Page 48 of Red Flag
He looked me over. “Only because you’re so pretty.”
“My looks have nothing to do with my job,” I retorted. “Which I’m bloody good at, by the way.”
He smirked and slid his phone into his bag as if I wouldn’t notice his tactic. “I know you are,” he said, then leaned forward to whisper, “You’re good at lots of things, Livid.”
“Block now. Let me see.”
He huffed and got out his phone. I watched him unlike the tweet and when he hesitated to block, I snatched it, doing it myself. He sighed beside me.
“When you win tomorrow, Nix,” I called over to him as he started to leave the pit box, “make sure you say something about Clara. Ideally, something subtle.”
“Putain, tu es sérieuse?” he snarled.Fuck, are you serious?
Though I was pretty sure I knew what he said, it was confirmed byCriswhipping around to give Nix a warning stare. I acted oblivious.
“I’ll take that as a yes, no problem,” I retorted.
He muttered in French all the way out of the room.
“He’ll stop sulking eventually,”Crissaid and patted my shoulder. “Don’t worry.”
“I don’t care if he doesn’t stop sulking. He can do what he wants,” I said and then paused, thinking about it. “Actually, no, he can’t. That’s the problem.”
Crischuckled to himself. “At least you can laugh at him.”
But I didn’t laugh about him that night.Salihaand I went for a facial before getting a drink at the bar. The riders never drank at the weekends, saving themselves for the Sunday and Monday nights before we flew to our next destination. Frank andLucajoined us, as well as some others, as we drank.
Salihanever had any issue spending a ridiculous amount of money on alcohol. Or clothes. Or food. Or skin care, for that matter.
Whereas, I was limiting myself to one. The facial we’d had ate into more of my money than I would like to admit.
“I can’t afford to drink until I’m paid,” I said. Payday was Wednesday. Thank god. I’d never had to count the days before, but for some reason, I was counting my pennies far more.
“How long do you have left of the contract on your flat?”Salihaasked.
“Two more months.”
Lucasat at my side, sliding the bottle of water I’d requested in front of me. “You’ll have loads more money when you don’t have to pay for thatanymore.”
“I…Do none of you rent places during the season?”
Salihashook her head. “I live with family during the holidays and often travel in between.”
“I… I’m not on a permanent contract,” I admitted. “I can’t risk my home until I am.”
Saliha’smouth dropped open. “Shut up! They haven’t offered you a permanent contract? They should have the second you got Ass-mas to smile!”
“Ass-mas?”Lucaasked, trying to stifle a laugh.
Frank didn’t try and stifle it. He let it all out. “Oh, that’s good. That’s really good.”
“Don’t go calling him that,” I warned and half-heartedly nudgedSalihain the ribs. “That was our secret.”
Frank leaned forward. “What other secrets do the two of you have?”
I cracked open the bottle. There was safety in the noise of the seal breaking.
Salihaonly raised her eyebrows. “Wouldn’t you love to know? Buy us a couple more rounds and maybe we’ll consider telling you.”
