Page 4 of Crash Course Omega
Even though Jaxx has won in later positions throughout the whole championship, he’s the steady type that people like. You don’t have any surprises with Jaxx, and that's what makes him a loser.
“Maddock.” Jacob claps his hand on my shoulder. “Jaxx made the right call.”
“I could have done it. I would have fucking won,” I growl.
I turn to him, but the look in his eyes tells me he doesn’t believe me. I started out karting with him when we were ten. We climbed up the ranks together, and I watched him win championship after championship before a life-threatening crash pushed him into the Team Principal role.
“That doesn’t give you the right to punch him. What if the FIA disqualifies you?”
I press my lips hard together. I have to stop letting my anger get the best of me, but it’s been three years since my happiness left.
“We want you safe, not dead,” he says. “The Grace team is doing its best in a whole decade thanks to you both. We don't need more than that.”
I glare at him, too hot and worked up to snap back.
I mentored most of the British F3 racers during the off season, including his sister, and got all of them at least to F2. I have the most consecutive podium wins out of any racer this season. But I've been racing professionally for sixteen years and I still don’t have a championship title from any grade of formula racing.
It doesn’t matter that some guys struggle throughout their entire careers to get even one podium finish. I’m here to be the best.
There are younger guys in F2 at the height of their game, all of them competing for a spot in F1, and I’m starting to look like easy pickings.
I need to be better than this. It’s been too long since I've had anything close to a win. I have to do something that’s going to get me over the finish line in P1.
I look up from the garage entrance, glaring at the same billboard I saw for the past 284 laps, 71 times every 4 races of the weekend.
Because she’s right there, smiling down at me as she advertises a watch like she’s mocking me for my shitty lap times.
Harmony Grace.
My ex.
Jacob's sister.
The one that got away. And the one I never wished happened.
“Fuck,” I sigh, running my hand through my hair.
“It's still a win, even if it's third place,” Jacob says.
“That's not a fucking win,” I growl, but he brushes me off.
“The only thing I want from you now is smiles, and not growls. You’re going to go out there and show those reporters you’re elated to get third and you’re so, so,sograteful that you and Jaxx are such a good team. You get it?” Jacob says, squeezing my shoulder just a touch too hard until I nod. “Good, now let’s go. We need to get you camera-ready.”
Harmony
“Harmony! How's the new movie going so far? What's your plan for Slipstream Seduction?”
“Harmony! How does it feel to be back at the Las Vegas track for the first time in three years?”
“Harmony! Can you comment on your recent scandal with Ross McLean?”
I pause, almost stopping as they catch me out.
I knew they were going to ask me about Ross, but it’s still a stab in the heart that they won’t drop it after four months.
I picked up the Formula 1 movie, Slipstream Seduction, to get away from the drama, but reporters follow me wherever I go.
With huge sunglasses and a headscarf, I shouldn’t have been noticed, but my team must have leaked my location again. I have too many staff and someone is getting paid under the table, so I can’t go anywhere without a crowd.
