THE RIDE BETWEEN US

THE RACE TRACK

CHAPTER 3

‎KIAN'S POV

‎

‎ "I wasn't supposed to be at the cafe Riley worked at", I told myself as I turned off the engine of my bike and kept my helmet, I pushed the door open and the little bell above it rang, she looked up from the counter, for a second, she just stared, then her eyebrows lifted in confusion and shock "Kian?" She called out " you look surprised" I said as I slipped my hands into my jacket "I am" she said "why" i asked "because you don't usually come here" she says as I leaned against the counter "maybe I wanted coffee" she glanced at the empty cup sitting beside me "and maybe I just wanted to see you" her cheeks immediately turned pink, I interesting. She looked aways "what do you want?" She asked, I smiled slightly, almost a smirk, you're blushing" I said " I'm not " " you are" " Kian" she called out warningly " Riley", she finally looked at me, I liked the way she said my name "you're annoying" she said " and yet you're still looking at me" she rolled her eyes and turned around, I watched her move around the cafe, I told myself I would only be here for 5 minutes, it's been 20 minutes since I got here , my phone buzzed

‎ DYLAN: Race in an hour, where are you?

‎I typed back.

‎ ME: coming.

‎

‎I looked up as Riley placed a drink on the counter " I didn't ask for this" I told her " I know" she slightly smiled, " what is it?" I asked "something you'll like" she stared at the cup suspiciously" how do you know what I like?" I asked " I liked tastes like something you'll enjoy, trust me you would" her expression softened, I shouldn't have noticed but I did " I have to go" I said, her expression changed to disappointment " ohh okay, have a nice day" she told me as I have her a small nod.

‎

‎ The garage was already loud when I arrived, Jake spotted me first " look who finally decided to show up" Ajay shouted from across the garage " where have you been?" " Somewhere" I said. Dylan walked over and handed me my gloves " you've got ten minutes" " I know". Nico looked towards the track " conditions are changing" I followed his gaze, the track was dry, but the clouds were gathering overhead "still racing" i said, Dylan nodded " didn't think you'd back out" he said " I don't " I replied while walking towards my bike.

‎ The moment my helmet went on everything became quiet, the noise disappeared, the jokes, the crowd, everything, there was only one bike behind me, the starting lights cane on

‎READY

SET

‎GREEN

‎ I launched forward , the bike surged behind me, the first corner came quickly, I leaned into it, eyes fixed on the exist. The other rider tried to over take me, I held my line and he backed off, good. The straight open ahead, I twisted the throttle, and the engine screamed l, the wind hit my helmet, I pushed harder for a moment, then I remembered my first race, I had been younger, reckless Dylan had stood beside me afterward and said I'd either become very good or very stupid, I had laughed and he didn't, now I understood what he meant.

‎The next corner approached, brake, lean, turn, accelerate, perfect. I could hear hear another engine behind me getting closer, I didn't look back, the final lap. My hands tightened around the grips, the finish line was ahead, I pushed harder the other bike stayed behind me, the line was there and I crossed it, FIRST.

‎ I pulled into the garage and killed the engine, the second I removed my helmet, Jace was already shouting "THAT'S MY BOY", Ajay slapped my shoulder "YOU DESTROYED HIM" "you're both very loud " I said smiling in victory "you're welcome" Jace said. Dylan walked over smiling " good race " I nodded. Nico handed me a bottle of water "The last corner was close" "wasn't close enough" I said.

‎ What added to my victory was Riley's smile which was already stuck in my head. And somehow that bothered me more then losing ever could.

we looked over to the team that lost, it was a gang, the biker that raced with me was their leader Rafe Voss " nice race black, you money will be wired to the same account, well done" he says " okay, now you guys get off my property, we won, we made a deal and I hope you stick to it" I said as I turned away and walked out.

The race is over but the sound of engines still echoed through my ears, I got on my bike and left the garage before the others could drag me into another celebration, I rode to the outskirts of the city, towards the old cliff where the roads disappeared into the hills, it was quiet there, exactly what I needed, I turned off the engine of my bike and removed my helmet. For a few minutes I stood there staring at the lights scattered across the distance.

My phone buzzed, it was a notification about Riley, yeah I stalked her social media, she posted a picture of her and someone else maybe her friends on an ice cream date this late at night, a smile pulled my lips, she is so goddamn beautiful, how something simple made me smile, just one picture, my eyes didn't even look at her friends, it was fixed on her, every inch of her body is beautiful. Riley knew nothing about the races, who I race with or the world I kept hidden from everyone outside it, and I intended to keep it that way, for now. I put on my helmet and started the engine, " there are somethings Riley didn't need to know, at least not for now" I told myself.