Chapter 5 #2
“I’m not that bad… am I?” I question myself because maybe I am blind to it. Maybe I don’t realise that I am, in fact, a liability.
“No… well…” He grimaces as he looks at me.
I trust Dane. He has been with me over the last six years. He isn’t just my personal trainer, he is one of my good friends.
“After the whole Ana?s thing, you kind of took blowing off steam to a new level…”
I wince.
“Then Rue came along and that was good… but then you kind of…”
“Fucked it up.” I sigh.
He nods. “When you’re not racing, you’re sleeping with any girl who shows you attention and we know that’s a lot. But you need to protect yourself, Royce. You need to grow up. You’re twenty-seven, you can’t be out partying whenever you’re not racing.”
“It’s not like I am drinking and doing drugs.” I get defensive and it’s the wrong move; I need to learn to control my temper but it’s something I have never been able to get a grip of.
“You do drink.”
“When it’s break, but so do all the other drivers,” I snap, and I can feel my temper simmering to boiling point.
“Look,” Dane counters with me, holding his hands up in what seems like a peace offering. “All I am saying is, you could do better, and maybe having…”
“Athena,” I grit out, my jaw locked tight, my temples pulsing.
“Athena with you, by your side… well, it may help.”
I say nothing. “I’m out.” I flip, pushing from the wooden bench and walking out of the sauna, not waiting for Dane to follow.
Grabbing my bag, I slip into the changing room, dressing quickly before dumping the towel in the dirty laundry basket and push out into the lobby. I pause for a moment, inhaling heavily as I weigh up my options.
Slipping my phone out, I call Kai and agree to meet him down the Riverland Bar. Outside the hotel, the valet goes to grab my keys, but I shake my head.
“Can you order me a taxi please?”
He nods, disappearing as I pace up and down. Stepping out of the shade, I let the warm Australian sun beat down on my skin. My eyes flutter shut as I switch my mind off, if only for a moment.
“Mr Lexington,” the valets voice floats through me.
“Yeah, thanks.” I clear my throat as I give him a smile and duck into the waiting car.
I sit in silence, aimlessly scrolling my phone. Opening Instagram, I type in Opal Bloom and click on her name.
She has a logo, no face photos. Her feed is filled with sections of her books. It’s bland and could do with a shake-up. I make a note in my phone to speak to Ana?s about having a chat with her. If anyone could help, it would be Ana?s Sinclair.
I mean Lexington. Ana?s Lexington. Still feels weird.
The ride is just under ten minutes and as we roll to a halt, I pass some notes through to the driver. I’ve definitely over paid, but it doesn’t bother me.
Walking towards the bar, I scope out Kai. He’s already sitting at a table with two girls. I roll my eyes and let out a soft chuckle.
“My man.” Kai stands from the bench and claps his hand into mine before pulling me in for a bro hug. We’re good friends, but we weren’t the best teammates. “Girls.” He looks down at the two pretty girls next to him. One blonde. One brunette. “This is Royce.”
I give them a smile and salute off my temple.
The brunette goes coy, fingers twirling in her hair.
“Drink?” I ask.
Kai nods. “Just a soda water and lime for me.” He puts his order in.
I face my attention to the girls and they both order an Aperol spritz. Walking off, I find the bar and hustle my way through. It’s busy for a Thursday afternoon. Finally, I catch the attention of the bartender and order the drinks. Whilst I’m there, I pinch a menu; I am starving.
Ordering two of the summer salads and a side of chips, I pay and walk the drinks back over, placing them down and popping the food service number on the table.
“Grabbed us a couple of salads,” I say to Kai and the blonde gives me a look. “What?” My tone is curt.
“What about us?”
I laugh because she can’t be serious. “Why would I order for you? I’ve bought you both a drink. If I wanted a date, I would have found one. But I wanted to see my mate, who you have hijacked so…”
I am met with silence before the blonde huffs and whispers to her friend who grabs the drink and moves away.
“Bro.” Kai holds his hands up looking at me, brows furrowed. “What the fuck?”
“Go and sit with them, then.” I drag my soda water towards me and take a mouthful.
“What’s got you all riled up?”
“Nothing.” I roll my lips and place the glass down, averting my gaze to the busy patio.
“Something clearly has.” His brows raise, his forehead crinkling slightly.
“Just drop it. If I wanted to speak about it, I would find a therapist.”
“Great, so I’ve got cunt Royce today,” he mutters, sipping his drink and I scoff. He isn’t wrong.
“Just having a day.”
Kai nods. “Then have it, but remember, it’s a bad day, not a bad life… Look at us.” He sits back, arm spreading wide as he takes in the ambience. “It could always be worse.”
His eyes are back on me, and I want to punch him in his stupid face. He gives surfer boy vibes with his blonde hair, styled in curtains, and blue eyes to match. He’s too good looking to be a race driver, honestly. He should have been a model, or a surfer, just not a race driver.
“I know,” I admit, dropping my head.
“In all seriousness…” His tone changes to one of sincerity. “Are you okay?”
I nod because that’s all I can manage. The moment is broken when the waitress places down our salads and a portion of chips.
“Can you grab us another bowl of chips, please?” Kai gives his best smile, and she is putty in his hands.
So wasted.
Kai and I travel back to the hotel together, and I am grateful that we haven’t been swamped with fans as of yet.
It normally kicks in a few days before race weekend, so it’s nice to be able to get out without being swarmed.
I love my fans—they make the sport—but sometimes it is nice to go out without not being spotted.
“How’s it going at RedForce? Are you looking forward to the new season?” I ask as we walk through to the bar of the hotel. We’re sat over the back, tucked away as I order two black coffees.
“Yeah, it’s good. The car is different and I’ll be honest, I struggled in testing for a while. I just hope they don’t regret their decision to sign me.”
“You? Never.” I smirk and thank the waiter as he places the coffees down. “It takes time, you’ll find your feet.”
He nods, taking a sip of his black americano. “How about you? How’s the car feeling?”
“Good, I think we’ve cracked it. Do I think it’s a World Championship car? No. Can it be? Yes. Just got to find the sweet spot,” I murmur.
Sitting back, I press a finger to my lips as I look around the room. Most of the teams are staying here, which makes it feel comfortable in a way. Homely, I suppose, if that makes sense.
“When is the shadow arriving?” Kai catches me off guard and I slowly look at him.
“She’s here. Her name is Athena, but she goes under Opal Bloom.”
“Opal Bloom?”
I nod.
“What’s she like? Is she fit?”
I chuckle. “I don’t know, I haven’t looked at her like that. Is she pretty? Yes. But we had a brief meeting, and I didn’t give her the best first impression, if I’m honest.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah,” I say on an exasperated sigh.
“Did you fuck up?” He laughs.
Sighing, I give him a look and he laughs louder.
“What did you do?” he asks, edging himself on his seat, eyes playfully bouncing around my face.
“Nothing, it’s not a big deal, but yeah… wasn’t the greatest start.”
“Did you apologise?”
“Yeah.” I nod, curling my hand around my cup and bringing it to my lips as I take a large mouthful. “Said I would take her out tomorrow, make up for my douchiness.” I smirk. “Then, hopefully, we can start on the right foot.”
“Makes sense.” He nods, slowly sitting back in his chair, a boyish grin tugging at his lips.
“What?” My brows knit as I glare at him.
“She may be the one.” He winks and I roll my eyes in an over the top manner.
“Give over, will you.”
He chuckles to himself, his brows raising when something catches his eye. I follow his gaze and see Nora, Ana?s, and Athena walk in.
“Woah.” His eyes bug out of his head and I scowl at him.
“Stop that.” I lean across the table and dig my fist into the top of his arm, giving him a jab.
He laughs, rubbing where I my fist touched. “I bruise like a peach,” he mutters.
I smirk as I lower my gaze to where the three of them sit. They haven’t noticed us. They all look good.
Nora is stunning, but we’re too comfortable.
She will always be my friend. I could never go there.
Ana?s, obviously drop dead gorgeous, but I’ve been there, done that, got the broken heart to prove it.
Then Athena… She’s effortlessly beautiful, but it’s a no go.
I don’t mix work and relationships, it doesn’t work, I know that.
“You’re fucked.” Kai whistles through his teeth then nestles back into his chair looking as smug as ever.
“Arsehole.” I flip him off and turn my attention to my coffee.