Page 153 of Revv

Dimitri makes an offended sound beside him. “Single dad? Da nu. What am I, a fucking decoration?”

Ajax looks over. “You know what I mean.”

“No, I do not. Team helps. I help. You are not abandoned in a forest with a child.”

That pulls the smallest laugh out of Ajax.

“Fine. Mostly single dad.”

Dimitri lifts his drink. “Better.”

Ajax shakes his head, then looks back at Revel. “Either way, I was pissed at everything and rode like it. None of that was your problem, but I made it your problem on the track.”

“Nah, you’re good. Honestly. I wasn’t exactly innocent either.” He shifts forward, elbows resting on his thighs. “I forced that pass. There was barely a fucking gap and I knew it, but I’d already committed in my head, so I went for it anyway. Could’ve taken us both out.”

Ajax holds his gaze for a beat.

“Yeah.”

Dimitri takes a slow sip of his drink and looks between them. “Khorosho. Two idiots finally admit they were idiots. Miracles happen.”

I snort before I can stop myself.

Revel glances over at me. “You enjoying this?”

“A little.”

Ajax actually laughs, and just like that, some of the tension finally breaks.

He is quieter than I expected, while Dimitri has, apparently, made sarcasm his primary language. Revel relaxes beside me, one hand still resting casually on my thigh beneath the table while they talk racing.

Then Ajax checks his phone and his entire face changes.

I notice immediately.

“Your kid?”

He nods and turns the screen toward me and I melt. The little girl is sitting on a tiny electric motorcycle wearing oversized sunglasses and a helmet that looks almost as big as she is.

“Oh my God. Look at her.”

Ajax laughs. “She knows she’s cute. That’s the problem.”

“Aw, she looks like trouble.”

“She is.”

He swipes to another picture, this one of her absolutely covered in ice cream.

I’m laughing when I realize Revel has gone quiet.

He’s watching me.

Not with his usual filthy grin either.

Something else.

“What?”