Page 126 of Sparks Fly
“To annoy the drivers with social media content.” She catches up to me, her face turned towards me as I give her a menacing grin.
“Oh, this should be good.” She giggles before bringing her cup to her mouth and taking a sip.
“Come on,Royce, I just need you to run around half the track…” I am trying my sweetest voice, batting my lashes at him to try and convince him to do this for me.
“In a blown-up dinosaur costume?” he yells through the mouthpiece, and I bite the inside of my cheek to stop the laugh. Beside him, Kai is doing star jumps.
“Look at Kai. He is loving this,” I say whilst filming.
“That’s because Kai doesn’t care that he looks like a bellend.”
Kai stops jumping. “No, it’s because I am fun, and you’re fucking boring.” He nudges into Royce and begins running.
“No, don’t go yet!” I shout and Kai slows before turning around and back towards us.
“Sorry!” He holds his little dinosaur arms up and Rue cackles behind me which causes me to snort a laugh and turn my camera off for a moment.
“Fucking ridiculous man.” I watch as this big, blown-up T.rex shakes his head.
“Would have been halfway done now.”
“Would we?” His foot taps and I giggle a little louder.
“Yes.” I move towards him and hook a mic and a small camera onto both of their suits.
“I am raring to go.” Kai is jumping up and down again, jogging on the spot.
“You’re an idiot,” Royce snarls and I roll my lips.
“Right, I am going to blow this horn,” I shout a little as they wait on the race line. “And once it sounds, you two run.”
“This is going to end in disaster,” I hear Royce mutter.
“You’ll be fine!” I call out just as I blow the horn.
I watch as these two inflatable dinosaurs begin running as if their life depends on it. I am creasing, tears are streaming down my cheeks and my stomach hurts and Rue joins in, laughing along with me.
“This is going to be epic.” I sigh, watching them disappear into the distance.
Kai wonthe race and Royce has sulked ever since which makes the team meeting super fun. There is a soft knock at the door and Creed ducks in, holding his hand up as if to apologise that he is late. Glenn gives him a small smile, pausing for a moment until he has taken his seat opposite me, before he begins talking again.
“We need to do better this weekend. We’ve got the car, and we need both of you to up your game. Be aggressive, but don’t be stupid about it.” Glenn glares at the boys and I watch as Creed twists his lips, refraining his smile.
“We want a fighting chance at this year’s Constructors’ and at the moment, we’re sitting seventh. That’s not good enough. And while I am being honest”—Glenn drops his head for a moment, looking at his laptop. “Neither of you are going to claim the World Drivers’ Championship this year.”
Royce tuts, rolling his eyes as he lets out the heaviest sigh. I cross my legs, slipping my hand between my thighs as I wait for this to explode between father and son.
“Why are you tutting?” Creed’s deep voice slips through the room and my eyes lock on his. His jaw is tight, eyes centred on his son.
“If I didn’t have a shit car, then I would be in for a fighting chance.”
Creed glares at him. “You can’t blame a bad car all the time, you’re the driver. A good driver can drive a shitbox and still cross the finish line in first. Do not blame the car. You, Royce, are the one in control of your car,youare the one to blame. Not the car. Not me. Not the team, and certainly not Glenn or Pascal or even Maurice, your racing engineer. You.” Creed points aggressively to his son and my stomach twists.
“Fuck you.” Royce pushes to his feet. The chair hits the floor, echoing around the room as the rest of the people sit in silence.
Creed shakes his head in disappointment just as Royce slams the door shut, causing me, Nora, and Rue to jump.
“Please continue, Glenn. Kai, do you have any comments?” Creed shoots his gaze at his second driver, and Kai shakes his head.
