Page 60 of Endo
Wolfe’s eyes narrow slightly, but he doesn’t push it. “Alright, man. We won’t ask. But it’s good to have you around, sober. For real.”
Sayshen nods, clinking his bottle against mine. “Hell yeah. It’s been too quiet without you out there. The team isn’t complete without you. We’re all looking forward to having you back when you’re ready.”
I nod, offering a tight smile. “Yeah, I’ll be back soon enough.”
Before I can say more, Lena walks over, and the mood shifts. She gives me a small smile before turning to the guys. “Hey, congrats on the win, guys,” she says to Sayshen and Wolfe. “You both killed it out there.”
Sayshen grins, brushing it off. “Hell yeah, it felt hella good to put those Vipers in their place. Nothing beats the rush from the season opener. It was a little weird, not having you and Cruz out there, but I mean, the whole team’s been stepping up. We’re figuring out how to work as one.”
Wolfe nods in agreement, his usual quiet demeanor still carrying a touch of pride. “We’ve got the right crew. It’s all coming together.”
Lena smiles at them both, then glances back at me. “Reign, do you mind giving me a ride to the ocean center? I’ve got to head out.”
I nod, already feeling the shift in the air between us. “Yeah, of course. Let’s go.”
We both say our goodbyes, with Lena giving the guys a final wave before we head out of the pits. As we walk toward my Mustang, I can’t shake the feeling of how strange it is, still being on the outside of it all. The noise of the pits fades behind us as we get into the car, and I focus on the drive ahead, hoping to keep the conversation light for now.
The driveto the ocean center is quiet, the hum of the engine filling the space between us. After a while, Lena turns to me, her voice softer than usual. “You okay?” she asks, her eyes searching mine like she can tell something’s off.
I hesitate, unsure if I want to open up. I’ve never been good at this, but somehow, it feels like I need to. “I’m… thinking a lot,” I say, my grip tightening on the wheel. “It’s hard, you know? The flashbacks, the panic attacks... It’s like everything keeps replaying in my head. I’m just trying to figure out how to push through it all.”
She doesn’t say anything at first, just lets me keep going. I’m not used to talking about this stuff, but there’s something in the way she’s looking at me that makes it feel like it’s okay.
“It’s just... normally when I can’t clear my head, I’d go for a ride. But right now, I can’t do that. So, I’m stuck.” I glance at her for a moment, her expression soft, understanding. “It’s harder than I thought it would be.”
Lena reaches over, her fingers brushing mine before she gently takes my hand in hers. The warmth of her touch is grounding, and somehow, it feels like the weight on my chest lightens, just a little.
We drive in silence after that, but it’s not uncomfortable. It’s different—calm, almost peaceful. And for the first time in a while, I don’t feel so alone in all of it.
22
LENA
Good Life - G Eazy, Kelhani
You knowyour life’s a mess when fried calamari and an overpriced lemonade feel like the highlight of your week. But here I am, sitting between my two best friends, pretending I’m not drowning in unresolved feelings and a metric ton of guilt.
The restaurant, Salty Breeze Grill, is buzzing with energy as I sit at the table with Bex and Cece. The lively chatter of other diner’s blends with the sound of waves crashing on the shore, creating a symphony of chaos that somehow feels comforting. The smell of fried calamari and grilled shrimp wafts through the air, mixing with the faint tang of salt from the ocean breeze.
It’s the kind of place that feels effortlessly laid-back, where you could lose an afternoon without trying. And if I weren’t stuck in my own head, I might actually enjoy it. But no, my brain’s decided to play a highlight reel of every stupid, complicated feeling I’ve been avoiding, and I’m about one misplaced comment away from cracking.
It’s been about a week since I went to the opening race with Reign. A week since I sat in the pits and watched the SpeedDemons race, my heart pounding for reasons that had nothing to do with the sound of engines roaring past.
And a week since I’ve seenhim.
I’ve been avoiding him. Not in an obvious way—at least, I hope not—but enough to keep some space between us. It’s not that I regret what happened.
I don’t. I can’t.
But its left me feeling... weird. Off-balance. Like I’m not sure what I’m supposed to do next.
I haven’t been able to figure out how to feel about it. Reign and I have always had this connection, this gravitational pull that’s impossible to ignore. But sleeping with him—it blurred the lines. Made everything more… complicated. And now, every time I think about him, it’s like this knot forms in my chest, tight and unrelenting.
“Earth to Lena,” Bex says, waving a hand in front of my face. “You’ve been zoning out for the last five minutes. If I didn’t know better, I’d say you’re planning your escape route.”
“Sorry,” I mumble, shaking myself out of it. “Just... tired.”
Cece grins knowingly, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “She’s definitely thinking about him.”
