.

Noah zooms past my car at the next straight, pushing me to outsmart him. Back and forth, we fight for first place within the second lap of the race. Every muscle in my body tightens as I force the car to its limit.

I don’t have time to second-guess myself, let alone worry about crashing at high speeds.

“I hate you!” Chloe screams again as I turn sharply, the car’s tires locking in submission. We drift, leaving behind another plume of smoke.

Laughter explodes out of me. “Have fun with me.”

“I’ll have fun once you lose this damn race!” she shrieks.

“Is that a challenge?”

“It’s a fact.”

“Cute little Chloe taunting me.” I press on the accelerator, forcing Noah into second place as I pass him once again.

She looks away, failing at hiding her smile. Interesting. She is enjoying herself. The little criminal is a pretty good faker after all.

After a few laps, Chloe’s squeals shift from fear to enjoyment. Her reactions push me harder to drift at curbs and force the car to a new breaking point.

It hits me out of nowhere that I’m having fun. For the first time in the longest time, I’m enjoying myself while driving. It’s such a damn good time, I don’t avoid hitting almost one-hundred and seventy miles per hour. It’s the fastest I’ve gone since I was in an F1 car racing.