Page 82 of Formula Freedom
I grin as I stand and stretch. “Careful, Accardi. Keep that up and we’ll start thinking you like us.”
The paddock is mostly shut down as I make my way back toward the Matterhorn garage, leaving the warmth of camaraderie behind. Tomorrow, we’ll be opponents again.
Lights are low, the thrum of equipment quieting for the night. I jog up the stairs to the garage floor, expecting a clipboard and a missed signature.
Instead, I see her.
Lara.
Standing just inside the garage in one of my Matterhorn hoodies that’s a size too big, eyes wide and searching.
Time stutters.
She’s here.
Everything else—engine notes, tire strategy, lap deltas—fades. There’s only her.
I don’t even realize I’m moving until I’m across the room, pulling her in close. Her arms slide around my waist, and she presses her face into my chest like she’s been homesick and I’m the only place she resides.
“What are you doing here?” I ask, dazzled by her eyes as she tips her head back and smiles.
“My place is by your side,” she says simply, and six words make everything right in my world. Every doubt, every ache dissipates and euphoria washes through me.
I lower my forehead to hers and whisper, “Welcome back.”
She doesn’t let go, not right away, and I don’t ask her to. I just breathe her in—her shampoo, the lingering scent of travel, the clean, warm weight of her against me.
After a moment, she pulls back and places a hand over my heart. “I talked to Lance.” My gut tightens but I don’t say anything. Don’t show any emotion. “He showed up yesterday at my house. Mum and Dad were out.”
My hands tighten around her waist. “He came to your house while you were alone?”
She nods and I have to suppress the rage building inside me. I remind myself that she’s here, she’s safe, and it appears she’s good with how things have turned out. “He looked awful. Like he hadn’t slept in days.” She pauses, then adds, “It looked like he was… unraveling.”
Fear joins the rage. “Jesus, Lara—”
“Everything’s fine,” she cuts in. “I was never afraid he’d really hurt me and most importantly… it’s done.”
My jaw clenches. I want to say I should have been there. But she’s here now. And she handled it.
Her expression saddens. “He’s convinced we were seeing each other behind his back.”
“He’s projecting,” I growl.
Lara nods. “Yeah… I know. I reiterated that we started after I left him. That it wasn’t about you taking me—it was about him losing me. I stood my ground, Reid. I didn’t back down once. I looked him in the eye and made sure he knew it was over. No wiggle room. No hope.”
I nod slowly, soaking it in, my arms tightening around her. “And he left?”
“Yup. And then I called your parents. I wanted to give them a heads-up that he wasn’t in a very good place. They’re both worried about him and they’re going to talk to him… maybe see if he’ll get some help.”
I nod, considering that. Of course my parents will try to help him, and they should. That’s what parents do. But I find myself still unable to care very much about his well-being, unwilling to forgive the fact that he struck Lara and called her a slut.
Maybe in time, but I doubt it.
I exhale, tension unspooling in my chest. “Why didn’t you call me?”
Her eyes lift to mine, soft but sure. “Because you’re in race mode and I knew you’d worry. I didn’t want this on your shoulders when you needed your focus.”
I study her, amazed and gutted all at once. “You still should’ve called.”
