Racing Hearts

Chapter 1: The Starting Line

Serena Lyra Vernal stared out of the window, her reflection flickering against the glass, lost in a swirl of emotions that threatened to overwhelm her. She had promised herself that this time would be different. That she’d leave her complicated feelings behind. But no matter how many times she vowed to start fresh, one name always crept back into her thoughts: Elioth Zephyr Draegon.

The sound of her phone vibrating on the table snapped her out of her daze. It was a message from Nicole, her best friend and, at times, her self-appointed life coach.

Nicole: “Don’t overthink it, girl. Just tell him.”

Serena groaned and tossed her phone onto the couch. Tell him? She could barely look at Eli without her heart doing somersaults, let alone confess her feelings. The feelings she wasn’t even sure she should have in the first place.

The truth was, Eli was a mystery, a puzzle that Serena couldn’t solve. From the moment she met him at one of his races, she’d been captivated by his intensity, his quiet confidence. But there was always something beneath the surface, something he kept hidden. A shadow from his past that he never fully revealed. And while Serena wanted to believe that they could have something real, something lasting, she couldn’t shake the feeling that Eli’s heart wasn’t entirely his to give.

Serena sighed and leaned back against the couch, closing her eyes for a moment. She remembered the first time she’d seen Eli on the track. The roar of the engines, the smell of burning rubber, and the sheer adrenaline that hung in the air had been intoxicating. Eli had been like a force of nature behind the wheel, moving with a precision that left the other drivers in the dust. And when he’d crossed the finish line in first place, the crowd had erupted in cheers.

But it wasn’t just his skill that drew her in. It was the way he seemed so detached from it all. While the other drivers celebrated, Eli had slipped away, disappearing into the background like a ghost. He never stayed for the victory photos or the after-parties. He was there one moment, gone the next, leaving behind only the faintest trace of his presence. And somehow, that made him all the more intriguing.

Serena had tried to get to know him, to break through the walls he’d built around himself. They’d spent time together outside of the races—long drives along the coast, late-night conversations over coffee—but every time she thought they were getting close, Eli would pull back. He’d shut down, retreating into himself as if there was something, or someone, he couldn’t let go of.

And that’s where Serena’s insecurities kicked in. There had always been whispers, rumors about Eli and his ex, Arietta Solene Marquise, a woman who was as beautiful as she was untouchable. Their breakup was legendary in the racing world, but no one knew the full story. All Serena knew was that Arietta had left a mark on Eli, a wound that hadn’t fully healed.

“Ugh,” Serena muttered to herself, pushing off the couch. “Why do I keep doing this?”

She wandered into the kitchen, pouring herself a glass of water. This wasn’t how she wanted to live—constantly second-guessing herself, waiting for Eli to give her some kind of sign. She wanted clarity, something real. But every time she thought about confronting him, about asking if there was a future for them, fear stopped her cold.

The sound of a car pulling up outside made Serena’s heart skip a beat. She glanced out the window and saw Eli’s sleek black sports car parked in front of her house. Her pulse quickened as she watched him step out of the driver’s seat, his tall frame silhouetted against the evening light.

“What’s he doing here?” she whispered, more to herself than anyone else.

Before she could think too much about it, there was a knock at her door. Serena took a deep breath, willing herself to stay calm, and opened it.

Eli stood there, his dark eyes locking onto hers with that same intensity that always made her feel like the ground beneath her was shifting. He was dressed casually, in a black jacket and jeans, but even in something so simple, he looked effortlessly put together. His short, tousled hair caught the fading sunlight, giving him an almost ethereal glow.

“Hey,” he said, his voice low and smooth, as if this was just a normal visit and not the emotional rollercoaster Serena was currently riding.

“Hi,” she replied, her voice coming out a little breathier than she intended. “What are you doing here?”

Eli shrugged, leaning against the doorframe. “I wanted to see you. Is that okay?”

Serena blinked. She wasn’t sure what to say. Of course, she wanted to see him—she always wanted to see him—but something about the way he looked at her tonight was different. There was a tension in the air, something unspoken but palpable.

“Yeah, it’s fine,” she said, stepping aside to let him in. “I just wasn’t expecting you.”

Eli walked past her, and Serena caught the faint scent of his cologne, a mix of wood and spice that made her heart flutter. He wandered into the living room, his eyes scanning the space like he was looking for something but wasn’t sure what.

“You’ve been avoiding me,” he said suddenly, turning to face her.

Serena froze. This was not how she expected the conversation to start. She opened her mouth to deny it, but then stopped. What was the point? He was right. She had been avoiding him. Ever since the last race, when she’d watched him from the stands, feeling torn between her desire to be with him and the fear that she’d never be enough.

“I just needed some time alone,” she admitted, wrapping her arms around herself.

Eli nodded slowly, as if he already knew that was the answer. “I get it. I’m not exactly easy to be around.”

Serena’s heart twisted. He sounded so resigned, like he believed that pushing people away was just a fact of life for him. And maybe, for Eli, it was. But Serena didn’t want to be pushed away—not anymore.

“It’s not that,” she said softly, stepping closer to him. “I just… I needed to figure out how I feel. About us.”

Eli’s eyes darkened, a flicker of something unreadable passing over his face. “And what did you figure out?”

Serena hesitated. This was it. The moment she’d been dreading, but also the moment she’d been waiting for. She could tell him the truth—that she wanted to be with him, that she cared about him more than she should, even if he wasn’t fully over Arietta. Or she could keep things the way they were, safe and distant, where she didn’t risk getting hurt.

“I—” she started, but the words stuck in her throat. She wanted to tell him, but the thought of being vulnerable, of putting herself out there only to be rejected, terrified her.

Eli took a step closer, closing the distance between them. He reached out and gently tilted her chin up so that she was forced to meet his gaze.

“Serena,” he said quietly, his voice sending shivers down her spine. “You don’t have to say anything if you’re not ready. I just need to know if I should keep waiting.”

Serena’s breath hitched. She hadn’t expected him to be so direct, so open about what he wanted. It made it harder to hide from her feelings, harder to pretend that she didn’t care.

“I don’t know,” she whispered, her eyes searching his. “I don’t know what’s right.”

Eli let out a small, almost bitter laugh. “Yeah, me neither.”

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xoxo