Page 83 of Sparks Fly
Once the door is closed, I rest my head on the back of it and close my eyes. This was going to take some getting used to.
I hate that I let things escalate.
Sighing, I drag my case in and hang up my shirts and jeans. Walking into the large bathroom, I peel my clothes from me and step under the steaming shower. I felt irritable and I could do without dinner tonight, but it’s what we do. There’s always a meet up before race weekend. Luke chose the restaurant for tonight,Strandpaviljoen Thalassa.
I’ve been there once before and if I remember rightly, it was very nice.
Dressed with time to kill, I move to the hotel bar and order myself a draft. I spot the team principal and one of the drivers for Team Ruinous. Holding my glass up, I give them a nod of my head when he walks over to me and shakes my hand firmly.
“Creed, it’s good to see you.” His French accent is strong.
“Right back at you, Gabriel. How are you?”
“I’m very good, thank you. Nice break?” He steps back and his eyes drop to the stool beside me. I give him the go ahead to sit down and he does.
“It was lovely, very chilled. I went to Monaco.” I smile as I sip my drink.
“Very nice, I went back home to Bordeaux. It was good to be back on home soil.” He laughs softly and I laugh with him.
“I bet.” I order another draft for Gabriel who thanks me.
“How is Ajax doing?” Ruinous signed a rookie this year and he is still trying to find his feet. It’s a lot of pressure on their shoulders.
“Getting there. I am hoping for a better season next year,” he admits, a grimace pulling on his face.
“And Wilde, this is his second season, isn’t it?”
“Third.” He nods. “He is doing really well. Very impressed.”
“So you should be.”
“What are these rumours I hear that Cowan is moving to Saint Onyx?”
Chuckling softly, I drop my head and shake it softly.
“There exactly that, Gabriel.” My eyes flick to him. “Just rumours.”
“Aha.” He points his finger at me and laughs. “Are you coming to the dinner?” He finishes his beer and slips off the bar stool.
“I am, indeed.” I wave the barman over to pay the bill.
“Care to join me in the taxi?” I push to my feet and round the stool.
“Why the hell not?” I pat him on the back as we begin to walk. I have a lot of time for Gabriel. I get on with all of the teams. There are some on the track I don’t particularly like, but off the track we’re all great friends.
Back into my room,I feel exhausted. Slumping on my bed, I open my laptop and see the list of things Colby has sent me to do. Scrubbing my face, I type a response to his sarcastic email and hit send. I would deal with the rest in the morning before briefing.
I know the tension is going to be high. I was asked by five people tonight about Cowan, each one I shut down swiftly.
If I am hearing it, the drivers are going to be hearing it. I don’t need this right before a race weekend when I need both drivers in the points if we’re even going to stand a chance at winning Constructors’.
Closing the lid of my laptop, I reach for me phone and open up her profile. She’s dumped photos from her trip that I find myself swiping through them, a smile pulling at the corners of my lips. Then I see the latest one. Glassy blue eyes, tear-stained cheeks with the caption,
Saying goodbye never gets any easier, thank you Monaco for the amazing memories.
I can’t help but wonder if I was included in those memories. I see a photo that she snapped of us sitting on the yacht, my silhouette is in it, but she has somehow managed to blur it around the edges. The caption is just emojis. , , . My heart races a little quicker under my skin.
I tap on her profile picture, but nothing happens. Furrowing my brow, I drop Colby a message.
