Page 30 of Jump Start

Thomas

Earlier that day

As I lined my car up for the apex of the first corner again, I knew I had this one in the bag. Twenty-four laps of this were done and dusted, and this would be my last.

I gripped the steering wheel tight. The sun was starting to set, and I knew it would be in my eyes the next time around. I punched the gear and flew down towards the apex, downshift, turn,concentrate. As I reached a straight again, I hopped on the radio.

“How are we going boys?” I asked my team.

“Great, Jacko, keep doing what you’re doing.”

“Tell Harps to hop on.” I liked hearing Harper’s voice over the radio, and knowing she was there to support me made me go that much harder.

“Guys?” They hadn’t responded, and I was about to get to the hairpin turn, which meant full concentration needed. Despite their silence, and the unease it caused, I got through it. The car felt heavy in the steering, but not untameable.

“Mate, she’s not here. She’s a bit unwell, but all is fine.”What the fuck?

“What do you mean unwell? Where is she?” I asked, coming around to the first corner. As predicted, the sun blared into my eyeballs, and I couldn’t see a thing.

“Just finish this last lap, mate. She’s fine.”

My eyebrows drew together as I tried to drive a 200km/h race car while wondering what the hell happened to my girlfriend in the last hour.

“I’m coming in,” I said as I approached the pit lane.

Chris appeared on the radio. “No, you’re fucking not! Finish this lap and then you can disappear.”

He was right. I flew around the track with more determination than ever. I didn’t even know what place I was in. I think it was fourth. Great, I could get out of the car and run.

The only time I’d be glad for a no-podium finish.

Crossing the finish line, I cursed the track as I drove around it one more time at a more modest pace.

“I’m coming straight in and I’m not doing shit with the media,” I announced on the radio. My engineer confirmed it.

Having to go slow through the pit lane was killing me. I pulled up outside of our garage and then slowly parked inside. As fast as I could, I got out, disconnected my helmet and HANS, shook Chris and my engineer’s hands and then bolted out of the team garage. Luckily, we weren’t staying far from the track. I rushed past a group of confused people who were heading to the pit lane. Someone yelled out to me, but I kept going until I finally reached our accommodation.

There was no sign of her. Where was she?Oh, the bathroom.

I knocked on the door softly. “Harps?” I called out as quietly as I could. I wrapped my hand around the door handle and edged my way in carefully.

***

Harper

The next day was the final of the race weekend, and Thomas, once again, was up and out of the room long before my eyes opened.

I leisurely watched TV in bed while I had a coffee and considered getting ready to visit the garage. I was by no means hungry yet and wasn’t sure how the coffee would go down. So far, so good.

On my way out of the room, I received a text.

Thomas:Getting ready to go, speak soon xx

I knew he wasn’t much of a texter, but he was making an effort for me.

I gathered my things and headed down to the Echidna Racing garage and was greeted with warm hugs from both Chris and Holly.

“Are you alright, Allenwright?” Chris asked with a look of concern. Holly came over to hear my answer. I nodded. “Yes, just food poisoning. Thank you for helping with the team doctor.”

---