Page 105 of Sparks Fly
“Because if I admit it, I feel like a terrible person. Royce asked me back out, pleaded with me, and I shut him down because all I could think about was his dad,” I wail, letting my head fall back, eyes pinned to the ceiling.
“You’re not a terrible person.” She sits next to me, one leg tucked under her, the other foot resting on the floor.
I turn my head to face her.
“Royce broke your heart, you’re single… and well, for some weird and wonderful reason, you and his dad clearly have a connection.”
I blink at her a couple of times.
“I am a horrible person.” I sigh, letting my eyes find the ceiling again.
Her hand slips onto my thigh.
“No, babe, you’re not.”
I wake up,groggy and a little sour. I’ve probably drank more than I should have last night, which is not ideal when I have a busy day creating content with the drivers before they go into briefing. Creed blew my phone up last night, but I ignored every single one and truly, I don’t think he was brave enough to knock on the door knowing I was sharing with Nora.
Dressed in our uniform, we go downstairs for breakfast, and I am grateful that I didn’t see him or Royce this morning. We walk to the paddock, and I duck straight into my office and Nora goes about her day.
Grabbing my camera, I walk to where Royce and Kai should be and smile when I see them both sitting there in their race gear. The green screen is behind them and a couple of my colleagues, Maura and Dave, are sitting in the corner getting the last of the equipment set up.
“Morning,” I say quietly as I enter the room. Royce glares at me coldly, Kai salutes me off his temple.
“Great,” I mutter under my breath.
“How long will this take?” Royce asks me and I look up at him.
“An hour… maybe? I’ll edit it all down. Batch record then I won’t need to pester you for a while.” I give him a sweet smile, and I see the sadness in his eyes.
He needs to remember he dumped me.
Tightening my ponytail, I set up my tripod and brief them on the trend. It’s silly things like guess the driver, guess the track, recognise this wall and trying to be funny because one of them have put their car into it. The fans love it.
“I think that’s everything.” I smile, shutting the camera off the phone and Kai grunts something incoherent to my response and wanders off.
“Can we talk?” Royce asks, looking over his shoulder at Dave and Maura and I nod.
“Maura, Dave, can we have the room for a moment?” They duck out and it’s just me and him.
He steps closer to me, head tilting, eyes all desperate. “We could work.”
“I know,” I agree because it’s the truth, “but?—”
“Don’t say but.” He shakes his head.
“Royce, you’re going to ruin everything. I’ve left us in the past. I spent weeks picking myself up off the floor, trying to piece myself back together again… You leftme. You broke up withme. I’m not some toy you can pick up when you’re bored. I’m not that kind of girl. You made a choice. You chose your career, and do you know what, I am super proud of you because not many people would do that. They would settle. But you didn’t. You wanted more. You wanted to aim for the fucking stars, andI promise you, Royce”—I place my hand on his upper arm—“you will get there… but not with me.”
He drops his head and then there is that boyish grin he won me over with two years ago.
“I had to try, right?”
“God loves a trier.” I wink, and he pulls me in for a cuddle.
“You’re the one that got away, Anaïs.”
I squeeze him. “No, darling.” I smile. “I just cleared the path for your forever girl.”
He kisses me on the forehead then turns his back and walks away. Suddenly, all feels right in the world.
