Page 121 of Red Flag
“French was one of the very few subjects Olivia wasn’t perfect at,” Ben saved me with a wink as Mum finally started to eat. She eyed Nix’s phone as it lit up.
“Sorry, I hope you don’t think me rude,” Nix said. “My mother is unwell. I just need to keep my phone on me.”
Mum shook her head. “Oh, gosh, no. You do what you have to.”
We all got into our food, thanking Mum for her efforts. The potatoes were hard, the cauliflower cheese was cold but the Yorkshire puddings were okay.
Nix’s phone lit up again and he turned it over, face down.
“Are you close with your mother?” Mum asked, peering over.
“Very,” he said with a nod. “It was mostly her raising me and she’s always been supportive of my career, despite it being completely unconventional.”
“Yes,” Mum said, waving her fork in his direction. “You ride bikes.”
“Race,” I corrected her. “He’s on the TV every other weekend, Mum. You used to watch with Dad.”
Under the table, Nix’s hand stroked my thigh and I immediately relaxed, shoulders no longer tense. Maybe I would just sit here in silence.
“Nix is winning the championship,” Ben said. “He’s like forty points ahead or something ridiculous.”
“Thirty-nine,” he said with a shrug. “There have been bigger gaps.”
“But not so early in the season!” Ben disagreed. “Mate, you’re going to win the whole championship. Fourth one.”
Nix laughed. “Well, we’ll have to see.”
“Isn’tFeldtbehind you?” Griff asked and lookedbehind Nix to grin at me.
Those two were menaces.
Nix looked down at his plate. “Yeah, he’s a good rider. It’s been him and me fighting for first most of the races. But he’s crashed a couple of times. You can’t play it too eagerly.”
We finished our food, discussing lighter topics like TV and what I’d seen while travelling the world. They didn’t seem to realise it was also a job.
Just as Mum was taking the plates out — she refused for me to help her again — Nix’s phone buzzed. A call from his mother.
“Sorry, please excuse me,” he said and darted out of the house back to the pond.
Ben and Griff gave me puzzled looks.
“His mum is… complicated.”
Through the window, Nix looked over at me and jerked his head for me to join him. I excused myself and was in the garden in seconds.
He was talking quickly and, as I approached, told her he would call her back. His phone pressed to his chest, he said, his accent stronger, “Livie, I’m so sorry. I am so sorry, but I think I’m going to have to fly home.”
“What’s happened? Is she okay?”
“She’s…” He sighed. “She’s heard something about my dad. I’m not sure how true it is… my manager’s not picking up.”
“Is she okay?”
He nodded once but didn’t confirm it with words.
“Wait, yourmanager?” I questioned with a frown. “What—”
“I…” He turned away and swore under his breath before turning back to me. “My manager is shit because he’s not really a manager. He’s employed by my dad to keep tabs on me. If I…” Pain twisted his face as he reached for me. “It’s a lot to explain.”
