Page 47

I’m grateful to be off the hook, at least until she speaks again.

“Jameson, you’ll help Shay catch up on the material.”

“No.” We both say it at the same time.

“I’m flattered you want me to babysit, Professor Vogel, but I have other things to do this year.” Jameson’s voice sounds anything but amused.

“I’ve heard,” Vogel answers dryly. “And you might’ve heard that racing is a team sport. This academy puts the best engineers and the best drivers in competition. You both need a reminder of the end goal.”

“Which is?” Jameson sighs.

She levels stern eyes at both of us. “If you play your cards right, you could be on the same team.”

15

Jameson

“You’re late.”

Shay looks up at the clock as she drops her books on the table next to me. “Two minutes.”

There are a few other students in the library, milling about the stacks and studying in the carrels. I chose a spot in a corner away from prying eyes.

It’s Wednesday and we’re ten days from the first race that will decide the rest of my life, but I’m spending an hour each afternoon with her instead. The person who’s been messing with my ride one piece at a time and flipping me off while she does it.

“You get that I have a seat to race for?” I pull a book from my bag and drop it on the table in front of us. “I could be logging sim time right now.”

“Maybe you should.” She refuses to look at me.

Not only am I spending my time tutoring her, I’m burning energy convincing myself her stubborn streak is neither intriguing nor sexy when some twisted part of me is insisting she’s the most fascinating person I’ve met in a long time.

She’s bold but defensive. Capable but uncertain.

Knox’s comment rings in my head. I’d go there.

When he said it, I told myself I didn’t see it. Truth is, I’ve seen it for a while, I just wish to hell I didn’t.

Today, she’s wearing jeans and a short-sleeved top. I can’t help wondering if she wore that when she zip-tied my driveshaft.

I can picture her leaning over the Porsche, her full lips parted in anticipation and—

Nope.

If I’m going to help her, Vogel can’t say I didn’t do it right.

Yesterday, we covered the high-level concepts. I tried to put aside the fact that she’s been taking my car apart all week and focus on the task.

It worked.

Mostly.

She knows the concepts; it’s putting them together where she’s weaker. Which makes sense since she transferred in and is playing catch-up while the rest of her cohort has had another year of specialized training.

Still, I’m impressed by how fast she catches on as I crack a book and start quizzing her on specifics.

When she shifts in her seat, the light slants differently across her face and I clock the dark circles under her eyes.

“Try kangaroos,” I say.