Page 9 of The Player Penalty
“A temporary break, but only if you don’t tell anyone. It’s still my work time. Oh, I have something for you.” She leans down to rifle through her backpack. Lily wears another short skirt, dark blue with a geometric pattern this time. Does she know that she has fantastic legs? Probably not. “I finished this last night.”
“You read it? But you said it wasn’t enjoyable.”
“Well, it wasn’t. It’s not my style, and the characters are awful. Also, most of the dialogue was painful.” Lily shrugs, and then her lips tilt down. An apology is coming. “I’m sorry it took so long. It’s difficult to make myself pay attention sometimes.”
“No judgment here.” I’m supposed to be in the sim room, which makes two of us. She did it for me. I bite my lip to avoid thanking her. Lily gets uncomfortable with effusive thanks or compliments. To her ears, they sound false or untrustworthy, which I get. “I come bearing good news. Your time here is done.”
“They’re firing me?”
“What? No. You’re out of this room. Maddie agreed you should be my assistant.”
“I’m not fired? I work for you now.” She yanks on a braid and then rubs at her scalp while avoiding my eyes. “Do you want me around? I’ll be in your way, and I don’t know how to be an assistant.”
“It will be easy because I only require one thing.”
“What?”
“Hang out with me sometimes.” Be my friend.
∞∞∞
Matteo is inside, waiting for me. Music wafts out from the club, and people stream in and out the front door. It’s hectic for a weeknight, which is perfect for me.
I turn off the engine and hesitate, suddenly not in a party mood. No one will cheer me on at Charlotte in a few days, and I somehow failed to convince Lily her new job role isn’t a punishment. It was a favor for a close friend, and I bungled it.
I quickly press the button on my phone because any delay means an excuse to put it off even longer. The contact name still makes me laugh.The Monster Man.It struck me as hilarious several years ago, and now it’s a bizarre form of prophecy.
“Hi, Dad, it’s me, Julian. Your son,” I say as soon as the beep sounds. He never answers, and this night isn’t any different. “I’ll be in Charlotte this weekend for the playoffs if you want to watch. We have a great car, and I’ve been working my ass off this season. I thought you and Mom could cheer me on. I hope all is well. Call me back when you have a minute.”
I end the call. He won’t call back, and he won’t tell any other family members I reached out. My occasional check-ins are turning into self-torture.
Putting him out of my mind, I enter the club to find Matteo and a couple of local drivers sharing a table. Perfect. Other than him, they’re strangers, which means no deep conversation and zero expectations.
“Ordered for you,” Matteo says as a greeting. He passes over a glass bottle, and I take a swig. “How’s life back in the prison cell?”
He’s referring to Boone Rivers, our mutual boss, and Matteo’s most hated person. “He’s been in a good mood lately. The boss man is almost cheery, with both of us in the playoffs and his wedding coming up.”
I check out the crowd and frown at how many remind me of Lily Webb. Sarah’s accusing question comes back to me. There’s a ten-year gap in age between us; besides, Lily is a great friend.
The women here are all strangers.
Perfect. “It’s time for me to be social.”
4-Julian
Las Vegas Motor Speedway
A career that depends on my skills behind the wheel also demands an obscene number of meetings. This final one, with Boone and our pit chiefs, is just the latest.
I could cause a scandal and start another one. It’d be like being sent to the principal’s office, only less exciting.
“Quick thing before we get started. Julian, my parents are watching the race from my pit box this weekend. Dad mentioned wanting to see you before engine starts to wish you good luck,” Boone says.
Will anyone special be trackside with you this weekend?
Ladies and gentlemen, we have an answer. Boone’s father and my former boss are here to deliver a final attaboy.
“It will be good to see him.” I mean it, too. Tom Rivers has formally retired from the sport, but his name and legacy carry on through his son. Tom gave me a second chance in the Cup Series, and I’ll always be grateful for it.
