Chapter 16 #2
Her cheeks burn just as the doors slide open. Nora and Cowan are standing there. Of course, his greedy eyes land on her and jealousy swarms me. Holding her close to me, Nora’s lips twitch in amusement.
“Hey, Athena.” Cowan’s voice floats around the lobby and I tighten my hold on her.
“Cowan.” Her voice is a little flirty and I ignore the rage that is simmering in my stomach.
We walk, and Nora and Cowan follow as we wait for Ana?s and my dad. The air is warm, wrapping around me like a blanket.
Nora stands beside me, grazing her eyes over me. “You do realise,” she says so only I can hear, “he will do anything to get a rise out of you, even if it is flirt with Athena right in front of you.” She nibbles her bottom lip.
“He can try.” My jaw locks, my back teeth grinding.
“So sorry we’re late,” Ana?s calls from behind us, her cheeks redder than her hair. My dad looks flustered.
“Don’t say another word,” I grunt, nausea swimming in my stomach.
Ana?s giggles.
“Ready?” my dad’s voice echoes between us.
“Think so.” Grumbling, I tighten my grip on Athena’s hand as I pull her into me.
She glares at me and if looks could kill, I’d be dead.
“Trying to make me jealous, babe?” I whisper in her ear, snaking my arm around her waist as I hold her body close to me.
Her eyes drop; her breaths turn shallow as she turns her face ever so slightly. “Is it working?” Her voice tremors.
I smile against the shell of her ear. “What do you think?” A low growl vibrates through me, one hand still locked through her fingers, the other tightly around her waist.
My dad whistles and we all walk towards the car. She tries to free herself, but I don’t let her. I walk her to the car, and I gently push her into the back after Ana?s. She takes her seat, and Cowan tries to climb in behind her.
I scoff, turning I stand toe to toe with him. “Back the fuck off.” I square up, straightening myself and rolling my shoulders.
A cocky smile slips onto his face. “Don’t forget that this is just pretend. She’s not really yours, mate.” His lips curl into a wider smile, his eyes dancing with mine.
Nora pops up behind Cowan, standing between the both of us and pushes us apart. “Put your cocks away, bellends.” She rolls her eyes and shoves me back towards the car.
“It’s not a dick measuring contest.” I snort.
She pushes against my chest again. “You need to calm down.” She eyes me, her voice low.
But I am not looking at her, I am locked in on Cowan. He flips me off behind her back and my nostrils flare.
“Get in the car, Royce.” Her voice is stern and loud, annoyingly loud enough for my dad to hear as his head sticks out the back of the SUV.
“Not fucking about are we, boys?” he asks.
My eyes trail over my shoulder at him.
“Nope.” My tone is curt.
“Good.”
I shake my head softly before climbing into the back of the car and settling next to Athena. She eyes me. I ignore her, resting my elbow on the window of the car, I dig my fingers into my cheek.
Idle chit chat fills the car and suddenly, I don’t want to be here. I don’t kick off, though. I just keep my mouth shut and enjoy my own silence.
I can feel her looking at me, no doubt wondering what is going through my mind. Annoyingly, I wish she could read it because she would know that all I am thinking about is her.
A rumble of a sigh passes through my lips as our car rolls to a halt.
The driver slides the door open and I am first out, walking up towards Nobu.
We always try to find one whenever we do our team meals.
The crew are in there waiting for us already, but all I really want to do is sit at the bar and sink my sulk away with a few glasses of whiskey.
Cowan was right. She isn’t mine. We’re dirty little fakers. It’ll end in tears. One of us will fuck up.
My dad grabs me on the back of the shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze. I turn slightly and I see the concern that is on his face.
“All good?” He checks in on me as Ana?s hangs back with Nora and Athena.
“Yeah fine, just had a moment with Cowan.” I kick the toe of my trainers into the floor.
“When will you realise he does all of this just to get a rise out of you?” he says softly. “You react, you always have… you’re giving him what he wants.”
I sigh.
“I’ve been saying the same to you since you were in primary school. You always had kids going at you, but you never told them to stick it.” He laughs gently, dropping his hand from my shoulder. “Stop rising to him.”
It’s easy for him to say that. He isn’t like that. He is so laid back, well, I say that but then when he is angry, he sees red like me.
“I try, Dad, but then he bought Athena into it.”
He rolls his lips, sucking in a breath. “Course he did.” He laughs, shaking his head. “And you bit?”
“Fuck off.” I laugh loudly, my expression softening as my sulk lifts.
My blue eyes crease as I focus on her. She’s looking at me, a smile on her face as she listens to Nora and Ana?s.
“Come, let’s enjoy our evening.” He pats me on the back as Cowan joins us.
He side-eyes me and I flip him off. That’s about all I can manage. I am past socialising with him.
Dinner was amazing as always, but honestly, I am grateful to be in the back of the car and heading to the hotel. We’re up early tomorrow ready for our flight to Shanghai.
The pre-race week excitement is teasing me, but I need to get through briefing. They’re the worst thing for me. Briefing is boring as hell, and I have to sit and listen to Cowan drone on and on about the same shit.
Athena’s fingers creep onto my thigh, teasing circles over the denim.
I know she’s trying to pull me out my head, but I am too fucking deep.
Rolling my face towards her, my eyes drop to where her fingers are and my mouth tugs at the corner.
She smiles back, and for just a moment, all feels right in the world.
We all get dropped back to the hotel Dad, Ana?s, and Nora sneak off to the bar. Cowan walks in a different direction on the phone and I, for one, am grateful to see the back of him. Athena curls her hand around my elbow, gently tugging me back as I try and step forward towards the lift.
“Hey, look…” Her voice breaks and I glance down at her, eyes burning into hers as I shake my head.
“Not tonight,” I whisper, one hand cautiously hovering over her hip. No one is around. I don’t have to pretend here, but something feels different, and I don’t want to push it.
“Okay.” Her fingers are linked together, face turned up to me.
“Stay with me tonight?” The words are out before my brain even gets a chance to play catch up.
She’s hesitant. I can see the conflict in her eyes, lips trembling ever so slightly as if something is on the tip of her tongue. It’s almost as though she’s fighting with her internal thoughts.
“Please.” I am practically begging, my fingers tracing down her arm before they lock around her wrist. “I’ll sleep on the sofa.” I am still trying to persuade her.
Her eyes slice to the lobby. My hand hovers over her hip, desperate to feel her skin beneath my fingertips.
“You promise?” A sneaky smile ghosts her lips
“I promise.” I lift my hand from where it has been hovering and cross my heart with my finger.
“Then yes, I’ll spend the night with you,” she says shyly.
I laugh. “There is no sofa, babe,” I tease, and she slaps against my chest.
“I knew that anyway.” Her voice floats across me and I can’t wait to get her into my bed.