Page 38 of Until You're Breathless

“Oh my God. I’ve always wanted to meet Wesley. He’s got such charisma, such vision. I’ve watched every YouTube video out there of him. Do you know that he’s got the exact same car that your grandpa had? A nineteen-fifty-seven Chevy Bel-Air?”

“Yeah, I knew that. He’s a pretty cool guy. I’ve spoken to him on a Zoom meeting once. But I’ve never met him personally.”

“This is so exciting.” She says, sipping her tea. “I can’t wait to go.”

“Me neither if you want the truth. Axl’s busting my balls to take him, too, but I don’t need his attitude tagging along. The last thing I need is for him to spread his love all throughout fucking Europe, too.”

“Maybe he can go when it isn’t to do with business.”

“Oh, believe me, he has full intentions of chewing Mister Hopkins’s ear off about motors.”

“I get it. But he shouldn’t want to steal your thunder.”

I chew the pad of my thumb before speaking. “That’s something that I haven’t mentioned to you yet.”

She looks at me with those big blue eyes and I could fucking melt. Jesus Christ. “He’s been up my ass to make an engine with me. A racing engine.”

“I’m not surprised. Didn’t you send him a prototype light years ago?”

I nod. “Yeah. And although it was a hell of a lot of fun, and I learned so much from him, it’s also become a thorn in my side ever since.”

“Well, youshoulddo business with him.” She advises kindly. “He’s your best friend, isn’t he? And he’s the dude with all the knowledge about racing engines. He just wants to do something together with you. It would probably mean a lot to you both.”

“Bowie, the guy is a mess.” I level with her. “He can’t keep his dick in his pants, he’s an attention whore, and I don’t need to be more worried about fucking babysitting him than conducting business with him.” I lick my lips. “He’s a risk.”

“Am I not a risk, too?”

“Way less of one. All I need to worry about is Boston, and I can handle him with one hand tied behind my back.”

“Well, what about the European markets? Aren’t you afraid because now you’re working with a woman? I know that most of those men in the automotive industry, especially in Europe, frown upon women.”

“Then they can fucking deal with it. Once they see what you’ve got to offer, they’ll forget about the fact that you don’t have a fucking penis. Next.”

The ghost of a smile appears on her lips. “Do you really mean that?”

I search her eyes. “Of course, I mean that. Bowie, I have some of the most intelligent staff on my production team, including a few that I grew up with, took the same classes with, and none of them can hold a candle to you.”

Our gazes are glued together. It’s like there’s some cosmic, telepathic message that’s passing through us. Something unspoken. Something innate. Like the bond that we had a million years ago never really dissolved. As much as I tried to convince myself that it did, now that she’s here, with me, in the flesh, and we’ve had this past month together, I know in my heart of hearts, that it never truly did. She’s always been there. In my heart. In my thoughts. In my dreams. I never forgot her. I just don’t know how to tell her that without risking everything.

“Jagger, I...” She trails off, stopping herself. Looking away.

“Don’t say it.”

“I’m all over the place, Jagger.” She gasps, rising from the couch, raking a hand through her hair.

I can’t stand to see her unglued. “What’s troubling you.”

She stands still and looks at me, pushing her hands in front of her, almost defensively. “Can I tell you something as both a friend and as a business partner?”

“Absolutely.”

“I’ve told this to Jinny and she...well...she had very bad advice.”

“That’s Jinny for you.” I joke.

She licks her lips, and I can’t stop looking at them. I have to pull a couch cushion onto my lap so she can’t tell. “I don’t feel a goddamn thing for Boston anymore. I don’t feel regret, I don’t miss him, I’m not angry with him, and I don’t care about him at all, and as long as he stays away from Lawson Enterprises, I don’t care if he lives or dies. Is that psychopathic? Shouldn’t I at least miss him?”

“Well, how did you feel back in high school, you know, when you thought that I cheated on you?”

---