Page 8 of Close Contact
“Here comes trouble,” a teasing voice called out. I turned and foundCallumleaning against a wall, Marco beside him. That same stupidly attractive smirk was on his face, and I couldn’t stop myself from picturing him between my thighs, even though I was still annoyed by his tour guide comment yesterday.
I made sure to wear a flattering pair of jeans today but still wore my sneakers. He could fuck off if he expected that every time he saw me.
“Did you come up with that all on your own?” I retorted, trying for nonchalant, but it came out brittle. My mind was elsewhere, torn between the rumors about my seat and the email from a top team requesting a meeting. It should’ve been a beacon of hope, but instead, it felt like a lifeline slipping through my fingers if I didn’t address the media soon.
“Still mad at me for yesterday?”
I shrugged. “Don’t know. Still think I look like a fucking tour guide?” Yeah, that was pure venom in my voice, and I did not care.
He tilted his head, lips twitching with amusement. A lock of hair fell forward, and my eyes latched onto it as if it could save me from the mediashitstorm I was about to endure. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost,Dubois. Rough night?” His voice was too smooth. It didn’t belong in the sea of voices surrounding us.
I forced a tight smile, my mind racing with a hundred thoughts at once. “Just preoccupied, Fraser. You know how it is.” It seemed so much nicer to slip away to a private corner with him and let him work the tension out of me. And then I was reminded that I was still walking with a limp from the strain I’d put on my body this week and thought better of it.
“Ah, yes, the crushing weight of brilliance. Must be hard.” His tone was laced with sarcasm, but there was an underlying edge to it that made my pulse quicken.
“At least I don’t go looking for it like you seem to do so effortlessly,” I fired back, unable to resist the urge to engage in our usual banter despite my muddled brain.
Marco gave a low whistle. “Now, now, children. Save it for the track.”
I was about to make a witty remark back to the two of them when I sawhimin the crowd.
My ex.
Bile rose in my throat and sweat immediately broke out on the back of my neck and upper lip. I swiped a trembling hand across my face, forgetting about the makeup I’d put on, trying to erase the physical reaction.
His familiar smile cut through the crowd. He was here, watching. Why? My chestsqueezedas panic surged, my thoughts spiraling.Is he here to find a replacement for me? To plant seeds of doubt inLuminis?MonDieu,I couldn’t breathe. I could barely see. I became hyper-focused on him—the man who I’d gotten over romantically, but the pain of his words stayed with me every day.
He washere.He wasn’t supposed to be here.F2didn’t race here this weekend. Why was he here?
“Dubois?”Callumstepped closer to me, breaking my line of sight. He briefly glanced over his shoulder where I was lookingand frowned. “What’s wrong? You actually do look like you’ve seen a ghost. Are you okay?”
“Yep. All good here.” I ducked my head around him, trying to catch another glimpse.
Sure enough, he was still there, his light brown hair streaked with gray, his facial hair gruff. I could see the depths of his black eyes from here, the same look in them that used to make me shrink without him even speaking.
No. He doesn’t have power over me anymore.
Something warm and firm was in my hand now. I swallowed, trying to force the panic down. I couldn’t do this, not here. Not with all these people around. I glanced down, realizing I was clutchingCallum’sforearm hard enough that my knuckles were white. I wrenched my hand away like he’d burned me.
“Seriously,Dubois, what’s going on? Talk to me.”Callum’svoice felt foreign, my brain splintering as it tried to process that both he and my ex were here. Sweat dripped down my spine, and my heart hammered in my chest. Fuck, I might throw up.
“He’s right,Dubois. You okay?” Marco asked, also stepping closer.
I squeezed my eyes shut.Please go away. Please.When I opened them again, my ex was walking toward me, all confident and smug with a team principal flanking him.
Merde.
I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t remember why I was even standing here.
“Dubois—”Callum’svoice was gentle, but it didn’t help. Rational thought flew out the window when my ex fixated his predatory gaze on me, and I was sent right back into the toxicity of our relationship.
“You’re mad,” he said, disgust dripping from his voice. “You think anyone would actually take this seriously? You’re a joke,Aurélie. A pretty face in a fast car. That’s it.”
The old poison was fresh again, winding through me. He was a narcissist, and hisgaslightinghad fucked me up in the head. I wanted to get back at him. I wanted to show him he couldn’t control me anymore, that I’d moved on.
Without thinking twice, I turned toCallum. “Kiss me.”
His eyes widened in shock, the sun catching all the shades of pale blue. “What?”
