Page 93 of The Player Penalty
Jake’s eyes narrow. “Is that a joke?”
“No. Will you please tell me what’s going on?” The answer hits before I finish the question. Samantha was in my trailer last night. “People saw her leave.”
“Enough people did, yes. My guess is those who didn’t witness it then know about it now.”
“Boone and Pete?” As if hearing his name, Boone enters, leaning against a wall rather than taking the empty chair on my other side. “Nothing happened. She came in uninvited, and I kicked her out. That’s it.”
Only a couple of hours until the race starts, and I’m going to throw up. Lily’s silence all day now feels very different.
“Not my business. Right now, there’s this meeting and a race to win.” Pity softens Jake’s features. “Maybe nothing happened.”
“It didn’t. Not a damn thing.”
“Race first, then you’ll need to figure out the rest. For what it’s worth, I thought you two were great together. Sarah is practically expecting a wedding invitation in the mail.”
Speakers start, and our conversation ends. I risk a glance at Boone. If it was possible to communicate death threats and a lifetime of torture through a single expression, he’s doing it.
I am deeply fucked.
33-Julian
Rivers Motorsports Headquarters, North Carolina
Julian: Can we talk? I can explain everything. Where are you?
There’s no answer, not that I’m expecting one since she hasn’t returned a single message since yesterday.
After the race at Indy, we all took a late-night, incredibly tense, and awful flight home. The flight, full of RMS staff, was subdued, while I struggled not to throw up.
“We all worked hard yesterday, and I expect more of the same next week,” Boone says. He keeps going, talking more about teamwork and high standards, which I tune out. These post-race company meetings are great for everyone’s morale but mine.
Julian: Nothing happened. I promise. You know how I feel about you. Please call me back.
After the flight landed, I went to her place, hoping to find Lily waiting for me, with no luck. Several light knocks on her bedroom window led nowhere. She wasn’t at my place either.
When the meeting finally ends, I escape to my office, where there’s no sign of her presence. She isn’t hiding in the museum workshop or Sarah’s old office. She’s also not working today,having scheduled the day off so we could spend extra time together. That plan fell flat.
“Julian, Boone wants to speak with you.” Maddie’s face screams apology and pity in equal measure.
“That bad?”
“Yesterday was difficult for everyone. How are you?”
“Like shit. I didn’t do anything, I swear. It was a misunderstanding.”
“Julian, can I offer you some counsel?”
Maddie never gives advice without politely inquiring first. If you state the grass is purple, she’ll sweetly ask if there could be an alternate option. She’s great and even greater for Boone.
“Dear fuck, yes.” I rub my temples, and a whiff hits me. I forgot deodorant this morning. And a shower.
“The difference between you and every other driver is that you hide it well.”
“Hide what?” I’m genuinely curious.
“That instinct of yours, the one that wants to fight and go in for the kill. You pretend like nothing matters, but we both know that isn’t true. You’re going to yell, and you’ll want to attack. Be calm and explain. He’ll listen.”
“I can do that.”
