Racing for Freedom (21 page)

“You’re going to be amazing!” Payton laughs.

“I hope so!”

Lucas puts an arm over my shoulder and nods his head at Slade. They have an understanding now, they’re not friends but they’re cool around each other.

“How are you feeling?” Lucas asks.

“Nervous as hell.”

“You’ll do well Dash, we all believe in you.”

I grin and roll my eyes. “You’re all too nice, someone give me a
wakeup call because this can’t seriously be happening.”

Slade pulls me from Lucas’ arms and kisses me. “Oh baby, it’s happening.”

~*~*~*~

Five laps in and I’m coming third. I’m keeping my distance, just like my dad taught me. I’m keeping a steady place, but at the end, I’ll fight with everything I have to make
sure I get at least second place. Ten laps, five down. I can do this. I suck in a breath as I pick up speed, sliding around the corners with ease. I am made for this. I can do this. As I take a massive bend, and soar out the other side, I know I’m coming in close.

By the second last lap, my heart is beating so fast I can hardly breathe. All I can hear in my head is a loud ba boom, ba boom.
I’m here. I’m doing it. No matter what, I’ve done well, I’ve made it this far. I’ve lived my dream and I’ve succeeded even when everything around me was drowning. I made it. I did it. I am it. The lines become a blur as I take the final bend, I can’t hear anything. I can’t feel anything. My eyes are focused solely on the road in front of me.

When I cross that finish line in second place, I’m not at all disheartened. In fact, when I get out of my car I’m screaming with happiness. Second place in the
championships, second freaking place! That’s not first, but it’s damn close. When I set eyes on my father, he has tears stumbling down his face. He knows exactly what second place is. No, it’s not first and it’s not a win but I made it. I did it. I got in that car and I pushed on. That, in my heart and his, means more than first place ever could.

When I reach my little group of fans, I leap on Slade. He’s mumbling
incoherent words about how amazing I was. My father pulls me into his arms next, telling me how proud he is of me. How my mother would be so proud. Those are the words I most wanted to hear, above all else, I want her to know her death will never be forgotten and we’ll always fight for her, for us, for this.

“Dasha Jewel?”

I spin around to see a man in a suit standing beside Slade.

“That’s me?” I say, my voice high pitched and excited.

“My name is Martin Jepode, I was wondering if we could have a word?”

I nod.
“Now’s fine.”

He smiles at my father, obviously knowing who he is.

“Great race out there,” he says to me.

“Thank you.”

“I’ll get right to the point, I saw your race and have been watching your racing now for years. You did really well out there and I was wondering if you would consider letting us sponsor you?”

My squeals of joy were his answer. He laughs and steps forward, shaking my
father’s hand.

“I guess I’ll be
seeing more of you and your daughter, Mr. Jewel.”

“Thank you Martin, this is truly a gift.”

Slade is grinning and his eyes are glassy with pride. I beam and shake Martin’s hand as he tells me he will contact me next week.

“Thank you,” I say to him. “Thank you so much.”

He nods. “I can’t let good talent go to waste, see you next week Miss Jewel.”

When he’s gone, I turn and hug everyone once more. Slade suddenly looks a little nervous as he meets my father’s gaze.

“What?” I ask.

Slade swallows and turns to me. Then before I can say anything, he’s on his knee in front of me.
One knee. One…knee. I gasp and my hand covers my mouth as I hear the crowd in the stand behind us go silent. Soon, more people catch on and everyone becomes silent as they watch Slade take my hand. Tears thunder down my cheeks as I stare down into the aqua eyes I love so dearly.

“Dasha Anne Jewel, I know what we’ve been through. I know what we’ve endured to find our happiness. I’ve hurt you, I’ve been an ass and I’ve not been there when I should have been, but Dashy, I’m here now and I want to be here for the rest of your life. You’ve been my best friend for a long time now, but more than that, you’re my heart. Some people find one or the other in a person. They might find a friendship that lasts forever, or a love that lasts forever. I’ve found both and I’ve found it in the one place I want to call home for the rest of my life. Dashy, do me the h
onor of being my wife. Will you marry me?”

I sob loudly as I drop to my knees in front of Slade. He finally
let’s go and a tear tumbles down his cheek.

“I’ve always loved you Slade, the minute I laid eyes on you I knew you’d change my life. Good and bad, back and forth, we’ve been through it all but we’re still here. You’ve been by my side even when you didn’t have to be. So my answer to you, Slade Devaroe is yes, always yes.”

The crowd roars but I can’t hear anything, I can’t see anything but him. My happiness. My lifeline. My reason for breathing. I cup his face in my hands and I kiss him with everything I have inside, I give him my soul, I give him my heart and he gives me his. When I pull apart from him, my next words are whispered but they mean everything, they
are
everything.

“We’re free, Slade. We’re finally free.”

It was a freedom race for both of us, but finally we found our finish line and we crossed it together - both of us winners.

THE END

If you liked Slade and Dash’s story, please leave a review. This is my first time in the romance category, you can find all my other novels in the Erotic romance department.

Now, here is a snippet from some very close friends of mine. Their new book Chase is a real mind blower. Check it out,
it’s release date is June 1st 2013.

CHASE

Prologue

I watch her from across the backyard, where I’m leaning against a wall.

She is so beautiful; she is dressed in white and looks so ethereal.

Like an angel.

I keep staring at her, hoping for her to glance up.

To notice me.

To see if she feels this attraction I’m feeling for her.

I’ve never felt anything like it.

She is chatting with another girl, and laughing loudly. I find my own lips twitching.

I don’t know what it is about her that draws me in, but I’ve never felt this towards a woman before.

More than lust.

Something
.. else.

Something that
make
s me want to protect her,
cherish
her.

“Don’t even go there,” I hear in a dangerous rumble from behind me. It’s my friend, whose house I’m currently visiting. I ignore him, my eyes still on the angel, but he continues, “I wouldn’t let you near any of my sisters or cousins, but not her, definitely not her.” I bite the inside of my cheek. “She’s a good girl, and only seventeen. Come on let’s get out of here.” He slaps my back in a friendly gesture, as if to soften the blow of his words.

I glance longingly at her one last time, before I turn around and follow him.

I know I don’t deserve her.

But that doesn’t mean I’ll stop wanting her.

Chapter 1

I was screwed.

And not in a good way.

I glanced back at the newspaper in my hand, the page full of red circles. After seeing five different places that were close to my university, I was down to the last one. The others had been terrible. I don’t even want to go into what the guy at the last house offered me; I hope he was still lying on the floor in the fetal position after I
kneed him in his junk. I started classes in one week and I still had no place to stay.  I repeat- I was screwed.

I grew up in a small town with my family, and I’d driven up from there to look for a place. I’ve been staying in a motel for the last two nights, trying my luck for a decent place to stay that’s in this area. I stare at the ad for the last place.
Room available for rent. 100 per week. Perfect for student. It’s only five minutes away from my uni which is perfect. I lay the newspaper down in the front seat of my black Subaru Forrester Sti GT and drive towards the house. 

I park my car behind a black expensive looking jeep and make my way to the front door. There is a sexy looking Harley in the drive way too. The house is gorgeous, two
story and modern, all cream and black. I knock on the door, and no one answers. I wait a few minutes and knock again. This time the door opens. A guy sticks his head out, blonde hair mussed. He looks two or so years older than my twenty, and I must say he is pretty cute. Pale blue eyes, a straight nose, and full lips, the bottom one pierced with a small hoop through it. Hot!

He looks me up and down and grins, his blue eyes crinkling, ‘Hello’. His grin is contagious and I find myself grinning too.

“Hi I’m Layla. I’m here about the room for rent?” He looks confused for a moment, but then nods in realization. “Of course, come on in Layla.” I glance down and only then, realize he is shirtless, only wearing a pair of boxer shorts. I blush and look at the floor, and then I hear him chuckle. I slowly raise my eyes to his amused ones.

“Come on, I’ll give you a tour. I’m James by the way.”

The house is amazing, spacious and surprisingly tidy. Considering this is my last option I feel like I’ve won the lottery. We pass four bedrooms and I’m very curious as to who else lives here. James shows me the guest room and it’s perfect. I thought it would be tiny but it’s more than enough room for me.

James clears his throat. “So are you a student then?”

I nod. “Yes I start next week.”

He smiles. “Great! Well you seem normal enough.
Definitely cute enough.”

The last part was mumbled under his breath. I laugh. I know what he means, considering the last few places I just checked out. It’s harder than you’d think to find non creepy people to share a place with.

“Are you wanting the room?” He asks softy. He looks almost hopeful.

I glance around once more, I’m a little hesitant to share a house with men, but this place is amazing, and I’m currently out of options. Oh what the hell. I nod.

“I would love the room.”

“Perfect! You don’t have any problems with parties and stuff like
that do you?” he asks seriously, “because this is kind of a social house.” His lips twitched into a smile when he said the word ‘social’.

I laugh. “No, I think the whole university lifestyle will be an experience.”

“Excellent!” he responds enthusiastically. “Any other questions?” 

I shake my head no.
James smiles. “Welcome to the family. I think the landlord is going to be thrilled at my choice of tenant. He’s away for work at the moment. Let me know if you need any help moving your stuff, okay?” He offers his hand and I take it, expecting a hand shake, but instead he places a soft kiss on my hand. I blush. “I promise we are awesome roommates, you have nothing to worry about okay,” he says in a gentle voice. Weirdly, I believe him. I get no creepy vibes from him at all.

“I’ll hold you to that James,” I tease, causing him to chuckle softly.

“We’re gonna be fine. Just yell out when you want a hand with your stuff.”  I thank him and step into my room, smiling to myself.

I leave the house and go to the motel room to collect my belongings. I didn’t bring much, a huge suitcase and two boxes. I still needed to purchase all my school books, stationary and necessities. James had given me a key to the house, and I’d offered him the bond and rent money, but he told me so take it up with the landlord when he gets home. He seemed like a funny guy, he even made a comment about feeling free to bring my hot friends over. I chuckle to myself, because at the moment friends are something I didn’t have in abundance. I come from an extremely large family, and this is the first time I am doing anything on my own. Instead of scaring me, the thought of independence thrills me. After my sister left the nest to travel, my mother has become extremely overbearing, and as much as I love her it feels good to be away from all that.

By the time I return to the house it’s evening. I grab my suitcase and wheel it to the door, pulling out my key to open it. The sight that greets me when I walk into the kitchen has me wondering exactly what I have gotten myself into. Two guys stand there, along with James, laughing and eating pizza. They all look at me when I enter, all with surprise except for James who is wearing a huge grin.

“Layla!
Come and have a seat, I’ll carry your stuff into your room.”

As James does that, I awkwardly place myself on a stool at the breakfast table, with two pairs of eyes on me. I knew my cheeks must have been bright red, as I waited for someone to talk.

James walks back in and saves me by introducing everyone.

“Layla this is
Kade, who lives here with us, and our friend Derek.”