As the horses paraded onto the track for the main event, tension mounted among the crowd. The noise went down a notch, and excited whispers and nervous murmurs filled the air as spectators anxiously awaited the start of the race. For some, it was a chance to witness history in the making, and for others, it was an opportunity to cheer on their favorite horses and jockeys.
"Go, Amber!" Selena yelled.
"Shut it, lady!" Someone said from the back.
Alexander and Max looked back at that, daring the person to say another word as Selena yelled again, too filled with joy to pay the spectator any mind.
A gun was shot, and the race began. At once, the crowd went crazy with hoots, yells, cheers, applause, and cusses. Everyone was urging their chosen horses towards victory. The thundering sound of hooves echoed around the track as the horses barrelled on under the encouraging boot hits of the jockeys. Amber was in the fourth position, Mega was second.
"Go!" Alexander yelled, his heart racing as he kept his eye on the horse. Mega was gaining in on the black stallion, Thunder, in the first position.
"He might win!" Selena squealed.
"Can't say the same for Amber," Alexander said, not once taking his eyes off the horse.
"If Amber doesn't win, you'll still be humbled today," Selena said. "Either way, I'll still win seeing the look of losing on your face."
"Mega is gaining in, so keep your dark fantasies to yourself and let me focus."
Alexander and the others had their eyes trained on Mega, who was almost beating Thunder. Alexander fist pumped into the air and Max gave him a rough side hug when Mega was in the same position as Thunder. Amber was number five now, so Selena's attention had long shifted to Mega.
Just as Mega was close to the finish line, a silver mare, Quinn, shot past him in a haze of dust. Hearts raced and pulses quickened as the thrilling spectacle unfolded before their eyes. Quinn made it to the finish line, and the cheers exploded.
Alexander sat back in his seat, confused. Max gave a hearty laugh.
"Max!" Willow was on her feet. "It's an Akhal-Teke! I knew it! I said when I saw it at the paddock! It's been long I've seen one of those!"
"Her breed is a weapon in itself," Max told the others. "Willow, let's go see it."
Willow all but leaped out of her seat and followed her brother.
"Well," William heaved out a sigh. "For all it was worth, it was a good race."
"Was it?" Selena asked. Alexander could feel her eyes on him. "Or do we need bandages to wrap sore wounds?"
"We both lost," Alexander said. "So I have no idea what you're happy about."
"Told you seeing you lose was enough victory to me," Smugness oozed out of her voice. "So I win the deal."
"What?" He looked at her then and at an amused William. "That's not what we agreed upon."
"Well, it is what it is," she rose to her feet. "We should go meet Max and Willow just before Alex begins to start crying."
Robert gave a rowdy laugh at that. Alexander closed his eyes and calmed himself, he wouldn't let her get to him. It was her talent, but it wouldn't work on him.
He allowed William to follow after her, just to be a buffer between the two of them. He noticed the smiles she got from the men in the stand, strangers stopping conversations halfway to simply stare at her. A weird sensation washed over him, one he couldn't put a name on, and he continued to follow down the steps.
Max and Willow were already heading toward them when they got to the end of the stairs.
"They had to cart the horse away, too many people," Willow said. She looked rough like she had been tossed in the crowd.
"But Willow managed to get the owner's contact," Max didn't look happy as he said this.
"Well, he did say I was the beautiful woman he had set eyes on," Willow said with a tight smile directed at Robert. "At least he was straightforward." She turned to her brother and hugged his arm. "We should go have lunch. I heard they've got the greasiest burger just two streets away."
She pulled Max with her, using him to efficiently block her view of Robert as she walked past. Robert's wore a grimace, which was unusual, and said nothing.
"So, first part for being the losing team," Selena spoke up as she fell in step next to Alexander. "You're going to get me one of those burgers."
"Max would take care of lunch before we get there," William said next to her. He glanced over at a moody Robert.
"Well then, there are several more days," Selena said.
"I don't intend to see you after today," Alexander warned her. "Nor do I want you at my office."
"That's okay," Selena smiled. "I'll just come over to your place again. You could make me dinner again." She winked at him and bounced forward, her hair swinging with her.
William pulled Alexander back. "What did she just say?"
Alexander's jaw clenched. "It's not what you think. She had to come for a meeting."
"At night?" Robert asked.
"She…" Alexander glared at Selena's back. "She had a meeting with Liam."
"Huhn," William didn't sound convinced. Robert on the other hand, looked disappointed. What are you disappointed about? Alexander was tempted to ask him. That he wasn't having a thing with Selena Tequila? Of all the women in the world his best friend could be disappointed about, was it Selena?
"And Alex," Selena turned round and continued her walk backward. "I loved that shirt of yours you gave me to wear".
The damage was done. Selena giggled at her childish antics and hopped on, and Williams's eyes were wide with a question.
"She had an accident in the kitchen," Alexander explained.
"That involved you taking off her dress or…"
"No," Alexander shut Robert up. "While cooking. Look, it's not…"
"Selena and Tamika," William shook his head. "Two friends. You're a bad boy, Alex. Robert has been influencing you."
"Hey!" Robert dashed a running William. "Even I have got limits! Come on!"
In all that friendly commotion, Selena's eyes met Alexander's. She smirked. She was a thorn in his flesh at this point, and instead of pulling her out, he was going to do the same thing in her life.
Game on.