“This is incredible,” I tell Noah. “You guys have done such a great job.”
“It was all Maxen,” he says. “I just helped out where I could.”
I roll my eyes at his attitude. “Either way, you should be proud. You had a hand in building something that’s going to influence the culture of both Broken Hill and Haven Falls. The kids that come after us are always going to have somewhere to go that will keep them out of trouble, and not to mention, it’s somewhere which brings both sides of the tracks together. When we’re here there’s no divide between us. We’re all just idiots wanting to see our favorite racers kick ass.”
“You’re looking too much into it,” he tells me, pulling up next to a black Range Rover which I believe might be Jesse’s. “I just wanted a place to race.”
“I don’t doubt that, but no matter what your intentions were, it doesn’t change what I said is true.”
Noah reaches over and takes my hand in his before bringing it to his lips and giving it a gentle kiss. “One of these days you’re going to realize that I’m just a regular dude, not a saint who was sent here to solve the issues of our doomed world.”
I suck in a gasp and slap a hand over my mouth in horror. “What?” I shriek. “You’re not a saint? I never would have guessed.”
Noah releases my hand. “Shut up,” he laughs. “Now, get your ass out of my car so I can show you how amazing this place is.”
We pile out and Noah leads us up to the VIP area where we instantly fall into conversation with the guys from Broken Hill and I can’t help but laugh as I see Maxen talking to Brooke, looking extremely comfortable. I point it out to Aiden and grin up at the guy. “Sorry, looks like Maxen’s opening is not up for grabs tonight.”
“Damn,” he mutters. “I can always try Tyson. He’s single, right?”
“Who knows?” I laugh. “I was under the impression that he was a bit of a slut, so you might be in for a chance.”
“Excellent.” He spots out Tyson in the crowd and a second later, he’s gone.
I shake my head as I watch him shamelessly flirting with the guy. It’s a complete trainwreck where Tyson doesn’t quite grasp the concept that Aiden is flirting, assuming he’s just a cool dude from Haven Falls, introducing himself. That poor guy. He doesn’t know what’s about to hit him.
The races get started and I hang over the side of the balcony with Tully and Kaylah, watching the amazement of the races below. Nate Ryder kicks ass in his debut race and sets some records which I’m not even sure Noah could beat, but I’m sure as hell that he’ll give it a good try.
Tora proudly squeals and applauds for her boyfriend while the rest of the Broken Hill crew start high fiving and sharing the love. The night is incredible, even more so when Maxen introduces the ‘chick’ race and surprises Tora with her chance to finally get on the track and kick ass. I desperately want to get down there and tell her all about the track, what to watch out for and how the corners handle, from when Tully and I tested it, but I tell myself to reel it in. If any of the chicks around here know how to handle a racetrack, it’s Tora. After all, you don’t spend all that time with a guy like Nate and not pick up a thing or two.
When Noah’s race is called, I can’t help but run with Tully down to the side of the track, more than eager to cheer him on. He’s been dying for this moment since the old races were closed down. That need to feel the tires speeding along the road beneath him pulses through his veins and without it, he might just go insane.
Racing is his release. It’s his thing just like reading is Tully’s and Noah is mine.
With all the people, the music coming from the huge speakers, and the sound of Noah and his opponent’s cars echoing over the whole property, it’s impossible to hear myself think and that’s exactly what I was hoping for tonight.
I look over at Noah and even with all these people hanging around, he still manages to find me in the crowd. He grins and I don’t doubt that If I wanted to run up there and climb in with him, he’d happily make every last person here wait.
Fuck, I love him.
The skanky chick starting the race walks out in her tiny little bikini and as she throws her hand up in the sky, Noah sends me a devastatingly sexy wink and I all but die. How does he do it?