Free DASH by Shantel Tessier Page A

her arm over my chest. I smile as I reach up and lightly run my fingertips up and down it.
    I look back over to my nightstand when I hear my phone vibrate. I reach over and pick it up.
     
    Valerie: I’m sorry I blew up on you the other day. I got back into town last night and ran into Blake. He said that you got a spot racing for Johnny Knight. That’s fantastic, baby.
     
    I roll my eyes as I exit out of the message, turn off my phone, and place my phone back on my nightstand. Of course, the bitch would only text me when she realizes the job offer I was given. I haven’t spoken to her since we got arrested. I was told that she had shown up to my party, but I never saw her, which surprises me. But I was too caught up in Tabatha at the time. I had locked her and myself up in my parents’ room the moment I got her away from the pool table and I had realized that she wanted to stay with me.
    “Who was that?” Tabatha mumbles sleepily.
    I lie down and turn onto my side. I wrap my arms around her and pull her body into mine—enjoying the heat her small body offers mine. “It was Blake,” I lie. She doesn’t need to know about my crazy ex. She’s in the past. Within a couple of weeks, Valerie will move on and find some new guy that she can sink her money hungry claws into.
    “This early?” she asks with a yawn. “What did he want?”
    “He was letting me know that he’ll be at the track later on today.” Not a total lie. I spoke to Blake a few days ago, and he said that he was going to bring Jackie up to the track for my practice since he knew that Tabatha was going to be there.
    “How much longer do we have?” she asks tightening her arms around me.
    “An hour,” I whisper as I lean into her and kiss her forehead.
    She sighs heavily but doesn’t say anything else.
    I close my eyes and think how much I would enjoy her coming back to stay with me again tonight. And the next night. Like I said—she’s addicting.
     
    ***
     
    I tear off my helmet and run my hand through my damp hair. It’s fucking hot out here and all this leather gear that I wear for safety doesn’t help.
    “How was it? How does she feel?” Mr. Knight asks, crossing his arms over his chest as he looks down at the brand new race bike. We arrived at the raceway about an hour ago, but I just finished my first ride. She needs some work, but for being bone stock, she hauls ass.
    “She handles really well,” I say, letting my eyes run over the solid black bike.
    “How’s the suspension?” he questions.
    “It’s good.” I reach up and point over to the track. “She felt a little soft coming out of the first turn, but other than that, she felt great.”
    “I saw that.” He nods to himself in thought. “Of course, things will change once we meet with the crew chief and start adding everything on that you will need.” He looks up to me. “I just wanted to see how the suspension is for you.”
    “Perfect,” I say with a smile. “I took it kind of easy on her since it was her first run. This time I’m gonna push her a little harder.” She’s fast and has a shit ton of torque, but it’s nothing that I can’t handle.
    “Sure you wanna do that?” he questions, arching a silver eyebrow, but he has a smirk on his face.
    I smile as my eyes slide over to Tabatha as she stands next to her dad. She wears a black shirt that’s hanging off one shoulder. Across the front in big silver glittery letters, it reads DASH. She made it this morning all by herself and had informed me after the glitter dried that she was going to wear it. When I asked her if she was nervous about what her dad would think, about my name across her chest, she told me the first time he thinks we met she was already supporting me by wearing my shirt. Her dad wouldn’t know the difference. And I’m glad that she was right. He hasn’t even mentioned it. “Some things are worth the risk,” I say, referring to her.
    She bites on her bottom lip to hide her smile, and