Page 27 of Green Flag
I might never get last night again.
“Everly,” I called and patted the leather seat beside me. “Isn’t it?”
Her head snapped up and her eyes sparkled, lips turning slightly.
She met my fire.
“Nice to meet you,” she said, offering me a handshake.
I took it. Her dainty hand was so soft in mine, just like when she’d let me lead. My grip was in charge again as I shook our hold, lingering there a second too long.
Her hair fell on either side of her face, hiding her smirk.
“You too,” she said and sat beside me.
Nix turned in his chair. “There’s no planet where you two haven’t met before. All of last year, you two didn’t cross paths?”
I shook my head, not looking away from her. “No paths crossed.”
Nix raised his brows and shook his head. “Crazy.”
“I’m excited to get started,” she said with a determined nod.
“We’re excited to have you,” I told her. “It will be fun.”
I didn’t put much emphasis on that word, just a small pause before, and it was enough for her to look away, her shoulders shaking.
That was the first time I’d smiled all morning.
Even with my slight hangover, she was adorable.
And I’d come here to seek comfort from my racing family, but suddenly I just wanted to be alone. With her.
Nix side-glanced us and hummed with a smile before going back to his phone and, as if he’d heard my inner thoughts, he got up and walked out of the pit box.
He was taking today well. Better than I was.
Nix had been in the collision that put Alv in the hospital. Before, they’d been best friends. His involvement had come into question throughout the investigation, but, of course, he wasn’t at fault.
His mask was different to mine. Mine was all easy charm. His was a smirk.
But Nix had Livie.
And I had myself.
6
Chapter 6
Everly
The track was chaos. A level of organised chaos, but chaos all the same.
I did as I was told, Abbé laughing at how flustered I suddenly was. There were hundreds of people waiting to get onto the tarmac. The buzz didn’t feel… good. It felt more like a scandal. Hushed whispers echoed and greedy glances anticipated any news.
They weren’t looking at me.
People had whispered about me at StormSprint when rumours had spilled across the pit lane like petrol. But it hadn’t felt as open as this.
