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Lana

There’s so about being the only daughter I’est in the family, the fourth child born after my three brothers My whole life I’ve been coddled, protected, bullied, bribed, and all of that is all fine, because I love my brothers, I love my family, but sometimes I wish I were the eldest, so I wouldn’t be underestimated the way I am now My name is Lana, but to them and my dad, I’m their Lainie baby even at twenty-two

My brothers and dad stand by our tent at the side of the track Dozens of cars zoo by, helalore Other than the fact that they are all For in com driven by one of our drivers

I sigh and carry the lemonade cups back to our tent The autumn cold air cuts into my cheeks and steals under my ponytail to freeze the back of ained two bright spots on ht, and judging by the wayto my ears and nose

There’s a whistle as I pass our neighbor’s tent “Lainey, that for me?” one of the mechanics calls

“Sorry I’ve only got two hands and they’re both spoken for” I don’t even glance his way—it’s true that everybody is always nice to et too friendly with the other teams We’re opponents, after all Let’s keep it real

HW RACING TEAM, our logo stares back at round, red and white on the logo

The cars are ru past in practice and we already know this will be our last, and worst, season We used to be the teareatest talent Noe have a set, and no talent And next year, without lance at ot his face in his hands, exhaling deeply

At the side of the tent, the only driver out of three who still , pale and pissed at himself The driver was physically unharmed, but we all know, if you s

I bring the guy one of the lear,” I coax “Could help”

He keeps staring at his racing boots, his shoulders bent in defeat “Only chance I get to test and blow it”

I set the cup at his side and give hih my three brothers and my dad want to murder him

“It’s gonna take hundreds of thousands to fix this fucker,” rumbles as I head over to my dad

“Hundreds of thousands we barely have,” Clay grumbles back

I stroke the side of the smashed car Dad has three cars My favorite is Kelsey, and I’h

The day you think about a car as a friend …

“Might be ti to happen,” I hear my dad say

I head over to him with the other lemonade cup “It will, daddy, it will”

I’anize hotel stays, interviews for our drivers (not that that’s been a big part of the job lately) I get their clothes cleaned, pick up the dry cleaning Basically, I make a home for therew up in Ohio

We uprooted afterto a Forave up for et over And now that I know it’s his last chance to get it, it’s mine too

“So what’s the plan?”