Page 12 of Formula Freedom
“Lara? You decent?”
“Yeah,” I call back, clearing my throat. “Come in.”
He opens the door cautiously, holding two cups of coffee. He’s still in his sleep clothes—track pants and a soft gray tee—and his hair is a mess. He’s irrepressibly gorgeous, but then again, I’ve always thought that. It’s not just his beach-blond hair and sparkling blue eyes. It’s not his dimpled grin or muscled body. It’s always been his effervescent nature and love of life that draws people to Reid Hemsworth.
How could he and his brother be so different, and how did I end up with the one who was so very bad for me?
“Figured you’d want caffeine before the day hits.”
“You figured right,” I say, managing a small smile as he hands me a cup and perches on the edge of the chair across from the bed.
We sit for a few minutes, sipping coffee. It’s comfortable. Familiar. Exactly what I need right now.
“I barely slept,” I admit eventually.
“Same.”
“I kept thinking I’d wake up and realize I’d imagined everything.”
“But you didn’t,” he says gently. It’s not his words, but his tone—his understanding smile—that makes me want to cry.
“No,” I whisper. “I didn’t.”
He sets his cup on a table and leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “I think we need to clue in our parents sooner rather than later.”
I let out a breath that’s too shaky to be calm. “I know. I can’t keep this from them. But I don’t know how to start. I don’t even know what to say.”
“Just the truth. You don’t have to give them everything right now. Just enough for them to know you’re safe. And that you’re not going back.”
Not going back to my home. The one I’ve shared with Lance since moving in together following our engagement. I take stock of my feelings and it dawns on me that his place has never felt like home.
I nod, swallowing hard. “Will you… stay close while I call them?”
“Absolutely,” he says, and something in the steadiness of his voice grounds me. “How about you get a shower and I’ll do the same. I’ve got to head out by ten—team meeting before practice kicks off. I want you to come with me and hang out at the paddock.”
I’m not sure about that. “But what if Lance doesn’t go back to Torquay? He probably has a paddock pass.”
Reid grimaces. “Fuck… I hadn’t thought about that. Okay, I’m sorry to keep you cooped up here, but until we know where Lance is, you probably should stay in the suite. I’m going to be gone all day though.”
“I’ll be fine,” I assure him. “I’ve got work to do.”
“I’ll order breakfast. Are you still a poached egg girl?”
That garners a genuine smile, one of those dozens of facts he knows about me since we’ve been friends forever. “Yeah… sounds good.”
Reid rises from the chair, grabs his cup and nods toward my en suite bath. “Go get sparkly fresh for the day. Breakfast will be here by the time you’re done and then we’ll make our calls.”
♦
Breakfast sits likea lump in my stomach, my nerves firing on overdrive for what I’m about to do.
I push my breakfast plate away and pick up my phone.
My hands are shaking, but I force them steady and hit the contact for Mum. My eyes meet Reid’s and in their blue depths I see his silent encouragement, and that gives me strength.
The phone rings three times before her familiar voice picks up—warm, cheerful, unsuspecting.
“Hello, love! How was the party? I’ve been dying to hear about it.”
