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"He turned down the offer on the Clay back Today is his last race, and then he’s retiring"

Slowly, I turn back From her satisfied expression, I can tellfor "Why? Why would he do that?"

Looking s "Good question"

I’m halfway up the stairs before I realize ency comes from, or what it’s directed toward Only that I need to move fast Get out of here Get to the airport I yank open the door tomy suitcase fro to shovel clothes inside, so on the bedside table, a glossy eight-by-ten picture trapped beneath it My ca It shouldn’t be out of its case

I rise toShane put it there for me to find When I pick up the camera to fully reveal the shot,after we spent the night on Killiney Hill I’ve just reray sky alive behind raphNo It’s a close-up of my face, as I look at him He’d zoomed in to capture my expression, and I can see why

It’s all overof my eyes, the breathlessness he captured with the shot It’s so obvious I’ at the ht, or stolen it days ago I have no idea I only know that I love hi exactly how to shohat I couldn’t ade I speak

Slowly, I turn the photograph over in my hand When I see the word LIAR scrawled in what has to be Shane’s handwriting, a watery laugh bubbles from my throat I’m immediately flooded with relief that he kneas full of shit He didn’t believe ht noould run toward hi he arranged the call with Ginger The fact that I can’t touch hih physical pain that I have to go back down onto my knees

Because I love him so damn much Oh God, it’s so powerful it’s a wonder I can contain it inside my body This is that moment my sister warned me about The moment I realize I’ aboutatrush He’s not here because he’s in Italy, about to participate in a dangerous race afterto quit afterward If he’s quitting for et to hi words echoing in his head If so, double-checking to ave me, and run down the stairs at a breakneck pace Faith is standing at the bottom of the stairs, ar outside"

"Where in Italy is the race?"

"Monza" When I look at her blankly, she shakes her head "Just get to Milan, then follow the crowd They’ll take you to him"

"Thanks," I yell, already halfway out the door

Chapter Twenty-Four

Holy shit Faith wasn’t kidding I get off the packed flight in Milan, and I can barelyin droves, solish Others speaking in languages I don’t understand Jogging through the terminal, I do a double take when I see Shane’s face on a television screen in the waiting area, above Italian words I can’t read It gives er, ined It makes me twice as determined to reach hioes into it with his head in the right place

I pace impatiently as I wait in line for a taxi, bombarded by memories of the last three weeks, of ht in the alleyway, the ht when I lied to hi in these memories, in the need to reach hi me say the words that threaten to toppleaway I’ toward Aain feeling the way ShaneIof desperation to find him I won’t screw this up because he won’t letin my life

The ride to the track takes awith people, cars, vendors, and television news crews People carrying flags fro and cheering For a girl who spendscrowds, frankly it’s a little overwhele, and I’ after someone who has the ability to smashon faith, here, that he won’t That I didn’t ruin ht That he still wants oI screwed this up I need a chance toin my head, I toss a handful of Euro at the driver, throw open the door of the taxi, and start running I can see the grandstands, hear the roar of the crowd, but when I reach the entrance, I realize I’ve come all this ithout a ticket Surely with this a, this much fanfare, the race has been sold out for months I stu taking a page fro race fan of their ticket, but I can’t do it

Frustrated, on the verge of screaive out, I search around wildly for another option Can I sneak in? Probably not Definitely not, I re assault rifles, blocking the gates Then I reaet our seats, there had beento passersby Need a ticket? Tickets? Scalpers Do they have those in Italy?

I scan the tee to sell e of the crowd in a ball cap pulled low over his eyes, I start walking toward hi with the excited race fans He’s alone, but hisas people pass If he’s a scalper, he’sa quick prayer, I walk past hihs "Ticket?"

I’m so overcome with relief that all I can do is nod Then he tellscrazy person?"

"People pay twice that You don’t want it, someone else will"