Free Surge: Bad Boy Racing Romance (Fastlane Series Book 1) by Sloan Storm

Ava?”
    I felt so pathetic. With the phone pressed against my ear, I rolled my head to one side and exhaled.
    “Nothing… I’ll be fine. I just… I miss you both so much.”
    “Awww,” Jillian began, clearly choking back some emotion in her voice. “Don’t do that. I’m going to get upset.”
    Just hearing her say those words triggered me as well. I sensed a sudden rush of heat come to my eyes but before the tears could start to flow, I sat up. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have even brought this up.”
    Jillian sniffled and after a hard swallow, she said, “Don’t. I know how important all of this is to you and Simon.”
    I swiped at my eyes with the back of my palm. “Everything is going to be fine. I’ll be okay.”
    “I should be the one telling you that! I don’t mean to be such a hot mess over here.”
    Just then, I stood from the mattress and began to walk around my hotel room, eventually making my way towards its only window.
    “Ava, are you still there?”
    I couldn’t even see the ocean from the window.
    “Mmm hmm,” I began, glancing up towards the puffy white clouds overhead. “I think I’m going to take a drive down to the beach. Believe it or not I still haven’t been there.”
    “That sounds like a good idea to me.” Jillian said. “And you know you can call anytime, right? I promise I don’t mind.”
    “Yeah, I know,” I began. “But I’ve got to get out of this funk I’m in. I’ve still got a couple of months ahead of me, and at the rate I’m going, I’m never going to make it.”
    Jillian exhaled a sympathetic breath. “You’ll be fine, Ava. If anybody can handle this, it’s you.”
    I thanked her, and then a few seconds later we said our goodbyes and hung up. Soon after, I grabbed my purse and headed out of the hotel to get in my car and drive to the beach.
    It was midafternoon by the time I reached the lobby. Walking across it, I happened to glance in the direction of the bar. Dyson and Marco were in there with a few of their mechanics and the team manager, Darren.
    From the looks of things, they were kicking back and having a good time together. I stood there for a few seconds looking at them and wishing I could join in on the fun. But it was clear that my role on the team meant I didn’t get included in such things.
    Repositioning the strap of my purse across my shoulder, I turned to continue out of the hotel. But just as I did, Dyson looked straight at me. He nodded and smiled. It was the first time I’d seen him away from the track since we arrived in Miami.
    I didn’t return his gesture, but instead continued to walk away.

    DYSON
    With qualifying fast approaching, I’d been putting all my effort into race prep. After finishing second in Austin, I liked my chances. Gunter was running well, but I loved the layout of the course and figured if we could get the setup right on the car, I had a great chance to win.
    Things were mostly business as usual, the only difference now being Ava’s presence. We’d only spoken a couple of times since arriving in Miami, but I didn’t see it as unusual. The days leading up to qualifying were always pretty damn busy. As much as I tried to be friendly with her, she seemed distant. I wouldn’t say she was pissed at me, but something was different about her. In fact, when I’d seen her the day before in the hotel lobby, she seemed cold as ice.
    Anyway, we were at the track the next afternoon when I’d just come out of the garage headed to one of the team trailers. Emerging into the bright sunlight, I hooded my eyes with my hand and spotted a familiar figure walking in the opposite direction.
    “Ava!” I called out.
    She stopped and looked at me. Taking that as my cue, I walked over towards her. She looked sexy as hell standing there. The sun’s rays reflected in her long, dark red hair, causing it to shine. She wore a tight T-shirt and a pair of jeans that hugged her feminine curves like the tires on my car did in a tight