Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
Royce
Monday morning is soon upon us and I feel nervous, but I’m not sure why.
The new season is always exciting, but this one is tainted with anxiety.
Maybe it’s because of my new teammate, maybe it’s because I am closer to achieving what I have dreamed of since I was a little boy.
Or maybe it was because I am about to see Athena for the first time since we signed the contracts stating that we were boyfriend and girlfriend, all to help me.
Walking down the corridor with Dane, I listen as he talks about working on upper body strength and cardio this week ahead of the race. I nod, hearing but not really taking much in of what he is saying.
We ride the lift to Athena’s floor and within seconds, I am standing outside, knocking the back of my finger against the wooden door.
Dane looks at me, brows furrowed ever so slightly, his forehead creased.
He stands taller than me. Six-foot-one, if I had to guess with broad shoulders and thick legs.
When I was a kid, I always wanted to be tall and muscly but being on the shorter side worked in my favour, I suppose.
After all, how many overly tall F1 drivers do you see?
Most of them, like me, are built different.
I am uncomfortable in that tiny pit of the car, so I can’t imagine how Dane would feel.
My heart drums against my chest when I think back to the kids that used to bully me in school because I was short. It bothered me massively, and maybe, if I dug deep enough, it probably still does.
I am pulled from my thoughts when she opens the door, her scent drowning me as a soft breeze from her aircon drifts our way.
Sunshine and rain. That’s how she smells.
I can’t explain it other than a warm summer afternoon, the hot rays have beat down all day until grey clouds roll in, blanketing the sky and that fine, warm summer rain cascades down.
“Morning.” Her eyes volley between me and Dane.
“Morning.” I smile back, stepping aside so she can walk out. “How are you feeling?” I find myself asking her as we walk down towards the lobby.
“Yeah okay, how about you? Excited?”
“For?” I pause as we wait for the lift.
“New season.”
“Oh, yeah, can’t wait… buzzing.” My smile widens as I look down at her.
We ride the lift in silence, and I can feel Dane’s eyes burning into me. My eyes pinch at the corners as I narrow my gaze on him.
“I have been doing some reading up on F1,” she chimes, her bag swung over her shoulder. It looks heavy.
Without thinking, I slip it off her body and carry it for her. She gazes at me, blinks a few times, and then gives me a soft smile.
“No need to read anymore, kid. You’re about to get front row seats on the action.
” I slip on my sunglasses as we approach the main door of the hotel, swinging my arm over her shoulders.
“Let’s give them a show.” I press my lips to the top of her head, inhaling heavily as I do before we’re out and the fans begin to scream.
Sitting at the table, one headphone over my ear, the other pressed to my head, I half listen to what Glenn is saying. I am more interested in what Athena is doing, sitting with Nora and Ana?s, whispering and giggling.
Annoying.
Me
What are you whispering about?
I feel her eyes on me momentarily before my phone pings.
Athena
Nothing that is of interest to you, Mr Lexington.
A smile plays across my lips.
Me
Spoil sport.
Flicking my eyes to my dad, I see he is fully engrossed in what our team principle has to say, giving us the big spiel about what is expected of us this season. I nod along, tapping my fingers on the desk.
My eyes skate back to her again. Her tanned legs are on show, denim shorts wrapped around her thighs.
A pink vest that leaves very little to the imagination covers her full chest which rises and falls as she laughs quietly.
Her black curly hair is up in a ponytail with a few loose strays falling around her face.
Her fingers play with the delicate gold chain that sits around her neck, and I hate that I am distracted by her.
Slowly, my eyes lift to those full pink lips, cushioned and plump. Freckles are dotted every so lightly across her nose, and I find myself wanting to map them out to see if I can match any constellations to them. And then her fucking whiskey eyes. Man, I would drown in them if I could.
My phone pings.
Athena
Stop staring at me. You’re meant to be listening.
She scolds me and I chuckle.
Me
So, are you, are you not?
Blinking, I tilt my head back and focus on the ceiling. I need to stop looking at Athena as anything other than a work colleague. That’s all she is.
It’s just the pent-up nerves from getting back in the car. I want this championship so fucking badly.
“Okay, I am just going to call the analysts in, and they can go through the points of the car and what you can expect.” Glenn’s loud voice booms around the room and only then do I focus back on him. “Then we can go to questions.” He nods towards my dad.
“You seem to be off your game,” Cowan leans in and whispers.
I flip him off. “Fuck you,” I snarl and focus back on Glenn as he starts talking to the technical director.
I switch off. It’s mind numbingly boring but we have to do it. Athena is sitting there taking notes, occasionally peeking a look at me and I smile which causes her cheeks to turn pink. I love that, though.
“How much has the car changed from last season?” Cowan asks and all eyes are on him, the data guys popping their heads up from their computers.
“Slightly. We knew we could improve but overall, we were happy with the car at the back end of the season,” Loretta states, her eyes glued to Cowan.
“You drove the car last season,” Glenn pipes up, a confused look on his face, “and you tested this year’s car. Did you feel a difference?”
He shrugs. “I didn’t think it had as much grip around the corners, slight understeer maybe.”
I laugh, shaking my head. “There is nothing wrong with the car, it’s a lot better than last year. You just need to get used to it.” I go back to tapping my fingers on the table.
“What’s your excuse then? Pretty sure you beached it a few times coming out the corners.”
My temper is rising. Sinking my teeth into my bottom lip, my nostrils flare as I try and keep my cool.
“Shit happens, man. Don’t come at me for my driving when you’re not exactly in the top three.” My words hurl at him and he laughs, his eyes skating around the room; my dad looks furious.
“Boys,” he snaps, “let Loretta finish. Once this is done, I’ll get you both on the sim and set it up exactly as the car is now. Stop being petty, you’re meant to be teammates, for fuck’s sake.” His tone is harsh, and I puff my cheeks out; Cowan sits a little lower in his seat.
“Loretta”—my dad turns his attention to a now flustered analyst—“please continue.”
I feel Athena’s eyes on me again, but I refuse to look at her, because if I look at her, I will never want to stop.
An hour later, I am peeling myself from the seat after listening to the longest spiel about the data. I know I should be interested, but I’m just not. All I care about is getting in the sim, practicing, and then racing my car around the track and leaving Cowan in the sparks that fly.
Athena is hot on my heels, three of her strides are one of mine.
“Hey, slow down,” she calls out.
I twist around, now walking backwards, as I look her up and down. “My bad, princess.” I wink, spinning and slowing myself down so she is now walking next to me.
“I got some notes.” She nods, looking down at the notebook that is pressed against her chest.
Jealousy picks at the base of my neck and I have to internally shake myself that I find myself getting jealous over a fucking notebook. If I hadn’t just signed a contract, I would be looking for my next lay – pronto.
This is my problem. It’s never enough. The chasing girls, the adrenaline of what I do, I am constantly looking for my next fix. Nothing seems to hit right.
This is why this fake dating scenario is good. It’ll help me get clean from my bad habits.
I was just hoping she didn’t fall into that category.
“If you missed anything, I’ll be happy to fill in the blanks.” I beam at her, slowing outside a door and pushing it open.
She stands, eyes bulging slightly from her head as she ducks underneath my arm and into the sim room. “Woah.”
“Yup.” I follow in behind her, closing the door and moving towards the sim.
“How much time do you spend in here?” she asks, perching herself in the corner. Crossing her legs underneath her, she slips her pen from out of her pony and opens her notebook.
“A lot.” I wink as I push the button to see if anyone is on the other side of the window. “Steve?” I say and after a beat or two, he answers me as I kick my trainers off. “Play Melbourne track.” I lower myself, grab my gloves, and change into my boots that sit in a cubby under neath the screen.
“No problem, boss. Last year’s car or this year?”
I flick my eyes up at the screen. “What do you think?” I smirk, scoffing and he loads it up. Pulling my boots on, I tie the laces. “You don’t have to stay.” I turn to look at her; her head is leaning to the side slightly, eyes locked on the screen.
“I would like to… if that’s okay, of course?”
“Yeah, no problem.” I slip my gloves on and climb into the rig.
The seat adjusts around me and I buckle myself in. Reaching for the VR headset, I slide it on so I immerse myself into the scene.
I couldn’t fuck up. I needed to make sure me and this car got on. There was no room for mistakes. Not for this season.
“I’m ready,” I mutter as the speakers kick in and the seat vibrates. “Let’s go.”