Page 43 of House of Bass

Harley wasn’t sure whether or not to be worried but judging by the amused faces in the room, she leaned towards no. “Are they always like this?” she said to no one in particular and they all nod.

Perfect.

Harley had been so focused on the scene in front of her that she hadn’t noticed Lucas was scrutinising her, a frown on his face that kind of scared her. “Do I know you from somewhere?”

She realised the question was directed at her when all heads turned her way, and she shook her own. “No. I just moved here.”

“Stop staring at her like that,” Scarlett said, snapping Lucas out of it. “This is Harley, she’s a friend.” Harley felt glee at the label, she loved the sound of it on her lips and wanted to hear it again.

He shrugged, “A friend of Scar’s is a friend to us all.”

Harley wasn’t sure if she liked his tone but she gave him a strained smile. “Thanks.”

For some time, they conversed amongst themselves and she learnt the darker guy was called Ambrose and the lighter one Jameson. According to them, they all grew up in the same neighbourhood and worked together.

Including the place they were in right now. Something didn’t feel right about the way they sidestepped some questions but Harley couldn't place her finger on exactly what.

An hour later, Lucas read a text message from his phone and declared, “Come on, it’s starting. Pose and Amb are ready.”

At once they piled outside, the roars of the crowd was deafening but electrifying. Harley knew nothing about cars or street races but she could feel herself feeding off their excitement, as they were cramped together in the open space behind a set of bars that hadn’t been there when they had arrived earlier. She spotted a betting table up ahead, where the people behind the counter were saying no to any new bets as the race was about to begin.

“Who are we rooting for?” she asked, shivering from the cold, desperately wishing she brought a coat with her. Scarlett took her hand and put it inside the jacket pocket like it was a normal thing they did.

“Usually I wouldn’t play favourites but see the purple car?” Harley nodded, trying not to focus on the current placement of her hands. “My cousin is driving that. Posy, Luke’s sister.”

Harley was shocked at the name, surely it couldn’t be the same one she knew. There were probably multiple people who went by the name.

The purple car was gearing up and inside sat a woman with long dark hair. She couldn’t see her face from the angle she was sitting, but cheered for her nonetheless. Her opponent being Ambrose meant the group was split down the middle on who to support. Bloss and Lily had their money on Posy while the boys had theirs on Ambrose who was seated comfortably in his red vehicle, a lazy smirk on his face.

Another stood in front of them holding a canister as the engine of both cars were firing up. The man held it to the air as the buzzer went off, so did the two cars. Posy led the takeoff as they fired down the street. According to Scarlett, the race consisted of the cars going round the loop once to the first exit, turning around at the first exit and looping again into the second exit, coming out from the second exit and looping again, then heading back down to where they are. The first one back wins.

It was hard to see when they went down the exits but the streetlights did a good enough job. There were people standing on shoulders just to get a better view. They had just done the first loop and Ambrose was now in the lead, circling with ease as Posy lagged behind.

“Posy has got to win, I have money riding on this.” Bloss pleaded.

“She’ll win, she always does.” Lucas said with a distinct pride clear on his voice. Which confused Harley considering he mentioned being team Ambrose. He had his hands in his pockets, the wind blowing his hair every which way, his cheeks a little pink from the cold.

When Harley focused back on the race, she saw Posy had slightly overtaken Ambrose as both cars did a final loop round the bend but not enough to do damage. The screams from the crowd were getting louder as they both raced down the street. The nearer they got, the more neck and neck it became, the anticipation killing her.

The cars got closer and closer and closer and zoomed through the finish line. Judging by the squeals of the girls and groans from Jameson and other guys, she assumed Posy had won. But the guy at the front yells, “Tie!” Everyone unanimously began to boo.

Harley and the group headed towards the cars, they were immediately given access to the other side of the fence at Lucas’ decree. As they neared the cars their doors opened, Ambrose stepped out a soft relaxed smile still on his face, seemingly okay with the results. However the woman strolled forward angrily, “Bullshit, I won that fair and square.”

“That’s not what the results say,” Ambrose expressed, smiling.

“You,” she growls, pointing a finger at his chest. “Shut the fuck up!”

She recognised her immediately, it really was Proserpina. Her dark hair swaying with her every step forward, she was in another set of jeans and a leather jacket. This time she wasn’t wearing thin heels but thick boots that made it easier to drive. She hadn’t yet noticed Harley, who hung at the back, as she was too busy arguing with the referee and Ambrose about the result.

“Ignore her, she’s a little competitive about this. Especially when it comes to him.” Scarlett said, pointing to Ambrose, who lazily leaned against his car not even flinching at being yelled at.

But Harley only had one thing in mind, “That’s your cousin?”

She nodded, “Why, what's up?”

“She was the one who brought me here, she works for my sperm donor.”

Scarlett’s face hardened at this, “I knew she worked closely with him but not that she would know about something as serious as you.” She blew out a breath, frustrated. “None of us have ever liked what she does but Luke lets her because he is physically incapable of saying no to her.”