I recoiled from him. I happened to glance up for a fraction of a second and see Chance standing in the entrance of the garage. Dyson hadn’t noticed. I shook my head, and he stepped out of view. Eventually, Dyson’s rage began to dissipate. Leaning against the chassis, he looked at me.
“It’s not what you think it is, Ava. All I ever wanted to do, my entire life, was to be the fastest man out there.”
He paused, looking away from me. Shaking his head, Dyson reached down and grabbed hold of the throttle on the motorcycle before he continued.
“I love the cars. I love being part of the team. I love winning. But, the sport isn’t about speed. It’s about weak men controlling what men with ability can do.”
He glanced at me. I returned his stare but didn’t speak, content to listen instead.
“They’re all too petrified of the consequences that come with pushing the envelope. They don’t care about racing, they care about the next race, the sponsors, and the money. It’s just not my world anymore, Ava. I’m done, and you’re wasting your time.”
AVA
I stood there listening to him, trying to understand.
But he was someone who had nothing to lose and everything to gain. I didn’t. I never had. All he had to do was get out there and do what he did best. At least he didn’t have to rely on anyone else. In spite of everything I tried, I’d failed.
Glaring at him, I decided I’d had enough of his self-pity.
I closed the distance between us right around the time he picked up the wrench again. He turned, I’m sure to begin working on the motorcycle once more. But before he could take a single step, I snatched the wrench from his grasp and threw it aside.
“You’re going to listen to what I have to say, Dyson.”
He scoffed. “Or what?”
Without thinking, the response came to my lips, somewhere from deep inside. “Or you’ll never see me again! Okay? You asshole!”
Dyson nodded and leaned against the motorcycle chassis.
Taking that as my cue, I began, “You’ve been sabotaging yourself.”
He frowned and looked at me like I was insane.
“You know how I know? Once you were close enough in the points race to beat Gunter, you started redlining it in practice and qualifying. Didn’t you? If they kick you off the team, then you have a built-in excuse for why you keep losing to him.”
No sooner had the words tumbled from my lips than Dyson stood upright, nearly launching himself from his lean against the bike.
“You don’t know what the hell you’re talking about, Ava! You have no idea what it’s like to live life on the edge.”
I stepped towards him, reaching up and poking my finger in the center of his chest.
“Oh, oh…Oh, I have no idea what it’s like to live life on the edge? Is that what you just said to me? I want to be real clear about the fact that that’s what you just said to me.”
I paused, glaring at him for emphasis before continuing.
“I’ve lost everything in life, Dyson. You still have a family - a mother, a father, a sister, and brother who all love you.”
The thoughts and words came to me quickly, but almost as fast came the emotion behind it. I felt the sickening swell of sadness build in my throat. But, I was determined to see it through.
“I don’t have anything. The only thing I have is Simon. My family? They’re all gone, killed or dead, and as far as my job with the team goes? Well, here’s a newsflash for you, I lost that as well. So don’t talk to me about living life on the edge, I know exactly what that’s like, you selfish prick.”
I finished speaking, crossed my arms at my chest and took several steps away from him. Fighting back the onslaught of tears, I did my best to stay calm. The garage was completely silent for a few seconds. At last, I heard Dyson get to his feet and begin to walk in my direction. I could sense his presence behind me, but I didn’t turn around to look at him.
“Ava,” he said, pausing and touching my lower back with his fingertips. “I didn’t mean…”
I pulled away from Dyson, spinning around and glaring in his direction.
“Don’t touch me.”
Dyson lifted both of his hands in mock surrender. “Don’t worry, I won’t.”
Biting my lip, I shook my head but didn’t speak.
“So now what?” he asked. “Look, I feel bad for you, okay? You haven’t deserved the way I’ve been acting. But this has nothing to do with you.”
I raised my hand, signaling for him to stop.
“First of all, I don’t want your pity, Dyson. That’s not why I’m here.”
He shook his head, “That’s not what I…”
“No!” I exclaimed. “Let me finish.”
“I took the job with the team for one reason and one reason only—Simon. You know that. You, more than anyone.”
Dyson looked at me and nodded.
“I never had any intention of…” I stopped myself, turning away from him. I’d come so close to telling him I had to cover my mouth with my hand.
“Any intention of what? Ava, I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
I swallowed hard, closed my eyes and turned around to face him.
“It doesn’t matter, Dyson. The only thing that matters is that you do what you were born to do. Get out there and win.”
Dyson moved a couple of feet away and leaned against the chassis of the motorcycle one last time. “It’s time for you to go, Ava. There’s nothing for us to discuss.”
I clenched my jaw, gritting my teeth as hard as possible.
“You’re unbelievable, Dyson.” I turned and started to walk away, throwing an unconscious thought behind me. “I don’t know how I could have ever thought I was in love with you.”
I only managed to take a couple of more steps.
“What the hell did you just say, Ava?”
I continued looking down, quickening my pace.
“Ava!” Dyson yelled. “Stop!”
I froze in place. From behind, I heard Dyson make his way across the garage towards me. I turned and our eyes met. Dyson closed the distance between us until he stood less than a foot away.
Wordless, he reached up towards my cheek.
When he touched it, I closed my eyes and turned my face in the direction of his caress. The feel of his skin against mine sent a shock through my body. I was powerless to resist the urge it stirred within me. After a moment or two, I opened my eyes once again to see him looking straight into them.
“Dyson, I shouldn’t have…”
Before I could get the words out of my mouth, Dyson crashed his lips into mine. The force of the impact sent my momentum backwards and before I realized it he’d pinned me against the wall.
For several seconds we kissed, his tongue exploring.
I moaned, wrapping my hands around his sweaty, chiseled torso. Soon, I lost all will to do anything but be with him. The intensity of our kissing increased with each second that passed. At last, he broke free from me and dragged his hand across his mouth, wiping away the remnants of our affection.
“You’re better off without me, Ava,” he began, taking a couple of steps back. “You should go.”
I stood there, my mouth hanging open. Dyson turned and began to walk away from me. Disbelief turned to disgust.
“Never contact me again.” I snapped. “Never again.”
Without turning back to face me, Dyson bent over and picked up the same wrench he’d been using a few minutes earlier.
“Don’t worry.”
My mouth filled with a sickening taste, like I might be ill. I turned, tears flowing beyond my ability to stop them. I ran out of the garage. While I crossed the property, Chance emerged from the back of the house.
“Ava!” he called out.
I never stopped.
“Ava!”