Lights Out (The Grid, #1)

by Kayla James

I thought it was what I wanted. What I deserved. All I would ever need.” He raises his eyes, “But then I met you.”

“The first beat my heart took in over a year was when you turned around and ensnared me in your arctic eyes.

“You are not alone. I am right here and I want—have wanted—every part of you. The good. The bad,” I pull back and my eyes flicker between his, “The broken.”

“Because I’m pretty sure you’ve had me since that first day.”

“You’re kinda my thing now, Blake.

“You’re kinda my thing now too, Ry. Wherever we go, whatever we do. We do it together.”

“P1! That’s P1! You just won your first Formula 1 race!”

Lifting my arms above my head, the crew goes wild and I squeal when strong arms pull me over the halo and into a crushing hug. “That’s my girl!” Ryder sets me down and grabs either side of my helmet, leaning in until his bumps against mine. I reach up and grab the side of his and soak in the pride flooding his eyes.

“Happy birthday, love,” Ryder whispers in my ear.

In the next breath, he bends and picks her up bridal style, carrying her through the parting crowd and out towards the exit.

Annnd book number three's couple

“Da would always give his to Mum before he left for a race and she would wear it on a chain around her neck, keeping a part of him close to her heart while he was gone. She didn’t take it off after he died, saying it felt like he was there with her.”

“Now you keep them both close to your heart.” “And I swear sometimes I can feel them, especially around this time of year.” She hums and smooths her hand over my chest, over my heart. “They are. Here, I mean. They’ll always be here.”

When I question if any of this is worth it, she gives me a reason to get up every morning. She’s everything I never thought I needed. She’s more than I’ll ever feel I deserve.

“Thank you.” “For what?” “For everything.” “You deserve everything and more.”

I look exactly like he did the day he died. I’m the same age he was when he died. And I’m about to race the same circuit where he died.

“Hey.” She runs her finger over my scarred eyebrow before placing her hand over the rings and my heart. “We do this together,” she whispers. “We do this together,” I murmur.

“This track has taken enough from too many people on this team. If it becomes too much, just say the word and we’ll pull you out. The points don’t matter today.” “Morozov,” I call when he reaches the door. “The same goes for you.” I see the haunted look flicker across his face before he’s gone.

Five. This one’s for them.

“I love you.”

“You brought me back to life with your soft smiles, melodic laughs, and bright eyes. You make the hard days worth it and the easy ones feel like a dream. You’ve made me a better driver, a better friend, a better man.”

Five. Everything goes black.

“She’s my wife!”

Please, don’t leave me too.

When I told her that I wanted forever as my prize for winning that ridiculous competition, half of me expected her to laugh it off because it’s so soon. But she didn’t. Tears ran down her face as she held my face in her hands, whispering yes over and over again against my lips. Two weeks later her mom stood at her side holding a small bouquet of flowers while Nikolai was the one to hand us the rings as we said ‘I do’ in a small courthouse wedding during the summer break.

“Blake Stone, they just brought her in. She’s the driver from the accident at the track.” “And you are?” “Her father.” I’m off the bed in a flash, rounding the corner and trip over my own feet when familiar blue eyes lock with mine. “Callum?”

I love you. Come back to me. Please don’t leave me.

“I still cannot believe you married your childhood celebrity crush. Like what lottery did you play and where can I buy my ticket?”

“Grab the headboard.”