'm still trying to process when Tyler walks over. He's so happy for us both that he picks me up and spins me around before setting me on my feet. As he lowers me, there's a moment where our noses brush, and he breaks into a wonderful grin.

"I knew you'd do it," he says.

His praise is like music to my ears. I suck in a breath, my heart now beating about a mile a minute. Maybe it's the adrenaline still pumping in my veins, or the fact that he's never looked as good as right now, but I'm suddenly compelled to lean closer.

"Roxy!"

We break apart guiltily. Vanessa and Niko come running over with expressions of pure joy. "You were amazing!" Vanessa says as she throws her arms around me. Niko does the same, trapping me into a human burrito. When I pull back a little, Tyler is gone.

"I'm just glad it's over," I say. "I think I'm going to have my work cut out for me when it comes to the tournament." I haven't been able to stop obsessing since the thought first crossed my mind. I'd barely even made it into the top ten of my circuit. How will I fare in the tournament?

"Oh, c'mon, Rox," Vanessa says. "You were incredible out there. Enjoy the moment."

Maybe she's right, but it's hard not to feel disappointed. While I hadn't expected to come first in the circuit, I'd assumed I'd fare better than seventh.

"I was almost last," I say, "and that was me giving my absolute all." What makes it even worse is that if I'd been able to compete in the evening circuits, I'd have probably done better.

"Hey," Niko says, touching my arm, "pretend for a moment that I was the ridiculously hot racer who'd just competed. What would you say to me?"

I hesitate, and then, "That you did amazing out there."

"Exactly," he says, "so why are you being so hard on yourself?"

He's right, I suppose, which is why I don't argue. Instead, I look past him, into the distance. Tyler is mid conversation with his dad, but he doesn't look happy. His arms are folded, his jaw clenched tight into a hard narrow line, like he's being given a lecture. My heart drops, because Alex is right. Despite the fact Tyler came second in his circuit, it doesn't seem good enough.

"Anyway, we're going to Niko's tonight for a celebratory sleepover," Vanessa says.

With my thighs now the consistency of jello, I'm eager to get home and have a bath. "As much as I'd love to sleepover at the devil's house, I can't. I'm grounded."

Niko frowns. "If Sam's the devil, what does that make me?"

"Adopted," Vanessa says.

He rolls his eyes and says to me, "You're seriously still grounded?"

I don't blame him for sounding surprised – I'm probably the only nearly eighteen year old who still gets grounded by her parents. "Yep."

"Just work your magic," Niko says as we head back up the patio. "I have faith in you."

As soon as we reach the top step, Alex is throwing her arms around me. I hug her back, for some reason needing her approval more than anything. If anyone knows what it means to qualify, it's her.

Beside me, Niko grows bashful. "Hey," he says when she finally pulls back. "Nice to eat you. See you. Nice to see you." His cheeks burn red, and the rest of us share this horrified look before he manically laughs it off.

"Uh, you too," she says swiftly, then turns back to me. "I'll see you later."

Niko opens his mouth to speak but she's already off, hurrying to serve another table. I give him a sympathetic pat on the shoulder, say goodbye, and head out back to change.

The time alone gives me time to reflect. A part of me still can't believe that I made it, and for the first time all day, the tiniest surge of pride washes over me. I might not have done as well as I could have, but Vanessa is right. This is my foot in the door, my chance to come back even bigger and better, as long as I don't get distracted.

By the time I'm finished, Mom is already waiting in the parking lot, her little Honda wedged between two trucks. "I thought I'd never find a space," she says as I throw open the door. "People must really love the fair. Has the cafe been busy?"

"Super busy."

She turns the key in the ignition, checking her mirrors before reversing. "I've made reservations for us to eat out tonight," she says. "We're going to a lovely restaurant downtown at seven."

"Sounds good to me." I keep my gaze on the window, watching the trees blur by. For a small town like Parkwood, my life so far has been pretty eventful.

inner starts surprisingly nice. Mom gets the van from out of the garage and sets about getting Dad into the back while I tiptoe toward my bike, which is hidden beneath the same drab sheet it had spent eight months under. I peel it back, my heart giving out this tiny little thump as I take in its gleaming black coat. While there's nothing like the feeling of riding Tyler's bike, this crossbreed will always feel special.

"Roxy, we're ready," Mom calls.

I drop the sheet and join her on the drive, slipping into the passenger seat. It's only a five minute drive to the restaurant – everything is only a five minute drive – and it's not long before we're pulling into the disabled space and helping Dad out of the van.

Mom, I can tell, is excited. She's got this strange glow about her, this childish excitement I haven't seen lately. The more Dad ventures out of the house, the happier she seems, like maybe these outings will somehow erase the pain she's had to endure.

Maybe she's right.

"The woman I delivered the cupcakes to said this place was real fancy," Mom says.

I might think this true, if it wasn't for the statue of the cow outside the entrance. "Looks fancy," I say. "Who doesn't want to look at a big brass cow when they walk in?"

"Hey," Dad says, tapping my arm, "don't knock it 'till you try it."

As soon as we're inside, Mom flags down the waiter and we're shown to our table. They remove the chair at the head of the table to fit in Dad's wheelchair, then hands us all a menu.

"Ooh, everything looks so juicy," Mom says. "Don't you think it all looks juicy?"

Dad laughs and reaches across the table, giving her hand a squeeze. He isn't stupid, he knows these outings are kind of like Mom's lifeline, so even though it's obvious he doesn't want to be here, he's willing to make the effort. "You're juicy," he says.

My stomach lurches. "Somebody erase that from my mind."

Mom laughs and looks over. It's nice, in a way, that we're all here tonight, especially after this morning. I can almost convince myself that we're here to celebrate me qualifying. That my parents were so overcome with pride, we just had to go out.

If only it were true.

"So, what's the gossip?" Dad asks. "Who was that brooding dude your mom saw you at the track with before?"

My eyes practically bulge out my head. Mom swats his arm and gives him this look like that reads, You were meant to keep quiet about that.

"Oh, come on," Dad says, looking between us. "What happened to the days where you used to describe your crushes in detail? Remember Henry from third grade? You told me you loved him so much that you were going to cut out your heart and leave it in his lunchbox." He frowns and adds, "I had some serious concerns about you after that, but I'm glad you've turned into a well adjusted member of society since then. Mostly."

"He's no one," I say, but I don't don't sound convincing. "He's just a rider at the track who happened to be standing near me at the time. I barely know him."

"Mm," Mom says. "Well, I hope for your sake that's true. You don't want to get caught up with some boy on a motorcyle, Roxy."

"Um, hello," Dad says. "I was some boy on a motorcycle."

Mom smiles and says, "Exactly."

They spend the next ten minutes reminsicing about their glory days while I replay the way Tyler spun me around. His arms had felt warm, strong, the kind of embrace that makes everything better, no matter how bad they might seem.

The kind you don't forget.

❤️❤️❤️