Page 78 of Sparks Fly
“I just…” I pause a moment and look around the apartment.
This is not mine. I can’t stay here forever and as much as I earn well from what I do, it’s not promised. The income is not guaranteed. I have a few partnerships, but nothing that is actuallymine.
“Look.” She swipes in, leaning across and placing her glass down before her hands are resting on my knees, eyes burning into mine. “Everything you’re saying is telling me you want to take the job.”
I go to interrupt, but she shakes her head at me.
“But.” She raises a brow. “You’re worried because working with Royce. I get it. Huge move.” She nods, and I find myself nodding back. “But I can put you more with the team and the new guy.”
“New guy?” I scrunch my nose and furrow my brow.
“You didn’t hear it from me, but Cowan Pierce is taking Kai’s seat.”
My eyes widen. “Shit, that’s who Creed was having a meeting with a few nights back.”
Nora nods.
“Well, I never…” My voice fades to silence, and I feel bad for Kai. This is what I mean,nothing is guaranteed, nothing is promised.
“Anyway, back to what I was saying.” She sits up and flays her hands around. “I can put you with the new guy. You’ll onlysee Royce on race weekend and even then, you won’t have much to do with him.”
I shrug. I have no idea what to do.
“It’s not just Royce…” It’s now or never.
“What do you mean?” Her furrowed brows etch into her pretty face.
“Creed and I kissed…”
“What?” she whisper shouts and reaches for her margarita, her head bobbing towards mine for me to drink. I take a mouthful the same time she does.
“Yeah.” I run my hand around the back of my neck and give it a squeeze.
“Fuck,” she mutters into her drink, and I nod again.
“And then.” I flick my eyes up to her and her mouth drops open.
“And then what?” She sits up tall. “Did you havesexwith him!?” Her tone is high pitched, and I wince.
“No, but…”
“Spit it out, Anaïs!”
“It almost happened, I mean, that’s where it was leading until he stopped it… It’s for the best, I suppose. But I spent the week sulking because he never said bye, just snuck out.”
“Shit.” She shakes her head. “What a creep.”
Twisting my lips, I tilt my head towards my shoulder.
“So, yeah… it’s going to be awkward.”
“Fuck ‘em,” she says loudly, placing her glass back down. “Honestly, Clemmie, fuck ‘em. Their loss at the end of the day. Don’t let two smelly boys hold you back. I can work it that you see them bare minimum. I’ll put you with the engineers and the new driver. Be amicable, but don’t be any more than that. Don’t let them make you not take the job… I know you love it here and you love what you do, but you also loved being in the world of Formula One. Please don’t throw it away because of whathappened between both the Lexingtons.” I see the way she is fighting off her smile.
“Stop it.” I roll my lips to stop my own smile.
“Come on, say yes… No more missing out on the race weekends, because, baby, you’re going to be up front and central.”
I mull over her words, fingers drumming on my thigh as my margarita hovers.
