Page 104 of Red Flag
Seeing Nix,Lucanodded. Clearly, he thought I was smiling at something he had texted me.
“He’s here for the race,” I told him. “I best go and say hello before.”
“Who’s here?” Nix asked, looking in his locker.
“Ben and Griff,” I said as my phone buzzed with an Instagram notification. I was tagged in a story of the two of themcheersingtheir drinks and thanking me.
Nix turned with a frown. “Where?”
I showed him and he immediately closed the locker. “Right.”
Then he walked out of the pit box.
I glanced at Luca who only shrugged.
I ran after the red leathers down the corridor.
“Nix!” I called and he waited for me to catch up. The second I was at his side, he started walking again before going up the stairs to the VIP lounge.
“You could have told me your brother was coming,” he said gruffly.
“Why?” I laughed. “You want to meet the family?”
His serious stare made me question laughing over that.
“I didn’t realise I had someone to impress,” he groaned and shoved open the door to the decorated lounge area.
“You have precisely no one to impress.”
He levelled me with a look. “You. I always want to impress you. Your family as well.”
He didn’t mean…
“Do youwantto meet my brother?”
He nodded and, a step behind me, we walked to where Ben sat with Griff, drinking theircoladasand beers. Ben stood when he saw me and pulled me in for a hug. “Livie! You’ve been avoiding me!”
He said it so cheerfully that there was a disconnect between the words.
“Never,” I said as I hugged him back.
When we pulled away, I bent to kiss Griff on the cheek, but he barely acknowledged me. He looked Nix up and down with clear desire. “Who isthis?”
Ben’s mouth was slightly parted as he glanced from me to the racer and back.
“NixonArmas,” Nix said and offered his hand, completelyunflusteredby Griff’s lustful gaze. “Nice to meet you.”
Griff took it eagerly as Ben side-eyed me, silently saying,‘Oh, we are going to talk about this later.’
“And Ben?” Nix asked, taking his hand after. “Heard a lot about you.”
“Likewise,” Ben said hesitantly, but he was looking at me.
“The samosas are insane,” I offered to break some of thetension. I could practically feel Nix’s body heat behind me, he was so close. “Definitely make sure you grab some of those. I’ll see you after the race.”
Quickly, I made to leave, but Nix held my shoulders, turned me around and plopped me down in the remaining seat at their table.
I sat with a frustrated sigh.
