But the other side? Perfectionism. Self-doubt. Constant overthinking.
I’ll talk myself out of something before I even give it a chance.
ADHD is like that. It’s my sparkle, but sometimes, it dims everything else if I let it.
“Maybe,” she says softly, “you just need someone who helps you turn it off.”
I reach for the McLaren keys in my purse.
“Possibly. But for now, driving does that for me.”
She stirs her straw, quieter now.
“Yeah. I get that. That’s what ballet used to do for me.”
“Are you ever going back to that? You were so good, Lil.”
She freezes. Her expression shifts like a storm behind her eyes.
“No.” Her response is quick and final.
I shut my mouth.
I watch her carefully. I’ve never pushed, never made her explain. One day she was at the peak of her ballet career, and the next, she was done. Her father opened her a gallery, and she never danced again.
“If you ever want to talk, you know I’ll listen. Any time and about anything.”
“Love you,” she says, smiling a little too sadly for this place.
“I love you too. Wanna go for a drive, then?”
Distraction. That’s one thing I’ve mastered.
Chapter 21
CONAN
Tapping my fingers on the table, the silence is thick between us. Enzo summoned the whole crew—everyone’s here but Dr. Quinn. Usually, it’s me who’s late. But today, I raced from my garage and still made it on time. Might score some brownie points with Enzo for once.
Drago’s tapping away on his laptop opposite me. I turn to Declan.
“Isabella still want to come to the gym with me after school?”
His little girl is my favorite person in the world. I love being an uncle. She’s got fire like her mother and the temper of her father. Honestly, she’s probably going to be a damn good fighter. Declan’s not keen on it, though. Wants to keep her out of harm’s way, always.
Though part of the deal is she teaches me to dance. Declan even bought me a pink tutu. So every Thursday, I’m spinning around in a fucking skirt. She gets these fits of giggles about it, and somehow that makes it all okay.
“Yeah. She did mention she wants to help you with the cars too. If you have time?”
I grin.
“I always have time for that little whirlwind. Actually, I think you need to pop another one out.”
Declan coughs, and my eyes go wide.
“Is she?” I whisper.
“Shut it.”