Page 63 of Formula Fling

“What?” I stammer, my voice weak and shaky. “I… I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

The reporters press in closer, their voices overlapping as they hurl questions at me.

“You’re a romance author, right? Writing a book about FI? How did you deceive Crown Velocity into letting you in?”

“Is it true that Lex Hamilton knew about this the whole time?”

I glance at Maeve, who looks just as stunned and pale-faced as me. Her eyes are wide, and she’s shaking her head like she can’t believe what she’s hearing. “No comment,” she says firmly, stepping in front of me, trying to shield me from the barrage of questions. “There will be a statement after the race.”

But the reporters don’t stop. A female steps forward, shoving a microphone in Maeve’s face, a camera man standing just behind her. “We already have a statement. This story is going live in a few minutes. Do you have any comment on that?”

I freeze, my mind spinning. A statement? I didn’t give a statement.

And I can tell by Maeve’s bewildered expression that she’s not the one who let the cat out of the bag. She’s as shocked as I am.

And then, like a sledgehammer to the chest, it hits me.

Lex.

He was the only other one with my secret and there’s no other explanation for how they know.

My insides churn, and I swallow down the nausea. Why would he do this? Was this his way of ending things? Is this his out?

The way he was distant this morning, even a little standoffish. He didn’t like me asking if I’d see him before the race. Were these all clues that he wasn’t feeling it anymore? That he wanted to break things off and he didn’t have the guts to do it himself?

You’re a shiny toy to him right now, but he’s not built for monogamy. He’ll drop you as soon as he’s bored with you, so don’t be surprised when it happens.

That’s what Ronan said and he knows Lex better than I do.

Oh God… the pain in my chest is unbearable.

I whirl away from the reporters and start running. I hear Maeve yelling my name, the pounding of feet behind me. She grabs my arm, halts me only to have us surrounded once again by reporters.

I’m shocked to my core when Maeve turns on them, snarling, “Fuck off, for all that’s holy. There will be a statement from Crown Velocity soon, but not if you jackasses keep hounding us.”

Maeve steers me several feet away, and I’m relieved that the reporters don’t follow.

“Lex did this,” I mutter to myself, but she hears it loud and clear. “You and he were the only ones who knew my trueidentity, and I can tell you were just as surprised by those reporters.”

“Posey, no,” Maeve hisses angrily. “Lex wouldn’t do this. You know he wouldn’t.”

But I don’t know that. I don’t know anything anymore. Not when there’s a horde of reporters just waiting to out my perfidy to the world. The weight of it all comes crashing down, and I can’t breathe. I can’t think.

I want to run and hide. It’s my only option.

“I have to go,” I say, my voice barely a whisper as I glance at the security entrance I’d just come through. “I’m leaving.”

Maeve tightens her grip on my arm. “Don’t do this. Don’t run. Just talk to him. There’s got to be some explanation.”

But I can’t stay here. I can’t face Lex, especially if he wants to end things, and I most certainly can’t face the world knowing that this is how it ends. Those reporters are waiting to make a fool of me and record my heart breaking.

The thought of looking into Lex’s eyes and seeing… what? Challenge? Indifference? Pity? I don’t even know anymore.

I suck in a deep breath and pull forth a level of fortitude I’d need for the coming hours. “I’m leaving,” I say, pulling away from Maeve sharply. “I can’t stay here.”

And then with tears welling in my eyes, I unlatch the diamond bracelet Lex gave me and push it into Maeve’s hands. “Give this to him for me. Tell him I’m sorry.”

She tries one last time to stop me, her voice pleading as she clutches the jewelry to her chest. “Please, Posey. Don’t do anything you’ll regret. Just talk to Lex.”

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