Chapter 109
Athena’s POV
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It had been three days since I’d moved into my new place, and they had been some of the most peaceful days I’d experienced in years,
I’d worried I wouldn’t be able to sleep that first night, surrounded by unfamiliar sounds and shadows, but my body had surprised me.
Maybe it was the exhaustion from moving, or maybe it was the simple relief of having my own space, but I’d slept deeply and dreamlessly.
The kind of sleep that actually restored you instead of leaving you more tired than when you went to bed.
My morning routine had become something I genuinely looked forward to. Making coffee in my own kitchen, choosing what to wear without worrying about anyone else’s opinion, stepping out onto my small balcony to check the weather. These tiny acts of independence
felt like small victories.
The commute to work wasn’t bad either. My apartment was close enough to the office that the cab ride was short and affordable.
I still hadn’t gotten the car I wanted, though I could probably ask Orion and have one by the end of the week. But I had a feeling he was
deliberately not offering, giving me the chance to handle it myself. It was his way of supporting my independence without making me feel
like a charity case.
I hadn’t seen my handsome neighbor since that first day with the cookies, which honestly was a relief.
I was terrible at small talk with strangers, especially when those strangers looked like they’d stepped off a magazine cover. The less
complicated my life was right now, the better.
But today was different. Today I was buzzing with excitement about something that had nothing to do with apartments or neighbors or
the careful balance I was trying to maintain with my family.
Today I was taking a huge step toward something I’d dreamed about these past few weeks.
I was going to learn how to race motorcycles,
The thought sent electricity shooting through my entire body. I couldn’t stop grinning as I moved around my apartment, getting ready for
what felt like the most important evening I’d had in months.
I hadn’t told Tristan, of course, I couldn’t tell him, not just because I needed his permission, but because I knew exactly what would happen.
He’d get that protective look in his eyes, the one that made him look older and sadder. He’d list all the reasons it was dangerous, all the
ways I could get hurt. He’d probably try to talk me out of it entirely.
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Chapter 109
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And right now, I couldn’t handle having someone else’s fear dim the bright excitement I felt when I thought about flying down a track on
two wheels.
I hadn’t told anyone except Sarah, and I’d practically begged her not to mention it to Orion.
“Are you sure about this?” she’d asked when I’d called her yesterday, barely able to contain my enthusiasm.
“I’m sure. I know it sounds crazy, but Sarah, I can’t explain how much I want this. It’s like there’s this part of me that’s been sleeping for
years, and it’s finally waking up.”
She’d been quiet for a long moment before saying, “Then you should do it. Just promise me you’ll be careful.”
I trusted Sarah completely. She was like the big sister I’d never had, protective but not controlling. She understood the difference between
supporting someone and trying to manage their choices.
I hadn’t told Leah because, well, Leah didn’t have a filter. She was wonderful and loyal and I loved her dearly, but asking her to keep a
secret was like asking water not to be wet.
I walked over to my bed and stared at the black leather jacket I’d bought yesterday after talking to Derek about my plan.
Derek was Jake’s business partner at the racing center, and he’d been surprisingly easy to convince. Maybe because I’d sweetened the deal
by agreeing to go on one date with him if he taught me to ride and kept my identity secret from Tristan.
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“You want to learn to race?” he’d asked, his eyebrows shooting up toward his hairline.
“I want to learn everything. How to handle a bike, how to take corners, how to feel like I’m flying.”
His surprise had quickly turned into genuine enthusiasm. “I can teach you that. And don’t worry about Tristan finding out from me. What you do with your life is your business.”
He’d even offered to let me use one of his bikes until I could get my own, which had made the whole thing feel suddenly, wonderfully
real.
After our conversation, I’d gone straight to the store and bought the leather jacket and matching pants that were now laid out on my bed
like armor for a battle I was eager to fight.
There wouldn’t be an actual race tonight, just a lesson, so I didn’t need to wear the full gear yet. But I’d put the jacket on anyway, just to see how it looked, and the person staring back at me in the mirror had been someone I barely recognized,
Someone fierce. Someone ready for adventure. Someone who looked like she could handle whatever the world threw at her.
The thrill of it made my stomach flutter in the best possible way, like I was standing at the edge of a cliff about to jump and knowing I had wings.
8:48 Wed, Jan 7
Chapter 109
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I walked back to my closet and chose dark jeans and a fitted crop top that would give me freedom of movement. Nothing too fancy, but clothes that made me feel confident and strong.
As I got dressed, I couldn’t stop thinking about what it would feel like to lean into a curve at high speed, to feel that perfect balance between control and letting go.
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I sent Derek a quick text: “On my way. Are you ready for this?”
His response came back immediately: “Been ready since you called. I’m already here waiting.”
The cab ride to the racing center felt like the longest twenty minutes of my life. I kept checking my phone, bouncing my leg, running through everything Derek had told me about the basics of motorcycle handling. My palms were actually sweating with anticipation.
When the cab pulled up to the racing center, I paid quickly and stepped out onto the sidewalk, taking a deep breath of the evening air that smelled like motor oil and possibility.
But then I stopped dead in my tracks, as I stare at the center before me. My breathing heavy and shallow same time.
What the actual hell.
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
