Page 6 of Green Flag
He started to jog backwards, keeping pace with us. “Where are you two off to?”
“The lounge,” she said curtly.
“I can come,” he said with a nod and followed our direction as Livie kept telling me about my new role.
Nix was there when my dad framed Pedro, when everything came crashing down. If anyone knew the details, it would be him.
“So, Ever,” he said warmly as we sat in the busy VIP area. “Didn’t realise you actually had a job here.” He gestured to the lanyard I wore. “I overlooked that.”
Livie was tapping away on her iPad, sorting out my temporary contract, but she muttered about how observant he usually was. Nix grinned—or, rather, smirked.
“Technically, I don’t start until tomorrow,” I said and lifted my gin. “I’m just here to sign forms for the month I’ll work here.”
Nix’s brows knotted.
“Dad thinks it’s just for the month, but I’m hoping to stay.”
“That would be nice,” Nix said, leaning back in the wide armchair. “Have hardly seen you around the track this season. Your dad’s missed you.”
“Missed me?” I laughed and downed some more of my gin and lemonade. “He only ever bitches when I’m nearby.”
“He’s always talking about you being at university,” Nix said.
That soured the drink in my mouth.
“I’ve caught him singing your song a few times as well,” Livie beamed.
“The clean version,” Nix added with a chuckle. “He still can’t cope with his precious princess swearing, of course. As if you were still sixteen.”
“Shit, I’ve got a meeting.” Livie gathered her belongings, throwing a bag over her shoulder. “And I’ll go and print those documents for you to sign, Everly.”
“Wait,” Nix called, sitting up. “We still need to talk—”
“About your interview, I know,” she said, standing and chucking her bag over her shoulder. “Later.”
I knew Nix was a prick when it came to his image, but damn, did his publicist have a serious dislike towards him. He huffed, like her absence had stolen his air.
Nix watched her go and I took the opportunity to down my drink. I might need a little liquid courage. If I only had a month here, I’d need to be bolder than I originally planned.
I jumped into Livie’s seat beside Nix. His relaxed posture didn’t change. His eyes only narrowed. “What are you really doing here, Ever?”
I smiled, cocked my head. “You worried I’m here to steal your spotlight?”
But I dragged my bag over to me and pulled out my hand lotion, avoiding looking at him.
In my peripheral vision, I couldn’t help but see his smirk as he finished the rest of his juice. “Never. I have the best publicist out there.”
His smile and gaze remained on me.
“I’m excited to be on the track properly,” I said with a shrug, starting to coat the cream on my hands and rub it in. My fingers were so dry with the changing of the seasons. I tried not to screw up my nose — the steroid cream was unscented but, as a constant user of it, I could smell the chemicals and worried someone else may too. “Haven’t spent actual time with you in years.”
“That’s true,” he said with a nod and rested his glass on his crossed knee. “It’s been, what—four years since you were here for more than a race?”
“Yeah, I haven’t really been here much since…” I rubbed the lotion harder into my skin, between my fingers, unsure of what to say.
Since the inquiry. Since Pedro. Since everything imploded.
They had started an inquiry into me, seeing if I had any involvement in the drug trafficking. When the production company I’d signed with for an album caught wind, they dropped me. And when I needed the sport I loved most, I had been banned from it for a year. When I was allowed back, everything had changed. Everyone eyed me with suspicion.
