Wrecked (Dirty Air 3)

Heads snap in our direction, drawing unwanted attention.

“See? Catch you later. Looks like my new teammate is in a mood today.” He waves before jogging over to his seat.

My body turns toward the stage, finding Jax scowling at me. Balled fists rest in front of him. I shoot him my fakest smile. His eyes flash with annoyance before he focuses on Noah, tuning me out again.

Noah’s blue eyes assess me before turning his attention back to Jax and Liam.

Jax, Liam, and Noah are close. They’re a group of guys with enough issues to compete with Abuela’s old telenovelas. They could have a show based on Noah dating Santiago’s sister, Maya, while Liam dates Maya’s best friend, Sophie, the daughter of Noah’s team principal. I wish I were making this up. It’s like if Romeo and Juliet met The Fast & The Furious minus the crime and Shakespeare’s tragic ending.

I can’t get the image out of my head of Jax’s clenched jaw as he stared at Elías. He can’t be bothered by me talking to Elías, right? There’s no reason for Jax to be that way since Elías has been secretly cheering for the other team since he was born. Jax has even less of a reason since he doesn’t care about anyone but himself. The problem with selfish people is that they want everything they can’t have.

Sorry, Jax, I’m not an option because I’m too busy being your solution.

5

Jax

“It’s about damn time you showed up. I was beginning to worry you didn’t want to hang around me anymore now that you’re a hotshot racer.” Liam welcomes me to his private Vitus suite.

“Exclusive reports say you’re too busy with Miss Sophie Mitchell. Care to comment?” I hold an invisible microphone to his face.

“Ah, fuck off. The same insider told me McCoy got you a human ankle monitor. How’s it going?” He throws himself on a leather couch.

“As bothersome as the real deal.”

“And you know how an ankle monitor feels, how…?”

“Got in trouble back in the day. Imagine that.”

“I’d almost believe you, except I know your mom would kick your ass. Since she’s busy in London, you’ll have Elena to do the job for her.”

I pretend the mention of my mum doesn’t cause me discomfort. All my best mates think she lives her happy life in London, away from the media and race drama. I keep that part of myself locked up from everyone in the hopes of hiding my family’s issues. “Don’t remind me. I don’t know how I got stuck with Elena.”

“I told you to lay off the alcohol, but you didn’t listen. Elena was probably the only one crazy enough to accept a deal following your ass all year. I, for one, wouldn’t want to.”

“I regret what I did.” I settle into the couch across from him.

Liam places a pillow under his head. “Good. Use it as a reason to kick ass. By the way, nice job with your third-place qualifier. You actually have a chance to beat Noah on Sunday.”

Like a little brother, I feel a sense of pride at Liam’s praise. “Thanks. I couldn’t have done it without you. Quite literally, by the way. Now with you gone, the attention is all on me, so thanks.”

“You may pretend not to give a fuck, but you seek the approval of those around you. How cute.” Liam presses a palm to his heart and bats his lashes at me.

I throw a pillow at his face. “Arsehole. We all have goals: you being the best of the rest, and me being the best.”

“Oh, how the tables have turned.”

“After placing fifth today, do you regret your choice?”

He shakes his head. “Not at all.”

I tap my fingers against my bouncing knee. “Why not?”

“Because I got to hook up with Sophie after and she did this thing with my—”

I throw another pillow at his face. “I prefer chugging champagne on podiums.”

“Spoken like someone who is one drink away from his first AA meeting.”