003

Ryan POV

Ethan. He really knew how to press my buttons. He was sly, always looking for ways to get on my nerves.

This wasn’t the first time he had clashed with me. He had always done it since high school. He confessed to the cheerleader I liked in high school. He confessed to another crush of mine at an all-girls school. And now it was Jessica.

Must he always take everything from me? He knew I grew up without a family. He knew it was always hard for me to fall in love. But why did he keep trying to beat me?

“Are you visiting the club this evening?” Champ, my best friend, asked, taking the seat beside me. “I heard Jessica is showing up there too.” He patted my back teasingly.

“Seriously?”

“Yeah, she is. But don’t cry when you get rejected, because I’m sure Ethan’s gonna be there and he’ll taunt you.” His lips twisted into a smug grin that always meant he was teasing me.

“I won’t.” I rolled my eyes at him. He and Ethan were friends but not as close as he was to me. Anytime I fought with Ethan, he always ended up supporting him and scolding me. The thought made me smack the back of his head.

“What was that for?” he asked, rubbing his head.

“Let’s go to the party.”

---

By evening, the streets were buzzing. I started my bike and cut through traffic, the engine vibrating against my legs.

I knew Jessica was going to be there. And Ethan—fuck him—he was going to be lurking around, smirking and waiting for me to lose my cool.

The neon sign of the café bar flickered ahead. The place was crowded like every other night, lights spilling out onto the pavement, music thumping so hard I could feel it in my chest before I even parked.

Champ shoved me with his shoulder when we got off the bikes. “Don’t act desperate, fool. Girls don’t like desperate guys. They like guys who play hard to get.”

“Shut the fuck up,” I muttered, tugging at my jacket. “I’m not desperate.” Instead of encouraging me, he was teasing me.

I entered the club. The bouncers already knew me and Champ as regulars. I was already scanning the crowd for Jessica. That girl had something that got under my skin and refused to leave. And it pissed me off that Ethan had noticed it too.

Inside, the air smelled like beer and cigars. The music was loud enough to make my ears ring. A group of girls shrieked near the bar, and my heart raced when I caught sight of her—Jessica.

She was at the corner table sipping a drink, looking so good I almost forgot to breathe. But here was the problem: she wasn’t alone.

That son of a bitch was with her.

Ethan sat across from her, leaning in, his stupid smirk plastered on his face — the one that always meant he thought he had already won. He should wait until I beat him. Jessica laughed at something he said, and the sound cut through me like a blade.

“Goddamn it,” I muttered.

Champ followed my gaze. “Oh shit,” he whispered. “Don’t lose it, Ryan, not here.”

But I was already fuming. My fists clenched at my sides, my jaw locked so hard I thought my teeth would crack.

Of course Ethan was here first. Of course he would always swoop in like a vulture. He was always two steps ahead, like he could read my mind.

I stalked toward their table before Champ could stop me. My boots squeaked against the floor. Each step fueled my rage and the caffeine from earlier.

Jessica’s eyes widened when she saw me. She smiled and waved, and I nodded back. Ethan just leaned back, calm as ever, like he had been expecting me.

“Well, look who decided to crawl out of his cave,” Ethan drawled.

“Fuck you, Ethan,” I snapped. “You just can’t help yourself, can you?” I hissed in a low voice so Jessica wouldn’t hear.

“Well, Jessica invited me. Deal with it,” Ethan replied with a smug smile. That made me grab his shirt collar. Jessica frowned at us. “Ryan—” she called in a sweet voice.

I smiled at her, loosening my grip on Ethan’s collar. I could hear Jessica saying something to me but I wasn’t listening. My glare stayed on Ethan.

“You know I liked her, so back off,” I said, my voice low so only Ethan could hear. “You always know, and yet here you are again. Can’t you refuse to come with her?”

Ethan tilted his head, his smirk deepening. “What, you think the world revolves around you? That every girl you like is suddenly off-limits? Newsflash, Ryan. Jessica isn’t your property.”

My blood boiled at how loudly he spoke. Jessica probably heard it. “You piece of shit…”

Champ’s hand landed on my shoulder, holding me back. “Ryan, chill. Don’t cause trouble here, man. You know Ethan is trying to rile you,” he whispered in my ear.

Jessica’s voice came next, cutting through. “Enough! What the hell is wrong with you two? I’m not some trophy for you guys to fight over.”

I swallowed hard, her words hitting me. She was right, but that didn’t erase the rage that built up in me. It didn’t erase the betrayal I felt every time Ethan pushed his way into my life.

Ethan stood slowly, his eyes never leaving mine. “Tell you what, Ryan. The next race, if you beat me, I’ll walk away from Jessica.” The room seemed to shrink. My heart thundered. Finally, I had a reason to beat Ethan.

“Fine,” I spat. “But when I beat your smug ass, don’t come crawling back with excuses.”

Ethan smirked again, that cocky curve of his lips making my fists itch. “We’ll see.”

Jessica looked between us, clearly annoyed, but I couldn’t focus on her anymore. My veins were already pumping with adrenaline, with the thought of racing and finally crushing him.

Champ sighed beside me. “You two are insane. But damn it, I’m here for it.”

---

Later that night, back at the garage, I couldn’t sit still. My hands shook as I tightened bolts that didn’t need tightening on my bike. My bike looked neat under the moonlight, dark and polished just for the race.

I caught my reflection in the glass of my bike. My eyes looked wild and dark circles surrounded them like I hadn’t slept for days.

“Why do you let him get to you so much?” Champ asked quietly, leaning against the wall with a can of beer.

I didn’t answer right away because I didn’t know how to explain it — how Ethan had been the shadow in every corner of my life, taking every chance that should’ve been mine.

Finally, I muttered, “Because I can’t stand losing to him. I lost to him in high school many times, but not this time.”

Champ shook his head. “Are you sure this is all about Jessica? You look like you just want to beat him for once.” He sighed, sipping his beer.

“Maybe,” I admitted, my voice cracking. Was it true? “But fuck it. I would rather lose Jessica with him than let him get her.”

“Tsk. Good luck with that,” Champ said, still sipping his beer. Stupid friend.