Racing Hearts

Chapter 3: The Thrill of Speed

Eli’s world blurred past him as the sound of the engine filled his ears, a familiar hum that drowned out everything else. The road stretched out before him like an endless ribbon, twisting and turning with every sharp curve. His grip tightened on the steering wheel, his heart racing in sync with the car’s revving engine. It was moments like these that made him feel alive—when speed and precision blended together in perfect harmony.

The track was his escape, the one place where nothing else mattered. Not the whispers about Arietta. Not the expectations people placed on him. Not even the gnawing confusion of his feelings for Serena. Here, on the road, it was just him and the car, pushing the limits of what was possible.

With a quick flick of his wrist, Eli downshifted, smoothly navigating the next bend. He was in the zone, his mind clear and focused. Nothing could break his concentration—nothing except the memory of Serena’s face from the other night. The way she had looked at him, vulnerability mixed with hesitation, had stirred something in him that he wasn’t prepared for.

For the first time in a long while, someone had gotten past the walls he’d built around himself. Serena had found a way in, and now Eli wasn’t sure how to deal with it.

As he accelerated down the straightaway, the wind whipping through the open windows, Eli couldn’t help but think of her. She was so different from anyone he’d ever met. Strong-willed but compassionate, quiet but with an intensity that drew people in. And even though he knew she was still trying to figure out her own feelings, Eli could feel the pull between them growing stronger with each passing day.

It had started with innocent conversations, moments shared after races when the adrenaline was still coursing through his veins. She’d ask him about his technique, the mechanics of racing, and he’d gladly explain, enjoying the way her eyes lit up with curiosity. But then the conversations had shifted, becoming more personal. They talked about their lives, their dreams, their fears. And before Eli knew it, he found himself opening up to Serena in ways he hadn’t with anyone else.

He hadn’t planned on falling for her. After Arietta, he’d sworn off anything serious. The pain of losing someone he loved had been too much, and he wasn’t sure he could go through that again. But with Serena, it wasn’t just about the past. It was about the possibility of something new, something real. And that scared him more than he cared to admit.

Eli clenched his jaw, pushing the car harder, as if speed could chase away the thoughts swirling in his mind. But no matter how fast he went, Serena remained there, lodged in his thoughts like an unsolvable puzzle.

The race was almost over. He was leading, as usual, his car effortlessly outpacing the others on the track. But today, winning didn’t give him the same rush it normally did. Today, all he could think about was the fact that Serena wasn’t here, watching from the stands. She had left before the race started. And as much as Eli understood, her absence gnawed at him.

He crossed the finish line, the cheers from the crowd barely registering in his mind. He parked the car, the engine cooling down with a low rumble as he removed his helmet. His team surrounded him, congratulating him on another victory, but Eli’s thoughts were somewhere else entirely.

“Great race, man,” one of his crew members said, clapping him on the back. “You were flying out there.”

Eli nodded, forcing a smile. “Yeah. Thanks.”

He scanned the crowd out of habit, even though he knew she wasn’t there.

“Looking for someone?” a voice behind him asked, teasing.

Eli turned to see Jason, his longtime friend and fellow racer, grinning at him. Jason had always been able to read Eli better than anyone else, and right now, his knowing look told Eli that he hadn’t been as subtle as he thought.

“None of your business,” Eli muttered, tossing his helmet into the car.

Jason chuckled. “Right. Except it’s totally obvious. You’ve got it bad, man.”

Eli shot him a look, but Jason just raised his hands in mock surrender. “Hey, I’m just saying. You’re usually all about the race, but today, you’ve been a little… distracted.”

Eli sighed, running a hand through his hair. “It’s complicated.”

“Complicated? Since when do you do complicated?”

“Since Serena,” Eli admitted before he could stop himself.

Jason’s grin widened. “Ah, so it is Serena. I knew it. What’s going on with you two, anyway? I’ve seen the way you look at her.”

Eli leaned against the car, folding his arms across his chest. “I don’t even know, man. I like her. A lot. But I’m not sure if she truly feels the same. She’s got a lot going on, and I don’t want to rush anything.”

Jason nodded, his expression thoughtful for once. “Makes sense. But if you ask me, life’s too short to sit around waiting. You should tell her how you feel.”

Eli frowned. “It’s not that simple. She said we should take it slow”

Jason raised an eyebrow. “And you’re just gonna wait? You’re Eli Draegon, man. You’ve never been the waiting type.”

Eli shook his head, frustration bubbling up inside him. “This is different. She’s different. I don’t want to screw it up by pushing too hard.”

Jason shrugged. “Fair enough. But don’t wait too long. Girls like Serena… they don’t stay single forever.”

Eli didn’t need to be reminded of that. He’d already spent too many sleepless nights wondering if he was going to lose her before he even had a chance. But what was he supposed to do? Chase after her when she clearly said to take it slow? That didn’t feel right.

“I’ll figure it out,” Eli said finally, more to himself than to Jason.

Jason clapped him on the back again, his grin returning. “Good luck with that. In the meantime, enjoy the win. You earned it.”

But Eli didn’t feel like celebrating. He watched as the crowd slowly dispersed, the energy of the race fading into the background. His thoughts were still with Serena, wondering what she was thinking, what she was feeling. He wanted to reach out, to tell her that he was willing to wait, that he understood why they should not rush anything. But he also knew that sometimes, it was the last thing people needed when they were scared.

As he walked back to his car, Eli pulled out his phone, his thumb hovering over Serena’s name in his contacts. He wanted to call her, to hear her voice, but something held him back.

Instead, he sent her a simple message: I hope you’re doing okay.

It wasn’t much, but it was enough for now. He just had to trust that when Serena was ready, she would come back. And when she did, he’d be there, waiting.

---

Two days passed, and Eli tried to keep busy, throwing himself into work at the garage and training for his next race. But no matter how hard he tried to distract himself, Serena was always in the back of his mind.

On the third day, just when he was starting to doubt whether he’d hear from her again, his phone buzzed. It was a text from Serena.

Can we meet? There’s something I need to say.

Eli’s heart skipped a beat. He didn’t know what she was going to say, but the fact that she wanted to see him was enough for now.

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xoxo