Page 98 of Start Your Engines

“I don’t want to meet with Dad. What’s the point? So he can tell me he doesn’t believe in me and I should hurry up and have babies?” I snap. I kick a shoe and hurt my toe, my face creasing.

Connor walks tentatively closer, but I hold him back with my hand. I don’t need him to protect me from my shitty family.

“I didn’t know Dad said that. He wants to make amends. He hoped you, Connor and Tawny would meet him when you returned after the Mexico Grand Prix. He’s been a dick to Connor since the crash?—”

“The crash that wasn’t his fault.”

“Yes,” he concedes. “And he wouldn’t have allowed Tawny to join the team halfway through the season. He doesn’t deserve your time, but this is big for him, Senna. Give him a chance, okay?”

“I’ll consider it.”

Maybe if Dad and Connor get on without him knowing about us, it will be easier to tell Niki about Connor. I can’t have their relationship break because of me. I don’t want to have to strategise my own life and a company my dad doesn’t believe I can manage.

I catch Connor’s eye again. He’s pointing at the food. “I’d best go, as I need to eat something. But don’t do Dad’s dirty work for him next time.”

“I won’t.” I start walking to Connor as Niki adds, “By the way, do you speak to Connor much outside of telling him how to race?”

“Oh, you know. A little. The usual amount,” I stutter.

Connor holds his hands up with a silent question.

“And he’s looking after you, right?”

“Looking after me? I guess…”

“Good.”

I huff. “But I don’t need anyone to?—”

“Got to go.” He hangs up.

Even while travelling, he’s still trying to be my controlling big brother. I slam my phone down next to Connor’s. Connor wraps his arms around me and brushes my hair with his lips.

“Everything okay?” he asks as he drizzles the perfect amount of syrup onto my pancake from behind. I wrestle with the temptation to push him off. Why does one call with my brother set me on edge?

Maybe he senses it, because he steps away. His phone vibrates with a call. I spot that Niki is calling him. He flinches but doesn’t answer it.

“You can answer it. It’s okay,” I say, watching as his jaw hardens.

“I’ll speak to him later.”

Something is off, but I can’t figure out what.

“Niki’s coming back,” I blurt.

“When?” His eyes are massive, and he flips his cap backwards.

“A couple of weeks after the end of the season.” Connor stares at me as I slice the pancake with rough cuts. “And Dad wants to meet with me, you, and Tawny for dinner in about a month when we return from Mexico. Fuck knows why he wants to wait until then. There’s three races left after that.”

I shove a lump of pancake into my mouth, glaring at Connor and daring him to attempt to improve the situation or protect me as he did with Antoine.

“Okay. I’m eager for both of those things already,” Connor says before going to wash the dishes.

I stare at his back. “Why?” Shame creeps up on me as he turns. I should be easy-going like he is, but I’m still stung by Niki being on my dad’s side. And why is Connor the person Niki calls as soon as he’s spoken to me?

Connor turns and rubs his hands on the tea towel. I refuse to be distracted by his muscular forearms.

“You have every right to be angry at your family, but?—”

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