Always you

Chapter 15

Sasha sat in her room, twisting her phone between her fingers as she replayed Rafe's text over and over in her mind. She hadn't been able to concentrate on her tasks since he'd left, and now that the sun was beginning to dip behind the trees, she felt a sudden restlessness stirring within her. She thought of Rafe's invitation, the look in his eyes as he'd practically begged her to come with him. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to go, to just... see what the motorcycle race was all about.

Making up her mind, she grabbed her phone and dialed Kiara's number. Within seconds, Kiara picked up, sounding cheerful.

"Hey, Sasha! What's up?"

"Kiara, have you heard about the race happening tonight?" Sasha asked, trying to sound casual.

"Oh, yeah! It's the talk of the town," Kiara replied, her voice laced with excitement. "You're thinking about going?"

Sasha paused, then took a deep breath. "I think I want to go, yeah. Would you come with me?"

"Absolutely! I was already planning on it," Kiara laughed. "Give me twenty minutes, and I'll pick you up."

True to her word, Kiara arrived quickly, and Sasha, dressed in a simple but stylish outfit, hopped into the car with her. As they drove, she felt her nerves beginning to tingle with excitement. She'd never gone to anything like this, and the thrill of it felt electric.

They reached Porter's Ridge, and Sasha was taken aback by the crowd. People were clustered everywhere, some leaning against their motorcycles or cars, others sitting on the hoods of vehicles, and some were weaving through the masses, chatting and laughing loudly. The energy in the air was intense, a mix of anticipation and thrill that Sasha could almost taste.

Kiara led the way, weaving through the people as they searched for familiar faces. They spotted some racers lining up in front of a stretch of dirt road, their motorcycles roaring as they revved their engines in preparation. Sasha strained her neck, scanning the area for Rafe, Alex, or Daniel.

"Do you see them?" Sasha asked, still searching.

"Not yet, but don't worry—they're probably right in the middle of it all," Kiara replied, grabbing Sasha's hand and pulling her closer to the front of the crowd. As they moved forward, Sasha noticed more people gathered near the starting line, their eyes fixed on the racers.

And then, as they reached the front, she saw him. Rafe was standing next to his motorcycle, a sleek black and chrome machine that gleamed under the dim lights. His jacket was open, and he looked calm but focused, a determined glint in his eyes. Sasha's heart skipped a beat as she realized he was one of the racers.

"Wait... is Rafe racing?" she murmured to Kiara, half in disbelief.

Kiara nodded, leaning in close. "Yeah, he's one of the best around here. He usually keeps it low-key, but when he races... well, let's just say it's a sight to see."

Sasha felt her stomach flip. She'd seen the confidence Rafe exuded in other situations, but this was something entirely different. He seemed completely in his element, his expression unreadable as he adjusted his helmet, preparing for the race. The other racers mounted their bikes as well, and a tense silence fell over the crowd as everyone held their breath, waiting for the signal.

The starter raised a hand, and Sasha felt the anticipation reach a fever pitch. And then—bang! The signal sounded, and the motorcycles shot forward, engines roaring as they kicked up clouds of dust. The crowd erupted into cheers as the racers sped down the track, weaving and dodging each other with precision and skill.

Sasha watched, her heart pounding as she followed Rafe's bike with her eyes. He was fast, moving with an almost effortless grace that set him apart from the other racers. She could see his focus, his determination to win, and it was captivating. The race was intense, with competitors jostling for position, taking risks that made the crowd gasp. The multiple bends and curves had the whole crowd holding their breaths. The racers were out of their vision, but they watched intensely through the multiple humongous screens mounted everywhere. The racers all took seven laps around the course, all through which Rafe stayed near the front, pushing himself harder with every second, until finally, he pulled ahead in the final stretch.