Page 13 of Sparks Fly
“So?” She waits, hanging on my words.
“Well, he can’tnotdo them can he?” My tone is sharp, and I instantly regret it. Tension builds at the base of my neck, and I groan.
“Would you be a peach and tell him then?”
I laugh softly, her words catching me off guard. “No,” I shake my head, a playful smile on my face.
“But—”
“No, Nora, you can tell him. He is your client,youtell him.”
She rolls her eyes, pouting her lips. “Fine.”
Silence crackles around the room and after a beat or two, she pushes from her seat and stands.
“How’s Anaïs?” I have no idea why I asked about her but here we are. I watch my question catch her off guard, her mouth popping open before closing again.
“She’s good.” Her words are rushed, her head bobbing up and down.
“Good, I’m glad.” I roll my lips, my hand running up and down my jean covered thigh. “Royce seems okay…” I trail off.
Nora gives me a shrug of her shoulder. “Royce is just Royce, too busy focused on the task in front of him. Doesn’t have time for heart break.” There is a slight sadness to her tone.
“Is that why he broke up with her? To focus on racing?” My nose scrunches. I knew the reason he broke up with her, but I wanted to see if she knew any different or whether Anaïs had said anything else.
She doesn’t have to say the words. Her face tells me everything.
“That’s a shame.” I shake my head, disappointment surging through me.
“She’s okay, though,” she reassures me, and I smile at her.
Nothing else is said. Nora dips her head and walks out on me, closing the door slightly.
Sighing, I reach forward and press the extension for Colby’s phone line.
“Yes,” he sings down the phone.
“Book me flights for tomorrow. I am dipping out for a week or so.”
“The usual?”
“The usual,” I repeat before placing the phone back into its cradle and lose myself in work before our briefing. We needed to know what was wrong with our cars before we’re back on track in Spa.
Sitting in the briefing room,Royce and Kai are next to each other, a few side glances between them both and I roll my eyes. They have a love hate relationship. Kai calls RoyceDaddy’s Moneyand Royce calls Kai what he is, not the best driver.
I’d needed another driver, and everyone else was tied up in contracts. At the time, he was the only option I had. He was on a short contract, though, and I’m still unsure if I want him back for the 2026 season, but we will see.
Pascal begins to talk about the weekend, and whathethinks the problem was, but Royce shakes his head.
“The car is shit, you can’t blame it on anything other than that.”
“Royce,” Glenn’s voice slips through.
“Took the words right out of my mouth.” The corner of my lips life at Glenn, the team principal, and he gives me a soft chuckle.
“It is though, right?” Kai pipes up and Royce looks utterly bored.
“Well, for you, no,” Royce slips in and his lips twitch into a smile. “You just can’t drive the car.”
