Racing for Freedom (6 page)

His eyes widen. “Well, that’s interesting, because I’m looking for a place.”

I snort, rudely. “I don’t think so.”

“Scared?”

“No, I just don’t want to have to look at you every day.”

“Come on Dash, I need a place. You won’t even know I’m there.”

“Go live with daddy.”

He stiffens and I notice, I turn and stare at him. His face has gone blank and he stares ahead of us. Then, as though he realizes what he’s doing, he smirks again.

“No, he’s got a new woman and doesn’t have the space.”

“Aw, poor Slade’s getting kicked out.”

He growls at me. “No, he only got a one bedroom place.”

“On purpose no doubt.”

Slade grunts. “Come on Dash, I need a place.”

“I’d rather not.”

“Just admit it, you’re scared. Scared of having a winner in your house when the races are over.”

I spin on him. “What happened the other day was a mistake. I could beat you Slade, I’d bet on it. I stuffed up the other day, it won’t happen again. “

“You believe what you want, we both know you’ll lose.”

“I could take you and you damn well know it.”

“Fine, prove it. Later today, down on the old beach tracks. You win, you get whatever you want, except asking me to leave the race. I win, you let me move in with you.”

“What? No!”

“I knew it,” he laughs, “you know you’ll lose.”

“It’s got nothing to do with that, I don’t play childish games.”

“Dashy’s scared…” he taunts.

My anger boils over and I snap, “FINE! But you won’t win, so get that cocky smile off your face.”

He grins and extends his hand, I shake it and he laughs. “See you at the track, Dashy. Four pm.”

I close my eyes as he disappears. What the hell have I gotten myself into? I begin walking again, and I hear his car roar to life and speed off. Dammit, dammit, dammit. If he wins…no, I’ll just have to make sure he doesn’t win. I’ll have to be on my game. I grumble the entire way down the street, wondering what the hell is wrong with me. Slade has a damn good chance of winning, and I have a damn good chance of getting a new house mate I don’t want. Good one Dasha.

When I finally reach my unit, I stare up and smile. It’s all mine. I walk up the small stone pathway and unlock the door. When I step inside, I peer around. It’s fully furnished, which is kind of good, because I don’t have much. I had to pay a touch more for it, but it’s still affordable. It’s not new, nor is it a stunning place, but it’s nice, cozy and all mine. The kitchen is small, with black counter tops and basic appliances. The lounge holds one couch, a small television and an old rug. The two rooms down the halls both have new queen sized beds, I’m grateful for that. One has an ensuite. I take that one.

The bathroom and toilet is small in both the ensuite and the main bathroom, but it’s certainly something I can deal with. The laundry is at the back of the unit and has a door that leads out to a rope clothesline. I drag my suitcase down into the hall and into my new room. I drop it on the floor and peer around. It’s bland but I can make it work. I begin slowly unpacking and thinking about the race this afternoon. God, if I lose…

“Hey!”

I spin around to see Payton standing at the door, grinning.

“Pay, hey!”

“Nice place, it’s not bad.”

“It’ll do.” I grin.

“I bet you’re so glad it’s yours?”

“I am, I feel free, unleashed.”

She laughs. “So, are you going to get a roommate?”

I frown and she notices. “Uh oh, what’s that look for?”

“I made a huge…mistake.”

“What?”

She’s on the bed beside me now, staring at me with wide eyes.

“I made a bet with Slade.”

“A bet?”

“Yes, a bet.”

“What sort of bet?”

“He was taunting me and I told him I could beat him. He was hassling me about being my housemate because he needs a place, and so he bet me that I couldn’t beat him. If I don’t, he gets to move in.”

“Oh Dash, you didn’t.”

I swallow. “I did.”

“Now what?”

“We race this afternoon, down on the old beach track.”

“If he wins…”

“I know,” I groan.

“Can’t you back out?”

“Well…I could but my pride won’t let me. I have to beat him, Pay.”

“Honey, this is silly.”

“I know, but it’s too late now.”

“Pull out, you can pull out.”

“I couldn’t live with more taunting if I pulled out, no, I have to go.”

She sighs. “Fine, what time?”

I look down at my watch. “An hour.”

“
You taking your car?”

“Yeah, I won’t touch dads.”

“Alright, well, I’m coming with you.”

I raise a brow at her. “You’re coming with me?”

“Yes, I’m coming with you.”

I shrug. “Ok Pay, you can come if you feel the need.”

She smirks. “Oh I do.”

“Are you sure about this?” Payton asks, as I get into my car later that afternoon.

The beach tracks are quiet, beautiful and perfect for racing. Slade and I know these tracks, we’ve been racing on them for years. We used to come down and practice turns on our go-karts, or our old dirt bikes. It was only when we got old enough to get our own cars that the real fun began.

“Yes, I’m sure,” I finally say, answering Payton.

I glance over at Slade in his car beside me. He’s grinning at me and actually blows a kiss, the jack ass, before starting his engine. I sigh and start my car. Come on baby, it’s me and you today. Kandee, wearing next to nothing, stands in the middle waving her arms.

“I’ll see you at the finish line.” Payton whispers, closing my door.

I stare ahead, not focusing on anything else. When Kandee drops her arms, I slide my foot off the clutch and my car lurches forward. These old tracks are flattened often, so even though they’re dirt, they’re firm and hard. My car speeds ahead of Slade’s and I’m surprised. What game is he playing? He usually always starts off quickly. I change gears and zoom quicker around the bends, loving how well my baby holds.

These tracks used to be where the races were held, until they made some nicer tracks in the city. I speed around a corner and dirt skitters off my tires as I come out the other side. I look in my rearview mirror and Slade is close behind me. Why is he holding back? I turn and look back at the road just in time to see a massive water puddle ahead. That bastard! He knew. I slam my breaks on and my car spins, fishtailing out the side and
smoking as I come to a stop. Slade zooms past me, slides around the puddle and keeps going.

I scream into the wheel.
That asshole. I plant my foot onto the accelerator and keep going, not willing to sit back here and lose tragically. I catch Slade just as the end of the track and I kick my car down a gear or two, urging it forward. Come on, come on! He touches the finish line a second before me and my heart drops. It just drops. Oh no. Oh no. When I come to a stop, I slam my hand on the wheel. The bastard cheated.

I watch him get out of his car and walk over to mine with a smirk so big, I want to slap it right off his face. He opens my door and leans down, grinning at me.
“Hello, housemate.”

“You cheated, you bastard!”

“I didn’t cheat, I can’t help what Mother Nature leaves behind.”

“You knew that was there, it’s why you laid off going ahead of me”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about Dashy, I won, fair and square. I’ll bring my things over soon.”

“I hate you Slade!” I spit at him as he walks away.

He waves over his shoulder and all his mates laugh and pat him on the back. Asshole. Mega asshole. Payton comes rushing over when I get out of the car.

“What happened?”

“He set me up!”

“Pull out
Dash, you can’t let him move in with you.”

“Payton, you don’t know Slade. It won’t matter what I say,” I mumble, staring at him. “He’s now my new housemate.”

“Dash, this isn’t a good idea. Your families hate each other, if your dad finds out.”

I cup my head in my hands. “I know, but I can’t pull out of this.”

“Just lock the doors.”

“Payton, I live with enough taunting from Slade as it is, I don’t need anymore.”

“This is a very bad idea Dash, you do know that right?”

I stare at her, then over at Slade who is grinning at me from a distance. “I know, but it’s how it is.”

She sighs and turns to look at Slade too. “I hope you know what you’re doing, Dash.”

So did
I.

I sit on the kitchen counter, glaring at Slade as he walks in with his bags later that night. Kandee follows behind him, grinning and dragging a tiny bag of her own. Oh hell no, she is not staying here.

“She’s not saying here, Slade.”

Slade stops and stares at me. “What?”

“You heard me. This is my place, you are renting off me. She can come and visit, but she’s not living here and I’m not ok with her staying overnight all the time either…there are some things I don’t need to hear. Through the day, occasional nights, that’s it.”

Kandee pouts at me and I give her a rude smile, tilting my head to the side and glaring right at her. 

“Sladddde,” she whines. “You said I could.”

He turns to her. “I didn’t say you could live here, I say you could come over sometimes. Kandee, you know I don’t like to be smothered.” 

I snort and Slade glares up at me, I give him a wide smile. He slowly turns and looks back down at Kandee.

“Slade, can we talk in private?” she snaps.

“No, I’m busy right now. Throw your things in my room, I have to unpack and you have to go to work.”

“I don’t want to,” she pouts.

“Too bad.”

I watch Kandee slink off with a sour look on her face. Slade follows after her and I watch in amusement, as
he sweet talks her out of the house and convinces her to go to work. She grips his ass at the door and presses herself up against him seductively, murmuring something into his ear that has him grinning and pressing a very erotic kiss to her lips. I turn away, flushing. When she’s gone, he turns and grins at me.

“Are you blushing, Dash?”

I meet his gaze. “No, why the hell would I be blushing?”

“Dashy has never been kissed so good, she got hot on the inside and the outside, right?”

I narrow my eyes and cross my arms. “Sure I have.”

“By who?”

I grin, slowly and no doubt sexily. “You.”

His eyes widen, yeah, take that Slade Devaroe, right back at ya! He tilts his head to the side and slowly drags his bottom lip into his mouth. God damn him, he knows I love that. I grin at him and slide off the bench before he can say anymore, then I saunter into my room and shut the door. That’s one for Dash! I know I shouldn’t, but I feel a warmth swell inside my chest that I haven’t felt for a long time.

I slip into the shower and change into some fresh clothes, and then I head out into the kitchen to begin something for dinner. I am mid-way through digging around in the fridge when Slade walks out. I turn and stare over at him, and I can feel my skin begin to heat. He’s fresh from the shower, and his hair is pressed sexily against his forehead. He smells so dammed divine, I want to lick him and he looks…well he just looks god dammed sexy.

“What’s for dinner?”

I smile at him. “I don’t know, I’m creating.”

He leans against the counter and his muscles move as he takes me in. I look away quickly, steadying my breathing. This could be harder than I first thought.

“Dashy creates?”

“I do sometimes.”

“I cook too, sometimes. You never know, you might get lucky.”

My cheeks flush and he notices, and begins to chuckle softly.

“You always were a blusher, Dashy.” He murmurs, reaching up and shocking me by touching my cheek.

The front door opens suddenly, and he drops his hand quickly. I jump back startled. What the hell did he just do that for? I quickly turn my eyes to the door to see Lucas carrying a take away bag and staring at us in shock. God, that couldn’t have looked good at all. When he sees Slade, his face falls. I know Lucas and I aren’t together, but I also know it would hurt him to think I was with Slade.

“What the hell is he doing here, Dasha?”

Dasha.
Uh oh.

“He’s…um…”

“Her new housemate,” Slade finishes for me.

“What?”

“It’s a long story, he needed somewhere to live and I needed a housemate.” I say quickly.