Even if it weren’t for the money I needed, I still couldn’t get out of this. A challenge was a challenge. If Roman wasn’t bowing out, neither was I.

“Hey, man. I could drive for you,” Madoc spoke up. “We’d just have to tell them about our secret relationship.”

He was trying to cheer me up, but he’d be more helpful shoving his foot in his mouth.

I knew girls who could drive. I’d met a good crowd at the garage where I worked and had run into a few in the scene here and there, but the only girls I knew here tonight were the ones I’d slept with or had classes with.

And I didn’t trust any of them.

“Jared, I can’t race for you,” K.C. pointed out as if I didn’t know. “There’s got to be someone else.”

There was.

And the idea of asking her made me want to gag. Not only would she say no, but she’d probably spit in my face for asking.

Don’t act like you have a choice.

Shit.

This was when I wanted to hop in the car and drive away. Making hard decisions and accepting when others’ needs came before my own hurt, but…I didn’t have a choice.

And then I heard another father—a better father—in my head.

A man knows what needs to be done and just f**king does it.

My brother deserved someone looking out for him, and I had it in my power to make his life better.

I tilted my head back and sighed.

This was going to hurt.

“There’s only one other person who I’d even slightly trust driving my car.” I turned and locked eyes with Tate.

Her eyes widened. “Me?” she asked, surprised.

“Her?” Madoc, K.C., and f**king Ben followed in short order.

I crossed my arms over my chest and walked towards her. “Yeah, you.”

“Me?” Her voice lowered, sounding like I just asked something stupid. She wasn’t surprised anymore.

“I’m looking at you, aren’t I?” I snarled slightly.

Her face fell flat, and her eyes narrowed in defiance as she looked to her date, ignoring me. “Ben, can we get an early start to that bonfire? I’m bored here.”

She didn’t wait for an answer before she spun around and headed out of the crowd.

There was no way I was going to pick anyone else, and I wasn’t forfeiting to Derek Fucking Roman.

I stalked after her and hooked her elbow. “Can I talk to you?”

I could barely even look at her, and I kept my voice to a mumble. This was as close to begging to anyone as I’d come in over three years.

“No,” she spat out.

Spiteful, little…

I put my shoulders back, knowing that she had every right not to help me, but her attitude still pissed me off. “You know how hard this is for me,” I whispered. “I need you.”

I saw her suck in a little breath, and she looked down for a moment. Well, I’d made her pause at least.

“And tomorrow when you don’t need me?” she challenged. “Will I be shit under your boot again?”

My heart thumped, and my chest ached.

You were never shit.

“She’ll do it,” K.C. spoke up loudly from behind me.

“K.C.!” Tate’s teeth were bared. “You don’t speak for me. And I’m not doing it!” she yelled directly at me, and heat pumped through me at her anger.

It reminded me of the kitchen counter, and I wanted to shut her up again just like I’d done that night.

“You want to,” K.C. argued with Tate.

“Perhaps,” she sneered. “But I do have pride. He’s not getting a damn thing from me.”

Fuck this.

“Thank you,” I ground out through my teeth.

“For what?” Tate snarled back.

I got in her face, but she didn’t back down. “For reminding me of what a disappointing, self-serving bitch you are.”

“That’s enough! Both of you!” Madoc cut into our argument as I stared at Tate’s wide, angry eyes. He stepped between us, glaring between Tate and me. “Right now, I don’t give a f**k what the history is between you two, but we need asses in that car. People will lose a hell of a lot of money.”

“Jared?” He looked at me and continued. “You’re going to lose a lot of money. And Tate?” He looked her, but she was still chewing me to pieces with her scowl. “You think everyone treated you badly before? Two-thirds of the people here tonight bet on Jared. When they hear that his first choice turned him down, the rest of your school year will be hell without Jared or me having to lift a finger. Now—the both of you—get in the goddamn car!”

My eyes fell to the ground, feeling a little childish and a whole lot of stunned.

Madoc didn’t usually speak in exclamation points. I’d seen him pissed a handful of times, and he brought out his teacher-voice very rarely.

I always got the impression that he was hiding something. Something more.

Everyone was quiet. Even a few bystanders that had caught the outburst.

“He has to ask me nicely,” Tate commanded.

“What?”

I was nice. The first time.

Okay, maybe not.

“He has to say ‘please,’” she spoke to everyone else but me.

I shook my head and laughed to myself.

God, she was a handful.

“Tatum.” I looked at her like she was my next meal. “Would you ride with me, please?”