Page 106 of Rear View
“Take it down,now, Xavier!” she said, the words frantic and well past pissed.
My face must’ve said something was up ’cause Alec asked, “Everything cool?”
One head in the area turned my way before the rest followed.
I raised a hand, excusing myself, and stalked to the back of the Parc Ferme to get some privacy. “What’s going on, Ryah?”
“The picture you posted of me! Take it down.”
The wheels in my brain locked up and screeched to a stop. What the hell? “You serious right now?”
“You had no right to share that.” There was an edge in her voice, like she bordered on hysteria.
I stared into space, trying to figure this shitstorm out. “I’m a little lost with this one, Ryah. Fill me in here.”
“You should’ve asked!”
Yeah, I was gettin’ that much. “Didn’t know I had to,” I said, my tone flat.
“Well, you do!”
I dragged a hand through my hair. I had not one clue what the issue was, or who I was suddenly talking to, ’cause I sure as shit didn’t recognize her.
“Good to know.” I crossed my arm over my chest and gripped my opposite elbow hard. “I’ve gotta race in five. We done here?”
Her breath hitched. “Just take it down, please,” she said, her voice low.
I brought up my accounts one at a time and started deleting pics while the knot in my gut twisted tighter and fuckin’ tighter. “Yeah. On it.” I hung up.
* * *
The service park was packed with cars, crews and media while Alec and I waited between stages. I hated it. Wanted them all to fuck right off.
Our vehicle was hoisted, the crew under it working rapid-fire to change the wheels, ’cause my time wasn’t the only thing on the clock. It was chaos. But the controlled kind where everyone knew their role.
“What’d you say you heard?” Yara called.
I stretched my neck, wanting to be alone with the mess in my head. To try to sort through what’d happened earlier with my girl. Alec and I had done good on the first half of the day’s stages, but we weren’t finished yet. And I couldn’t afford mistakes. “It’s clickin’ on the turns,” I said. “Check the drive shaft.”
Alec flicked the race card with the tip of his finger, watching them, then me. “How ya feeling?”
“Fine.”
“Bullshit!” he replied. “What happened?”
I shrugged. I might’ve answered if I had half an idea myself.
“X?”
Shaking my head, I turned away. “Don’t wanna talk about it now, man.”
He gave a sharp nod. “Let me know if that changes.”
My exhale was rough when I chucked my chin his way. “Maybe we go for a drink after this, yeah?”
He side-eyed me and shoved my chest. “If you’re gonna be crying on my shoulder all night, then you’re buying.”
My lip pulled up. “Dick.”
