Chapter 13
1067 Words
Rhea
The next few days settled into something that almost looked like a routine. Most mornings started with training sessions, bike inspections, race reviews, and me trying to get a bunch of stubborn men to understand that talent alone wasn't enough to win races.
Some listened. Some pretended to listen.
And some like Travis looked like they'd rather launch themselves into a wall than admit I knew what I was talking about.
"Again," I called out.
One of the riders groaned.
"Don't complain to me," I said. "Complain to the stopwatch."
A few curses followed. I smiled.
Progress.
By now I had most of them working on reaction drills and controlled cornering exercises. The goal wasn't just speed. It was consistency.
The ability to stay calm under pressure. Something I was beginning to realize this group struggled with.
The roar of engines filled the training grounds as another group took off down the practice track.
I watched them disappear into the distance before dropping onto one of the benches nearby.
My legs were sore. My throat was dry. And I was definitely not admitting that I was actually starting to enjoy this job.
A shadow appeared in front of me. I looked up. Luke.
He held out a bottle of water. I looked from the bottle to his face.
A smile tugged at my lips. "Wow."
He raised a brow.
I accepted the water. "Thank you. It's almost like you knew I needed this."
He sat down beside me. And I took a sip of water and watched another group ride past.
"I can see you're already getting the boys into shape," he said.
I shrugged. "I have to do what I'm supposed to do."
"You sound responsible."
"I hate that."
He laughed. Then tilted his head to look at me properly. "I heard you raced my brother the other day."
I scoffed. News really did travel fast around here. Even though it's been few days since it happened and also since the ki-
No Rhea you're past that now.
"Your brother talks too much."
"That's rich coming from you."
I ignored that. Luke smirked.
"So?"
"So what?"
"How'd it go?"
I looked ahead at the track.
I could still remember every second of that race. And unfortunately...I hated that Ryan had won.
Because he was actually good. Very good.
I took another gulp of water.
"You need to teach your riders how to keep secrets."
Luke barked out a laugh. "So you lost."
I pointed the bottle at him. "Don't sound so happy about it."
"Oh, I'm absolutely happy about it."
I rolled my eyes. The i***t. Luke was still grinning.
"I'll beat him eventually."
"There. The competitive monster."
I smacked his arm. Luke leaned back against the bench.
"You know, for what it's worth, Ryan's difficult."
I snorted.
"That might be the understatement of the century."
"He can be grumpy, arrogant and rude."
He sure is.
"Honestly, I don't know how you two are brothers. You're the opposite of his attitude."
At least Luke is not as rude as Ryan even though he brags a lot.
"Neither do I. But don't stress yourself about him. That's just how he is sometimes."
I hummed.The thing was... Ryan wasn't exactly what I expected either. Which was somehow more annoying.
"You know what?" Luke spoke getting my attention.
"What?"
"Why don't I take you out? Maybe later?"
I lifted a suspicious brow. "For coffee. Food. Something." He added.
"Is this your way of asking me out on a date?"
Luke blinked. Then laughed.
"Oh, come on. You think too highly of yourself."
"Excuse me?"
"What if I just want to be your friend?"
I stared at him. My inner voice immediately joined the conversation.
Friend? Are we sure about that?
Luke was attractive. That wasn't exactly a secret. Any woman with functioning eyesight could tell that. And the fact that he was sitting here offering coffee while smiling like that wasn't helping his case.
Still...His offer came unexpected. And for some ridiculous reason, the first person that popped into my head wasn't Luke.
It was Ryan.
Why are you thinking about him Rhea
Stop it. Luke waved a hand in front of my face.
"Hello?"
I blinked. "Huh?"
"You disappeared."
I sighed. "I'm fine."
Luke leaned forward.
"So?"
"So what?" I lifted a brow.
"Coffee Later?"
I rolled my eyes. "You're very persistent."
A grin spread across his face. "I'll take that as a yes."
I pointed at him. "That is not what I said."
"Your face says it all." And I threw him a glare.
**
The rest of the day passed surprisingly fast. I stretched my arms as I headed back to my room.
“Rhea.”
I jumped placing a hand over my chest. “Good lord.”
“What?”
“You walk like a ghost.”
She smiled.
“Luke is looking for you. He said to meet him outside in thirty minutes.”
He just said he’d take me out a two hours ago and he’s already pestering me.
Thirty-five minutes later, I found myself standing outside the clubhouse. The evening air was cool as I folded my arms and waited.
A motorcycle roared somewhere in the distance. The training grounds were quiet now. Most of the riders had already finished for the day.
“Thought you’d change your mind.” Luke walked up towards me.
I rolled my eyes. “Don’t sound so excited.”
He stopped in front of me. “Barely.”
I sighed. “This better be coffee.”
Luke laughed. “It is. Come on.”
We started walking toward the parking area.And for the first time all day, things felt… surprisingly normal.
At least until I noticed someone standing near a row of bikes.
Ryan. He was talking to one of the mechanics His gaze lifted directly toward us. I don’t know why my stomach chose that exact moment to do something strange.
But it did. Luke either didn’t notice or pretended not to. Luke pressed on his car keys and the car made a sound. He opened the door for me.
Just before I enter, I glanced back toward Ryan one more time. He was still looking in our direction.
That made me suddenly very aware that I had agreed to go out with his brother.
And for some reason…I wasn’t sure why that mattered.
- Writer
