to do what you need.”
He grins. “Oh I know, this time I’m going for it my way.”
I frown a moment and then whisper. “Have you seen Michael?”
He shrugs. “No…and I’m good with that. He’s tried to call, but I don’t think he’d dare come back here Dashy, not after what Colby did to him.”
I smile and kiss him again. “Well, my dad is pretty scary when he wants to be.”
Slade laughs and rubs his hand. “I know, I think he just about broke my hand when he shook it earlier.”
“Oh? Why were you shaking my dad’s hand?”
Slade grins, “That’s for me to know…”
I shove his chest and grin, but before I can answer Payton and Lucas come rushing over. I beam when I see them, and I rush over to give them a hug before the race.
“You’re going to be amazing!” Payton laughs.
“I hope so!”
Lucas puts an arm over my shoulder and nods his head at Slade. They have an understanding now, they’re not friends but they’re cool around each other.
“How are you feeling?” Lucas asks.
“Nervous as hell.”
“You’ll do well Dash, we all believe in you.”
I grin and roll my eyes. “You’re all too nice, someone give me a wakeup call because this can’t seriously be happening.”
Slade pulls me from Lucas’ arms and kisses me. “Oh baby, it’s happening.”
~*~*~*~
Five laps in and I’m coming third. I’m keeping my distance, just like my dad taught me. I’m keeping a steady place, but at the end, I’ll fight with everything I have to make sure I get at least second place. Ten laps, five down. I can do this. I suck in a breath as I pick up speed, sliding around the corners with ease. I am made for this. I can do this. As I take a massive bend, and soar out the other side, I know I’m coming in close.
By the second last lap, my heart is beating so fast I can hardly breathe. All I can hear in my head is a loud ba boom, ba boom. I’m here. I’m doing it. No matter what, I’ve done well, I’ve made it this far. I’ve lived my dream and I’ve succeeded even when everything around me was drowning. I made it. I did it. I am it. The lines become a blur as I take the final bend, I can’t hear anything. I can’t feel anything. My eyes are focused solely on the road in front of me.
When I cross that finish line in second place, I’m not at all disheartened. In fact, when I get out of my car I’m screaming with happiness. Second place in the championships, second freaking place! That’s not first, but it’s damn close. When I set eyes on my father, he has tears stumbling down his face. He knows exactly what second place is. No, it’s not first and it’s not a win but I made it. I did it. I got in that car and I pushed on. That, in my heart and his, means more than first place ever could.
When I reach my little group of fans, I leap on Slade. He’s mumbling incoherent words about how amazing I was. My father pulls me into his arms next, telling me how proud he is of me. How my mother would be so proud. Those are the words I most wanted to hear, above all else, I want her to know her death will never be forgotten and we’ll always fight for her, for us, for this.
“Dasha Jewel?”
I spin around to see a man in a suit standing beside Slade.
“That’s me?” I say, my voice high pitched and excited.
“My name is Martin Jepode, I was wondering if we could have a word?”
I nod. “Now’s fine.”
He smiles at my father, obviously knowing who he is.
“Great race out there,” he says to me.
“Thank you.”
“I’ll get right to the point, I saw your race and have been watching your racing now for years. You did really well out there and I was wondering if you would consider letting us sponsor you?”
My squeals of joy were his answer. He laughs and steps forward, shaking my father’s hand.
“I guess I’ll be seeing more of you and your daughter, Mr. Jewel.”
“Thank you Martin, this is truly a gift.”
Slade is grinning and his eyes are glassy with pride. I beam and shake Martin’s hand as he tells me he will contact me next week.
“Thank you,” I say to him. “Thank you so much.”
He nods. “I can’t let good talent go