Walking down the line, I checked ca

Walking down the line, I checked cars off on the roster on my iPad, making sure they were present and ready.
“Suited up?” I inquired, looking down at Derek Roman, who was fixing a GoPro on the trunk of a Raptor.
He stood up, gesturing. “You tell me. Can you access it?”
These cameras couldn’t stream footage live from long distances, but I could access it on my phone. I waved, picking myself up on the screen of my cell.
“You got it,” I said. “You’re getting pretty fast at that.”
He smiled, looking too much like a five-year-old who just got a pat on the head.
“Faster means more races,” he pointed out. “More races mean more bets. And more bets—”
“Mean more money,” I finished, shaking my head. “Yeah, I know where your heart lies.” I jerked my head and walked off. “I need to check in with Zack. See you in a minute.”
He turned back to his work, and I grinned, actually surprised that he was becoming an asset.
Derek Roman was a couple of years older, but you wouldn’t have known it in high school. He used to race the Loop, but his antics got him in a lot of trouble. He didn’t get along with Jared, when they raced, or anyone else. He was careless, sloppy, and aggressive, exactly the kind of driver I didn’t want here.
So instead of banning him and waiting for the retaliation that would eventually come, I played it smart.
I kissed his ass.
Bullies want to matter. They act the way they do because they don’t feel important.
So I gave him that. Told him how much we had planned and what kind of undertaking it all was. How much I needed help, and how much I needed someone who knew the Loop inside and out, and then I gave him jobs.
He stayed busy, got special perks, and got his name officially listed on our Web site, any advertising, and he was involved in decisions. Now, if he decided to be stupid, he’d have a lot to lose.
“So.” Madoc ran up next to me, throwing an arm over my shoulder. “Could you possibly fit me into the schedule?”
“Tonight?”
I could feel his eyes roll as I worked my way through the crowd up to the announcer’s stage, and he fell in behind me.
“Yeah,” he answered. “I want to do that couples race you’ve got going on. Fallon loved riding with Jared that time he and Tate raced, and I want to take my wife out.”
I ran my hand over the top of my head, letting out a frustrated sigh as I stopped next to the stairs.
I turned, looking at him. “Do you have any idea how far in advance these races are scheduled now? It’s not high school anymore.”
He narrowed his eyes. “Do I need to kick your ass?”
I dropped my gaze, smirking. Yeah, Madoc and Jared were old favorites here, but things were a hell of a lot different now. Whereas they had to contend with three or four races a night, we now had ten to fifteen, and some going simultaneously.
“I’m not saying that.” I moved away from the stairs, seeing Zack—the Racemaster—climb down from the podium.
“Hey,” I greeted Zack, and gestured over toward the track. “Roman’s going to send off the rally race, so can you make sure Sam knows to get his ass out first with the camera before they take off this time?”
“Sure.” He nodded and slapped Madoc on the arm. “Hey, man.”
“Hey,” Madoc answered but kept his eyes on me, waiting for me to get my reality check.
“Okay.” I laughed after Zack had walked off. “Of course I can fit you in.” I lowered my voice and arched an eyebrow before continuing. “Even though everything is scheduled down to the minute, and you’re messing with my timetable right now. But okaaaay.”
He smiled, teeth flashing bright white, nudging my arm. “Thanks, dude!” And then walked off.
“You need an opponent,” I called after him.
He turned, slipping his hands into his jeans. “I know,” he replied.
But I didn’t like his smile as he walked away.
For the next half hour, we got through five races—two rallies off track and three on. Once the cars were suited up and races began, my job got easier. I sat up in the podium running the cameras, alternating angles for the viewers so they always had exciting perspectives when they were on the site. Once in a while, I’d have to go and help with the cameras or the cars, because something wasn’t working, but Zack handled setting off the cars, and he, Roman, and a few others handled the bets.
It was easy and comfortable. Up here. Alone. With a clear view of the action below.
“Hey.”
I turned around and saw Cameron, stepping up the last stair, carrying a red Solo cup. She was dressed in a black miniskirt and a red flannel shirt tied above her belly button with the sleeves rolled up.
“Hey.” I leaned back against the small table, crossing my arms over my chest.
She came up next to me, looking down at the crowd silently. Everyone was enjoying whatever they’d brought in their coolers while Rob Zombie’s “Never Gonna Stop” played over the speakers.
I rubbed my fingers against my palms as I clenched my fists. My hands were actually sweating, and I didn’t understand why—after five years of knowing Cameron—I was suddenly uncomfortable.
The thick silence hung there between us, and I searched my brain for something to ask her. College? No, she wasn’t going. Her old foster parents? Maybe.
She broke the silence before I could. “Well, this is fun.” Her nervous laugh seemed so out of place.
“Yeah,” I muttered, wondering why the hell I felt uneasy.
She looked at me, her eyes serious. “So I’ve finally lost you, haven’t I?”
I swallowed, not knowing exactly what she meant but definitely noticing the difference.
“Never,” I said thoughtfully. “I’m always your friend.”
“But I’m not the only woman you love anymore.”
I dropped my eyes, my lips curling on a hidden smile. I did love Cameron. She was the only girl I’d really talked to. But while we were very much the same, my heart never held her close. She was a friend. Someone I could trust and someone who would stand up for me.
But after she’d leave for the night, I didn’t think about her, and I didn’t count the minutes until I could see her again.
She stood up straight, shrugging. “I know it’s not like that with us. Not love-love, per se,” she clarified. “But we were each other’s firsts. No matter who I hooked up with, you were always ten times more important.”
I flattened my lips, feeling guilty that it was different for me.
We’d both lost our virginity long before we met each other, but we always considered each other our real first.
Since our first sexual experiences weren’t something we wanted to remember.
We were there for each other, and I loved her.
But there was a girl who was more important for me, and it had been that way for a long time. A very long time.
She continued. “It never even occurred to me that it would be hard when you finally replaced me in your heart.”
I looked down to the track, seeing Juliet sitting on the bleachers with Shane, Fallon, and … One Direction.
I blew out a breath. “I have no heart. You know that.”
She shook her head, tears pooling. “You suck,” she joked.
“Why?” I grinned. “Because I’m letting another girl have some summer fun with me?”
“No,” she blurted out. “Because you’re keeping her to yourself.”
My chest shook with laughter as I yanked her in by the neck and kissed her forehead. Her blond hair, hanging in a high ponytail, smelled like overripe strawberries. I glanced down at Juliet, thinking of her hair that smelled like a crisp fall morning.
And she was looking up at me.
Shit.
Her eyes were narrowed as she rested her elbows on her knees and watched me with my arm around Cameron.
I sighed, pulling away. “I’ll see you, okay?”
I left Cameron and climbed down the ladder, facing forward as I jumped the last five steps to the ground.
Girls liked to make a mountain out of a molehill, so now I had to go put out the damn fire she’d no doubt started in her head.
As I approached the bleachers—where she sat two rows up—I noticed Shane sitting next to her, talking to friends on her other side, while Madoc, Fallon, and Adam stood up, talking to a group of people.
She saw me and looked away, straightening her back. I set my foot on the bottom bleacher and leaned in next to her face.
“Don’t,” I cautioned, looking in her eyes.
She dropped her chin, looking almost sad. God, I wanted to wrap my arms around her.
“Don’t what?” she mumbled.
“Don’t be jealous.”
“I’m not,” she maintained, looking defiant.
I nearly whispered. “Three years ago, I laid eyes on you for the first time,” I said, “and every time I’ve looked at another girl since then, I’ve compared her to you. Every time.”
She raised her eyes hesitantly.
I gave a half smile. “Your big green eyes that give away everything you’re feeling. Your pouty little mouth that tells me when you’re happy or pissed.” I leaned in, close to her lips. “And your tight little body that I finally got my fucking hands on after years of waiting for you.”
Her throat moved up and down as she listened.
“I have lots of energy for you, Juliet—only you—so don’t go imagining shit that’s not true.”
No more bullshit. I always knew what I wanted, and I never failed at getting it. I had an appetite for a lot, but when I found my niche, I knew it. Lacrosse, computers, the Loop …
And Juliet. She was my niche, too.
When her lips pursed against a smile she desperately tried to hold back, I knew she’d relaxed.
“Keep your eyes open,” I whispered.
A confused look crossed her face right before I dived in, caught her lips in mine, and kissed her deep and soft. My tongue flicked over hers, owning her mouth. She was helpless against me, and I was absolutely fine with that.
I pulled away to nuzzle in her ear. “You drive me crazy.”
She shivered, breathing hard. “Good.”
I smiled, continuing to trail my lips over her jaw.
“Jax.” I heard Madoc’s voice off to the side. “Adam’s going to race me in his 370Z, okay?”
I stopped, my lips hovering over Juliet’s skin.

Hasil (Bahasa Indonesia) 1:

Berjalan ke bawah garis, aku memeriksa mobil di daftar pada iPad saya, membuat yakin mereka sekarang dan siap."Cocok?" Saya bertanya, melihat ke bawah di Derek Romawi, yang adalah memperbaiki GoPro pada batang Raptor.Dia berdiri, menunjuk. "Kau katakan padaku. Dapat Anda mengaksesnya?"Kamera ini tidak bisa streaming rekaman hidup dari jarak jauh, tapi aku bisa mengakses pada ponsel saya. Aku melambaikan, mengambil sendiri pada layar sel saya."Anda mendapatkannya," kataku. "Anda mendapatkan cukup cepat pada saat itu."Dia tersenyum, tampak terlalu banyak seperti lima tahun yang baru saja mendapat tepukan di kepala."Lebih cepat berarti balapan lagi," Dia menunjukkan. "Balapan lagi berarti lebih taruhan. Dan lebih taruhan — ""Berarti lebih banyak uang," aku selesai, menggelengkan kepala. "Ya, aku tahu mana hatimu kebohongan." Aku tersentak kepala saya dan berjalan pergi. "Perlu memeriksa dengan Zack. Melihat Anda dalam satu menit."Dia kembali ke pekerjaan-Nya, dan aku menyeringai, benar-benar terkejut bahwa ia menjadi aset.Derek Roman itu beberapa tahun lebih tua, tetapi Anda tidak akan tahu itu di sekolah tinggi. Ia digunakan untuk ras Loop, tapi dia mendapat kejenakaan dalam banyak masalah. Dia tidak mendapatkan bersama dengan Jared, ketika mereka berlari, atau orang lain. Ia adalah ceroboh, ceroboh dan agresif, persis seperti sopir saya tidak ingin di sini.Jadi alih-alih melarang dirinya dan menunggu pembalasan yang akhirnya akan datang, aku bermain cerdas.Aku mencium pantatnya.Pengganggu ingin masalah. Mereka bertindak seperti yang mereka lakukan karena mereka tidak merasa penting.Jadi saya memberikan dia yang. Memberitahu dia berapa banyak kita telah merencanakan dan apa jenis melakukan itu semua. Berapa banyak aku butuh bantuan, dan berapa banyak aku membutuhkan seseorang yang tahu Loop di dalam dan luar, dan kemudian aku memberinya pekerjaan.Dia tinggal sibuk, mendapat tunjangan khusus, dan mendapat nama resmi terdaftar di situs Web kami, iklan, dan ia terlibat dalam keputusan. Sekarang, jika dia memutuskan untuk menjadi bodoh, ia akan memiliki banyak kehilangan."Jadi" Utica berlari di samping saya, melemparkan lengan bahu saya. "Bisa Anda mungkin cocok saya ke dalam jadwal?""Malam ini?"Aku bisa merasakan mata roll sebagai saya bekerja perjalanan melalui kerumunan sampai dengan tahap para penyiar, dan ia jatuh di belakang saya."Ya," jawabnya. "Saya ingin melakukan bahwa ras pasangan yang Anda miliki terjadi. Fallon mencintai Berkuda dengan Jared waktu dia dan Tate berlari, dan saya ingin mengambil istri saya."Aku berlari tanganku di atas kepalaku, membiarkan keluar desahan frustrasi ketika aku berhenti di tangga.Aku berbalik, memandangnya. "Apakah Anda tahu seberapa jauh di muka balapan dijadwalkan sekarang Hal ini tidak sekolah tinggi lagi."Ia menyipitkan mata. "Apakah saya perlu untuk menendang pantat Anda?"Aku menjatuhkan pandangan, menyeringai. Ya, Utica dan Jared sudah tua favorit di sini, tetapi hal-hal yang neraka banyak berbeda sekarang. Sedangkan mereka harus bersaing dengan tiga atau empat balapan malam, kita sekarang memiliki sepuluh sampai lima belas, dan beberapa akan secara bersamaan."Saya tidak mengatakan itu." Aku pindah dari tangga, melihat Zack — Racemaster — turun dari podium."Hei," Aku disambut Zack dan memberi isyarat atas ke arah jalur. "Roman akan mengirimkan rally ras, sehingga Anda bisa memastikan bahwa Sam tahu untuk mendapatkan pantatnya keluar pertama dengan kamera sebelum mereka lepas landas saat ini?""Pasti." Dia mengangguk dan menampar Utica di lengan. "Hei, manusia.""Hei," Utica menjawab tapi terus mata saya, menunggu saya untuk mendapatkan saya realitas."Oke." Aku tertawa setelah Zack telah berjalan pergi. "Tentu saja aku bisa cocok Anda dalam." Aku menurunkan suaraku dan melengkung alis sebelum melanjutkan. "Meskipun semuanya dijadwalkan ke menit, dan Anda sedang bermain-main dengan jadwal saya sekarang. Tapi okaaaay."Dia tersenyum, gigi berkedip putih cerah, mendorong lenganku. "Terima kasih, dude!" Dan kemudian berjalan pergi."Anda perlu lawan," aku memanggil setelahnya.Dia berbalik, tergelincir tangannya ke jeans-nya. "Aku tahu," Dia menjawab.Tapi saya tidak suka senyumnya saat dia berjalan pergi.Untuk setengah jam berikutnya, kami mendapat melalui lima balapan — dua reli lagu dan tiga pada. Setelah mobil yang cocok dan mulai ras, pekerjaan saya menjadi lebih mudah. Aku duduk di podium menjalankan kamera, bergantian sudut untuk pemirsa sehingga mereka selalu memiliki perspektif yang menarik ketika mereka berada di situs. Sekali-sekali, saya akan harus pergi dan membantu dengan kamera atau mobil, karena sesuatu tidak bekerja, tetapi Zack ditangani berangkat Mobil, dan dia, Roman, dan beberapa orang lain ditangani taruhan.Itu mudah dan nyaman. Di sini. Sendirian. Dengan pemandangan jelas tindakan di bawah ini."Hey."Aku berbalik dan melihat Cameron, menaiki tangga terakhir, membawa Solo Piala merah. Dia mengenakan rok mini hitam dan kemeja flanel merah yang diikat di atas tombol perutnya dengan lengan digulung."Hey." Aku bersandar kembali meja kecil, silang tanganku dadaku.Dia datang di samping saya, melihat ke bawah di kerumunan diam-diam. Semua orang menikmati apa pun yang mereka telah membawa dalam pendingin mereka sementara Rob Zombie "tidak akan berhenti" bermain melalui speaker.Aku menggosok jari saya terhadap palms saya saat aku mengepalkan tinju saya. Tangan saya yang benar-benar berkeringat, dan saya tidak mengerti mengapa — setelah lima tahun untuk mengetahui Cameron — aku tiba-tiba tidak nyaman.Keheningan tebal tergantung di sana antara kami, dan saya mencari otak saya untuk sesuatu untuk bertanya padanya. Perguruan tinggi? Tidak, dia tidak akan. Orangtua angkatnya tua? Mungkin.Dia melanggar keheningan sebelum aku bisa. "Nah, ini adalah menyenangkan." Dia tertawa gugup tampak begitu keluar dari tempat."Ya," Aku bergumam, bertanya-tanya mengapa sih aku merasa gelisah.Dia memandang saya, matanya serius. "Jadi aku akhirnya kehilangan Anda, saya?"Saya menelan, tidak tahu apa yang dia maksud tapi pasti melihat perbedaan."Tidak pernah," kataku serius. "Saya selalu temanmu.""Tapi saya tidak satu-satunya wanita yang Anda cintai lagi."Aku menjatuhkan mata, bibir saya keriting tersenyum tersembunyi. Aku mencintai Cameron. Dia adalah satu-satunya gadis yang saya benar-benar berbicara. Tetapi ketika kita sangat banyak yang sama, hati saya tidak pernah memegang dekat. Dia adalah teman. Seseorang aku bisa percaya dan seseorang yang akan berdiri untuk saya.Tapi setelah dia akan pergi untuk malam, aku tidak berpikir tentang dia, dan aku tidak menghitung menit sampai aku bisa melihat dia lagi.Dia berdiri up lurus, mengangkat bahu. "Aku tahu hal ini tidak seperti yang dengan kami. Tidak-cinta, per se,"Dia menjelaskan. "Tapi kami pengalaman pertama masing-masing. Tak peduli siapa aku hooked up dengan, kau selalu sepuluh kali lebih penting."Saya rata bibir saya, merasa bersalah bahwa itu berbeda bagi saya.Kita akan keduanya kehilangan keperawanan kami lama sebelum kami bertemu satu sama lain, tapi kami selalu dianggap saling pertama kami nyata.Karena pengalaman seksual pertama tidak sesuatu yang kita ingin ingat.Kami ada untuk satu sama lain, dan aku mencintainya.Tapi ada seorang gadis yang lebih penting bagi saya, dan itu sudah seperti itu untuk waktu yang lama. Waktu yang sangat lama.Lanjutnya. "Bahkan tidak pernah terpikir olehku bahwa itu akan menjadi sulit ketika Anda akhirnya diganti saya dalam hatimu."Aku melihat ke bawah ke trek, melihat Juliet yang duduk di bangku-bangku dengan Shane, Fallon, dan... Satu arah.Aku meniup keluar napas. "Aku punya hatinya. Anda tahu bahwa."Ia menggelengkan kepala, air matanya penggabungan. "Anda mengisap," dia bercanda."Kenapa?" Aku menyeringai. "Karena aku membiarkan gadis lain memiliki beberapa menyenangkan musim panas bersamaku?"“No,” she blurted out. “Because you’re keeping her to yourself.”My chest shook with laughter as I yanked her in by the neck and kissed her forehead. Her blond hair, hanging in a high ponytail, smelled like overripe strawberries. I glanced down at Juliet, thinking of her hair that smelled like a crisp fall morning.And she was looking up at me.Shit.Her eyes were narrowed as she rested her elbows on her knees and watched me with my arm around Cameron.I sighed, pulling away. “I’ll see you, okay?”I left Cameron and climbed down the ladder, facing forward as I jumped the last five steps to the ground.Girls liked to make a mountain out of a molehill, so now I had to go put out the damn fire she’d no doubt started in her head.As I approached the bleachers—where she sat two rows up—I noticed Shane sitting next to her, talking to friends on her other side, while Madoc, Fallon, and Adam stood up, talking to a group of people.She saw me and looked away, straightening her back. I set my foot on the bottom bleacher and leaned in next to her face.“Don’t,” I cautioned, looking in her eyes.She dropped her chin, looking almost sad. God, I wanted to wrap my arms around her.“Don’t what?” she mumbled.“Don’t be jealous.”“I’m not,” she maintained, looking defiant.I nearly whispered. “Three years ago, I laid eyes on you for the first time,” I said, “and every time I’ve looked at another girl since then, I’ve compared her to you. Every time.”She raised her eyes hesitantly.I gave a half smile. “Your big green eyes that give away everything you’re feeling. Your pouty little mouth that tells me when you’re happy or pissed.” I leaned in, close to her lips. “And your tight little body that I finally got my fucking hands on after years of waiting for you.”Her throat moved up and down as she listened.“I have lots of energy for you, Juliet—only you—so don’t go imagining shit that’s not true.”No more bullshit. I always knew what I wanted, and I never failed at getting it. I had an appetite for a lot, but when I found my niche, I knew it. Lacrosse, computers, the Loop …And Juliet. She was my niche, too.When her lips pursed against a smile she desperately tried to hold back, I knew she’d relaxed.“Keep your eyes open,” I whispered.A confused look crossed her face right before I dived in, caught her lips in mine, and kissed her deep and soft. My tongue flicked over hers, owning her mouth. She was helpless against me, and I was absolutely fine with that.I pulled away to nuzzle in her ear. “You drive me crazy.”She shivered, breathing hard. “Good.”I smiled, continuing to trail my lips over her jaw.“Jax.” I heard Madoc’s voice off to the side. “Adam’s going to race me in his 370Z, okay?”I stopped, my lips hovering over Juliet’s skin.