Page 102 of The Player Penalty
Shit me. “Wow, that’s…wow. We can measure that?”
“Apparently. That was a great closing tonight. Announcers were wondering if you’d run out of fuel.”
“I wondered the same thing. There isn’t enough left for another lap. We did great tonight, conserving through the first two stages and then taking every advantage out there. I’m proud of our entire team’s effort tonight.”
∞∞∞
“Are you reading or sleeping?”
Lily rolls her head back to look up at me through half-lidded eyes. “Yes.” She changes the page to prove it, even as her eyes close seconds later.
It’s late, and we’re all on a private flight back home. The regular season is almost over, and then the playoffs start.
I pull the blanket further up her body, and she snuggles lower into her seat. Sleep sounds wonderful, but there’s another hour until we land and then the drive home.
I go back to writing up my notes on the most recent race. Memories fade, and tomorrow will put my focus on Darlington, which makes this plane ride the perfect time to record as much as I can, from driver behavior to track makeup to every other tidbit that comes to mind. It’s a great routine, as once the writing starts, my memory starts pulling up competitors’ habits and moves, which has helped in other races more than once.
Lily’s idea is the right one. Sleeping is a great idea. I rub my face and temples, telling myself to keep going.
“Still writing?” Boone says, taking the seat opposite me. “I just finished.”
“Almost done.”
He peers over my shoulder at Lily, whose head has fallen forward. “She’s passed out.”
I tuck her against me and say, “It was a long week. Her new semester started, so she has a new schedule to navigate.” Her first class isn’t until 10:30, so she has plenty of time to rest.
“You drove a great race today,” he says.
“Thanks.” The word feels like a question in my head. Boone Rivers rarely hands out compliments for no reason. “What’s going on?”
“We’ll talk through playoff strategy pretty heavily this week. Darlington is important, but what comes after that matters. We need to get you ready.”
“You’re in the playoffs, too,” I point out. Boone should also consider how to position himself for success. It’s possible I wreck in the first couple of laps and end my playoff run early.
“I’ll make it through the first round,” he says. It’s an off-hand statement delivered with the same confidence I often hear in my own voice. “You’re having a great season, and you’ll get a ton of attention to go with it.”
“That’s already happened.”
Boone wears his characteristic frown and doesn’t respond. He glances at Lily sleeping and then back at me.
He’s working himself up to something, so I relax back into my seat and decide to wait him out. There’s nearly an hour until we land and no place for me to go.
“Sarah is the one who suggested we bring you on.”
“I’m aware.” She saved my career; it’s difficult to forget.
“She said you were worth taking a chance on. She figured after everything you’ve been through, you would work incredibly hard to be successful somewhere else.”
I stay silent, letting him speak. If Boone wants to sing my praises, who am I to stop him?
“She was right. I want you to spend the rest of your career with this team. You belong here.Rivers Motorsportsis your home. It always will be, even after the day you quit driving.”
That’s unexpected. It only took him a few years and me in a run for the championship. I’m also grateful and strangely touched. “I’m not going anywhere. This is our home.”
Boone’s frown somewhat lessens, which is the same as joyful screeching from anyone else. He nods and gets back up.
“Let me translate that for you. That was Boone saying he wants a second chance with you. He wants the two of you to develop a better relationship, personally and professionally.” Lily’s eyes stay firmly shut.
