Page 92 of The Player Penalty
Finally, alone, I dress and make some food. There’s still no text from Lily, so I pull up last year’s race on the television. Sometimes, it’s fun to cheer myself on.
∞∞∞
Lily: Sorry for not calling. It was a long day, and a bed was calling my name. It will also be another long day today. Good luck. You’ll do fantastic because you are amazing. I love you.
She isn’t here, and a text isn’t the sound of her voice, but it will do.
Julian: Which of us will have a tougher day? I suspect you. Tomorrow can’t come soon enough. I love you, too.
I shower, make breakfast, and dress. There’s a sponsor event before the driver’s meeting and all the rest. Race days are busy days.
My phone beeps, and, only half-dressed, I lunge across the bed to grab it. Lily probably found a spare minute before her day started.
Boone: Change of plans this morning. You’re free until the driver’s meeting.
That’s not like Boone Rivers. Letting a driver check out from responsibilities to offer free time on a race day? That’s one big nope.
A disquiet settles over me. After dressing, I go to the hauler, hoping to be useful there.
Drew Blakely, driver of the 9 car, sits with his wife at the trailer across from mine. They’re engrossed in conversation, enjoying a morning cup of coffee, and I almost pass by unnoticed.
They suddenly go silent in my presence. Drew partially raises his hand in greeting while his wife frowns.
We’ve hardly interacted, certainly not enough to earn that reaction.
My disquiet grows.
The hauler is unusually quiet.
I grab one of my pit crew members. “Did something happen this morning?”
He doesn’t meet my eyes. “I think Boone is looking for you.”
“Where is he?”
The man only shrugs.
Sarah and Jake are arguing nearby, so I leave them alone.
Inside, the hauler is quiet and empty. I sit in one of the empty chairs, feeling useless, as another question hits me: where is Pete? He typically wakes up before sunrise and is seen everywhere until the race starts. He wants one last test and one last review.
The minutes tick by, so I shoot Lily one last message before heading to the driver’s meeting.
Julian: I hope your day is going well because mine isn’t. Do you know anything?
She’s in contact with Sarah and Maddie, so it’s possible.
∞∞∞
The press and other hangers-on are already at the driver’s meeting, which is fine. Since there aren’t interviews at this time, I’m left alone. There are also only a few other drivers in the room.
I grab an empty chair as other drivers trickle in, one or two at a time. None sit by me.
With only a couple of minutes to spare, Jake enters, and spying the empty chair next to mine, he takes it.
I greet him and only get a terse response back.
“Did something happen?” I ask. If anyone will give answers, it’s Jake. Right? “Your wife praised my virtues last night, and now it feels like I’m a pariah.”
