Page 37 of When I Had You

“Oh,” she starts, a lilt lifting the word. “Thank you. I didn’t know how you’d react to me calling. I was . . .” This is not the woman I met in the paddock, the woman who set the place on fire, refusing to let me get away with an obvious stunt. The fight in her has subsided.

When she pauses at a seemingly silent impasse, I ask, “How are you?”

“I’ve been better. You?” A gasp is heard. “Oh my God, you came in sixth. Congratulations! It was an awesome race.”

I find myself grinning for real this time around. “You watched?”

“It was on a TV nearby,” she deadpans. I recognize that snark.

Chuckling, I ask, ready to list a thousand places. P1 racing is a top sport in the world, so I’m not surprised it was on somewhere in her vicinity. I am surprised she stopped to watch, though. “Oh yeah, a restaurant? Sports bar? Lobby of your hotel?”

“Um, uh.” She’s quieter than a mouse. “My apartmmm.”

“I missed that. Where again?” I grip the phone to my ear just in case the connection is bad.

“My apartment, Ryan.” Ryan? There’s my girl . . . Wait, not my girl. She is not my girl. I look back like Duncan might have overheard me because I’m fucking paranoid. He’s not even here. Fuck. I run a hand through my hair. No adjustments to be made in my life to accommodate a girlfriend. Been there. Done that. Not ever going back while I’m racing on the track.

“So what you’re saying is that you purposely watched me race today?”

A huff covers the distance, reaching my ears before she adds, “Happy now?”

“I am actually.” Though I know better, laughing after all the drama today still feels good. Looking down, I shift my feet, then move to sit on the couch. “So . . .?”

“So I called even though I was told not to—”

“Who told you not to?” Images of punching someone in the face for that bad advice come to mind.

“Everyone.”

“Ah. Sounds familiar.” I lean back on the couch, setting my feet up on the edge of the table. “I heard the same.”

Lighter laughter trickles from the other end. “I wanted to tell you that I’m sorry for involving you. I should have known better with all the paparazzi there. Those photos didn’t age well in the light of day.”

“At least they got my good side.”

“I don’t think you have a bad side.”

My brows shoot up. Thinking I misheard her again, I laugh. “You buttering me up, sweetheart?”

“Maybe.”

I turn on the speaker and set the phone down next to me. Staring out the windows again, it’s nothing but blue skies from where I’m sitting, but I’m still cautious. I have to be. “So the call had a purpose?”

“I wanted to thank you for the phone.”

“Okay.” I kind of wish I had a photo of her that wasn’t shared with the world, one just for me. I’d be looking at it right now instead of the blank screen. “Go ahead.”

A burst of laughter comes with a reply, “Thank you, Cash, for the phone.”

“You’re welcome.”

“It will be a constant reminder of how I was right, and you were wrong.” Her giggle populates like champagne bubbles through our connection.

“I bought the phone so you could see the mess we made online like I have to.”

“It’s quite the mess.” As our laughter dies down, she adds, “I’ve been banned from the track.” Her tone is softer, her words more forgiving.

The punch comes with the admission. I’m not surprised, but it’s bullshit. “Forever?”

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