Chapter 4

On the day of the party, I slept until ten in the morning.

Damian called three times in a row.

His last message said, "Seven tonight. Don't make me hunt down a runaway bride."

I sent back a smiling emoji.

Dad came to pick me up that afternoon.

He was still driving the same yellow taxi.

I came downstairs in a short white dress and high heels. He stared at me for several seconds.

"You're wearing that?"

"Everyone expects me to look like someone who can't drive today. I have to play the part."

He grunted and opened the door for me.

For the past month, I had not touched a real race car.

But I could already handle a skidding taxi in a downpour and read what the drivers around me were about to do.

Dad's final lesson was never to compete with someone just to prove I had more guts.

"A lunatic isn't afraid of crashing. You have to make her think you're crazier than she is."

By seven that evening, the private track was already packed.

Sports cars lined the lot, and the music made my eardrums throb.

The moment I got out, several familiar faces raised their glasses to me.

"Avery! We hear you're finally getting out on the track tonight?"

"Sienna says she'll look after you, so don't be nervous!"

So they had set this whole thing up. They were just waiting to watch me make a fool of myself.

Damian came out of the crowd and bent to kiss my forehead.

"Relax, baby. Friendship first, competition second."

I looked at him and smiled.

"Really?"

"Of course."

He answered too fast.

That was when Sienna appeared.

She had already changed into her racing suit and was carrying two helmets.

"I thought you'd find an excuse not to come."

She held one out to me. The people around us immediately began to shout and laugh.

"Cut the bride some slack!"

"Sienna, at least let her see your taillights!"

Laughing, she said, "Don't worry. I'll go easy on her today."

In my previous life, I had climbed into that red GT while everyone laughed.

No one had forced me. Everyone had said it was "just for fun."

So after the crash, they could all tell the police that I'd gotten behind the wheel willingly.

I took the helmet but didn't put it on.

Sienna raised an eyebrow.

"Having second thoughts?"

Damian put an arm around my waist.

"Avery has never even had a speeding ticket. Don't spook her."

"How could I bring myself to do that?"

Smiling, Sienna pulled a set of keys from her pocket and spun them around one finger.

Then she tossed them to me.

I raised a hand and caught them.

The red GT.

Just like in my previous life.

I remembered the third corner again: the dead brakes, the car smashing through the barrier and the world spinning around me.

And Sienna standing behind my wheelchair, smiling as she asked if I wanted to know the truth.

Damian called, "Avery?"

I snapped back to the present.

Sienna had put on her helmet and was walking toward the other car, the silver GT.

"Just follow my lead. If you're scared, just hit the brakes."

She looked back and winked at me.

I suddenly laughed.

"All right."

I walked toward the red GT and stopped just as everyone expected me to get in.

"But if this is only for fun, it shouldn't matter which car we drive, right?"

Sienna stopped short.

I turned and pointed to the silver race car behind her.

"Sienna, let's swap. I'll take yours."