Page 40 of Kiss & Collide
She was fun and way more down-to-earth than he’d have expected. Today had been tedious and uncomfortable, but she’d made it bearable. “Do you miss it?” he asked.
“Martin’s? I mean, you can’t get better garlic knots.”
He laughed. “Chicago.”
“Sometimes. I mean, I wouldn’t give up my career for anything, but when I was still a kid in Chicago, everything was just …” She looked out over the Seine. “Simple. Everything was so much simpler. People were easier. You didn’t have to wonder about everyone’s secret motivations.”
“I hear you. People in Chicago love to tell you exactly what they’re thinking.”
She chuckled. “Yeah, I actually miss that. LA is … not like that.”
As he knew all too well, auto racing wasn’t like that, either.
The PA returned. “Okay, the photographer’s decided she’s gotten enough of you two. She wants to move on to Dev and Zuri before we lose the light. Let’s get you changed.”
“Gladly.” Chase groaned as he stood up and stretched his back. “Okay, up you go, Cinderella.” He reached a hand down to Madison, in the middle of her pink cloud of a dress, and pulled her up to her feet. “Time to go find some shoes that fit.”
“Gladly. Hey, this was fun.”
“Yeah, it was.”
“Good luck with … everything.”
“You, too.”
Violet was waiting outside the tent when Chase finally emerged, back in jeans and a T-shirt, although his hair wouldn’t recover from the product without a long, hot shower.
“You did well,” she said, falling into step beside him. “What did you think of Madison?” There was something off about the way she said it.
“She’s cool. Did you know she’s from Chicago? We were practically neighbors growing up. Can you believe that?”
“Adorable. I might be able to set something up with her publicist.”
“Like what?”
“Like … dating.”
He tried to ignore the sinking feeling in his chest.
“Remind me again why you think this would be a good idea?”
Violet looked exasperated with him, which was a face he was becoming well acquainted with. “So you get covered inhermedia outlets. She gets covered inyourmedia outlets. Exposure. Everybody wins.” She paused. “Look, if I manage to make this happen, it’s a big deal. You should be happy.”
“It just seems weird. And what about you?”
“What about me?”
“Like, we’re going to keep—”
She threw up a hand to cut him off. “Listen, nothing that happens between us matters. We agreed, right?”
As much as he hated to admit it, that bullshit back in Silverstone with Ian was still eating away at him. He had no idea how it had resolved. As soon as she got to Budapest, things between them had carried on as if nothing had happened. She hadn’t mentioned him again and he didn’t feel like he could ask. So he guessed everything was cool? Although how would he know?
“Sure,” he finally said. “You’re the professional. Whatever you think is best.”
“Great, so let’s get out of here.”
He looked around, taking in the scene.
