Page 79 of Red Flag
“A month ago?” he mused. “Does it matter?”
“No, I guess not,” I murmured.
“Are you not happy?” he asked. “Did you want to keep ittemporary so you can leave?”
“No!” I breathed deeply. “No, I’m really enjoying it.”
He brought me to him in a big hug. One that reminded me of my dad’s, just like how he called meLivia. “Good. That’s all we want. I’ll callHRnow.”
“I—I should go and call my landlord before qualifying finishes,” I said and lifted my phone. I took myself back to the VIP lounge, where Abbe still sat. I threw him a thumbs up and dialled my brother, just to check he was still fine with me staying at his, despite the fact I’d stayed there for months already.
My call with my brother was far longer than I anticipated. We hadn’t spoken much since I visited and he filled me in on family life and Griff’s promotion before we briefly discussed Dad. It was the year anniversary of his death.
I tried to put on a brave face out in the open VIP lounge for all to see, but my voice stiffened, and I swiftly moved the topic on.
We checked storage facilities in London. We couldn’t find one that would fit all of my possessions for less than £7,000 a year.
Which was more than I anticipated. I’d have to sell it all.
A lot of my dad’s things were in that flat. Many sentimental furnishings and artwork. The rustic coffee table he had made for my first flat when I moved to university. The wardrobe he had come to fit. The desk I had inherited from him that was covered in cuts and grooves from the tools he used for his lino prints and paint from his little miniature models of sports bikes. The art pieces he had commissioned were in my favourite shades of pink.
He had helped me make that place my home. And not onlywas I leaving it, but I wouldn’t have anything that resembled it ever again.
I wasn’t going to cry. I might want to be alone for a bit.
“Hey, Livie!”
My name stopped me at the door to theCiclatipit box. I’d opened the door to see Clara pressed into Nix’s side, her arm around his waist.
Stomach dropping, I stepped back to close the door, but Nix had heard my name and was turning to see me when the door shut.
This wasridiculous.
He wanted me to communicate, but how could I communicate that the relationship I had practically forced upon him sent shivers down my back? We weren’t exclusive.
We were friends with benefits.
Without the friend part.
We wereco-workerswith benefits.
Fuck, I hated every part of that sentence, and at the same time, I didn’t want to lose a single part of it.
“Yeah?” I called as I turned around to see Frank.
He had a grin on his face, standing in thePrixtonorange and black leathers.
Surely, qualifying wasn’t over yet.
“My director wants to see you,” he said.
His smile took over his whole face, crinkling his eyes. He was sweet, bless him.
“Your team director?”
He nodded and started walking further down the corridor to the other pits. “Yeah, he has a proposition for you.”
“Right,” I said. I’d avoided him for a few weeks. Ever since Nix and I reacquainted, I didn’t want to give him the wrongidea. If he had any idea at all.
