Page 86 of Crash Course Omega
I don’t know what I’m supposed to do. I wasn’t prepared for this. Maddock, Jaxx, and Harmony have had media training and had learned how to address conflict. But my only role is to give presentations on the different aspects of our team and vehicle performance. How am I supposed to approach this when people are watching?
Maddock will be out on the track in five hours, and anger makes him reckless. But keeping him safe is one of my priorities, along with protecting Harmony.
“Harmony is…” My chest tightens as I try to force the words out. “Harmony and I…” I don’t want Jaxx to get in trouble either if I can avoid it.
I can’t breathe. It feels like my heart is being clenched by guilt as I try to meet Maddock’s eyes.
Harmony said that they had broken up three years ago, so why do I feel like this? Because he made it clear he still has feelings for her, and because I’m the one he trusted to talk to about his ‘friend’.
Jaxx has said multiple times that he wants to be a pack, but if Maddock joins the pack, will he ever actually forgive me? Maybe I’ve ruined absolutely everything, maybe there’s no hope for us, maybe I should just stop thinking about it and try to respond to Maddock instead of having an internal meltdown.
“Maddock, Harmony and I are—”
“What are you two doing?” Jacob suddenly cuts in between us.
I gasp as the pressure releases, and Jacob claps a hand on Maddock’s shoulder, easing him away from me.
“We’re just having a friendly conversation,” Maddock says gruffly.
“Then why does Everest look like your prey?”
Maddock gives him an awkward look, and I want to thank Jacob for freeing me.
“Are you bullying poor Everest because you’re in a mood? He’s the reason you won first last time, so don’t have a go at him now.”
“He’s not the reason I won, and you know it,” Maddock growls, but Jacob just gives him a cheery smile.
“Are you okay?” Jacob asks me. “You really don’t look that well.”
If a third person says that to me, maybe I should listen, and take advantage and escape.
I nod, returning the screwdriver to my trolley with a clang.
“It’s been a stressful morning,” I agree as Jacob looks at me sympathetically.
“Don’t feel guilty for taking a day off. You deserve rest. And I need to talk to Maddock anyway.”
As I go to clear up, both Jaxx and Harmony send me questioning looks from their different places in the room. I shrug off my jacket, holding it up, shaking it so she knows I’m leaving it for her. I love the idea of her entire wardrobe covered in my jackets.
She grins at me, giving me a nod before turning back to her director, and I feel like I've done at least one good thing this morning.
Jaxx gives me a look as I leave the garage. I’m sure he wants to talk more about being a pack, but I just need time and space to adjust to what happened between the three of us. And prepare myself to tell Maddock what we did.
Harmony
I’m not sure which way my life is going anymore. A few weeks ago, all I had to worry about was being accused of being a stalker while also being stalked by paparazzi. Now I have three scent matches to deal with and a life-changing decision to make.
It’s been ten days since we left Texas, and I feel like I’m going wild as I bounce between so many different emotions. I spent a week with the other actors and threw myself into training in the VR rooms and on the Grace track.
It had been hard to separate from Maddock for three years, but I learnt how to cope. But being apart from the three of them for a week was so intense that I rejoined the tour as soon as they set themselves up at the Silverstone track. It was still chaosas the Director and crew spent all of yesterday preparing for another mock race. But as soon as my clock hit 4 AM, I raced to the garage so I can sit with Everest and soak up the peace and quiet.
I mumble to myself as I lean over my script. We were given the final copy in Texas, and we’ll begin table reading after the charity race, but I want to make sure I’m completely up to date on it. I want to sit down at that table and read my lines flawlessly so the snooty actors who are only playing background characters can’t criticize me for being a nepo baby, or flirting all the time.
They have photos of me and Maddock outside his car and post-race, and even just talking in the garage. They have shots of Jaxx and I after a race, and when we were out clubbing. They even got photos of us in his hotel lobby.
The only person who is safe is Everest, and I want to make sure it stays that way.
I don’t want to drag him into my world. From what I can tell of his personality, just being on camera makes Everest nervous. I’d hate it if paparazzi follow him as well. He doesn’t deserve that just because I’m leaning on him for comfort.
