Racing Passions (Montague Racing #2)

Prologue

Staring up at the big screen, I watch as my friend gets down on one knee and proposes.

Vincent has been my boss, and friend, for as long as I can remember.

Deep down, I’d had my suspicions that he might be gay, but it was never my place to say anything.

If he was, then it was up to him to tell me.

What I never expected when I discovered Lars, was the change he would bring to the team.

Lars made Vincent happy; happier than I had seen him in years.

I had thought our industry wouldn't be ready for them, but I had been proven wrong there, too. Yes, there were some countries that they couldn't be together in, but as a team, we had discussed boycotting them if Lars hadn’t been allowed to race. I think the FIA might have stepped in because Lars not racing had never been mentioned, but when you have a driver winning the world championship, in his rookie year, you don’t really want to generate any bad press.

“Yeah, pretty bold move, but them coming out was bolder. Especially on the day that Lars won the world championship.”

“You know, Lars is going to win again this year,” David comments.

“Maybe, but you can still beat him.”

David gives a slight smile before looking up at the screen. The rest of the team is screaming and shouting. Huge smiles on their faces. It’s where I should be. With my best friend. Sharing it with him.

“No, he’s more focused this year. He was phenomenal last year, but this year, he’s in a different league altogether.”

“You’re just as good.” But David’s right.

When Lars is focused, he can drive an F1 like no one I’ve ever seen before, and this season, even I’ve seen a change in him.

I think that has to do with the fact that he can finally stop hiding any aspect of himself.

Or, it might be the fact he stared death in the face and came out the other side.

“I was, but not anymore. I’m too old now.”

“Bullshit. Look at Alonso, he’s forty-two and still driving. You’re only thirty-eight."

“Yes, but I’m not seat one anymore. Lars rightfully earned that.”

Turning my eyes away from the screen, I look at David’s profile.

There’s sorrow on his face I’ve never seen before.

David has been with us from the start of his career.

I know he was given offers from other teams, some of which we would never have been able to match, the money or the bonuses.

His agent had encouraged him to move, and yet, he didn’t.

“David, you’re not thinking of doing something stupid, like leave?” I ask, the question tumbling from my mouth.

“I’ve been talking with my agent, but nothing has been decided yet. And I haven’t mentioned anything to Vincent either, but I think that my time is coming. I plan on making my decision at the end of the season.”

“But Vincent thinks that you’re loving the challenge that Lars is giving you.”

“I do, but...”

“You can’t,” I say, more forcefully than I mean to. “The team needs you.”

David finally stops looking at the screen and turns to look at me.

“You need younger blood on the team. Someone that Lars can mould and train. You can’t teach this old dog new tricks.”

“You don’t need to be taught new tricks. You know you’re good. So, where the hell is all this coming from? You know Vincent and Lars aren’t going to let you go without a fight. The team hasn’t been this good in years. Hell, if ever.”

David doesn’t say anything else; he just keeps looking up at the screen.

I go to open my mouth to say something, anything, but nothing comes out.

We can’t lose David, but I also know only Vincent can get him to stay.

David might not see it, but his stats aren’t that much behind Lars.

Hell, on some circuits, his are better, but I know being teammates with Lars would knock anyone’s confidence.

“How come you’re not up there?” David asks, never taking his eyes off the screen, and changing the subject.

“Don't know,” I reply, which is a lie, and the look I get from David, as he turns to look at me, tells me he knows I’m lying, too.

“They’re making history up there. You should be there.”

“They made history when they came out at the end of last season,” I retorted, “and I was there for that.”

“This is different. You should be there as Vincent's friend, not a member of the team.”

David’s right, and yet, I don’t move. I just keep standing there looking up at the screen. Hoping that my friend understands.

“I better go up and show my face,” David says, turning to look at me. “I really shouldn’t have come over here.”

“Why did you?” I ask.

“Just wanted to make sure that you were okay.”

“Thanks.”

“Plus, to remind you about the press conference Charmaine organised. It’s going to be after the driver one. I think she’s hoping it will take some heat off the two of them, if it's done today. Will you come to that?”

“Yeah, I’ll be there for that.”

“Okay, see you up there.” David turns and starts to walk away.

“Hey, David,” I call, and he stops, turning around to look at me.

“Do you think that could have been us?”

David looks up at the screen, and we see Lars and Vincent exchange a kiss, before turning to the camera, both with huge smiles on their faces. When he turns to face me, I can see the pain, and sadness, in his eyes.

“No,” comes his reply, he gives me a sad smile, as he turns and walks away.