Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
Athena
I spend some time picking my outfit, settling on a white bardot maxi dress. Soft frills dance around the hem, brushing against my sandal covered feet. My hair is pulled into a low pony, makeup soft, and gold jewellery to finish.
I’m looking forward to my evening with Royce. It feels like forever since we have spent actual time together. I feel like we have both put distance between us in some way. It needed to happen; as much as I enjoy his company, I know it will end in disaster.
We are moths to flames. One of us will end up burned.
Spraying my perfume against my pulse point, I grab my clutch and walk out into the main area where Royce waits for me. He’s scrolling on his phone, but it’s like he gets the sense to look up, and that’s when his ice blues catch mine. His mouth slowly drops as he sweeps his gaze over me.
“Wow,” he whispers.
I tilt my head as I blush, allowing myself to look at him. He is dressed in wide leg jeans and an oversized white tee. So simple. So Royce. So handsome.
“Athena, you look…” He stumbles over his words.
I laugh softly as I step closer to him. He pushes from the sofa, closing the gap between us as his eyes volley back and forth from mine.
The urge to push onto my toes, run my hand around the back of his head and grab the nape of his neck, is strong.
I want to feel his soft hair through my fingers as our lips meet.
“Thank you,” I whisper.
He inhales, his eyes creasing slightly at the corner, his jaw clenching. “Want to go?” His voice is tight, as if the words are painful.
“Sure.” I nod, turning towards the door.
His hand hovers over the small of my back, my skin tingling. I will for him to dust his fingertips along my back, eve gently, just to remember what his touch feels like. But I know that’s not a good idea.
We need this space. Things could have got messy really quick.
My phone pings in my bag, pulling me from my thoughts. Slipping it out as I step into the hallway, I smile when I see Edel’s name sitting on the screen. Clicking her message, my heart pitter patters in my chest.
Fly in tomorrow morning, okay to pick me up? Xo
I am so glad she will finally be here.
Yup, no problem. Send me your flight details and I will get Nora to sort out a car. Xo
“All okay?” Royce asks as we make our way to the lift from the penthouse apartment we’re staying in.
“Yeah, fine. Edel lands tomorrow morning, so she just wanted to ask if I would collect her.”
“I’ll drive you.”
I blink at him. “But you have briefing tomorrow, and gym, and everything else…”
“It’s fine, don’t worry about it.” His smile is small, and he looks unhappy.
I don’t reply, just step into the lift as we ride in silence. “Is everything okay?” I find myself asking him as we walk into the apartment lobby.
“Yeah, just a bit nervous for race weekend,” he admits.
I give a knowing nod as if I understand what he is going through. Stepping into the warm evening, Royce slips his hand through mine as we walk slowly towards the marina.
“Are you still okay with this fake relationship thing?” I ask, my voice cautious.
I hear a heavy sigh as we slow down, and he turns to face me. “I think we need to maybe pull away.” His eyes drop to the floor.
I feel the burning lump that works its way up, lodging itself into my throat. “Oh,” is all I can manage, the air being sucked out of my lungs.
I inhale quickly, trying to drag in as much oxygen as I can. I have no idea why this is hurting me as much as it is. My stomach rolls, and my heart weeps inside my chest.
“I really need to get my head down and you’re becoming a beautiful distraction, one I don’t want to stop being obsessed with. You’re in my head constantly, from the moment I wake up to the moment I go to sleep… I can’t even escape you in my dreams because you’re in every single one.”
A nervous laugh catches at the back of my throat, and I hate that this feels like a real break up.
“We will still be together most of the time, but just not together, if that makes sense?”
I nod, ignoring the tears that tease at the back of my eyes.
“Don’t hate me, kid.”
I scoff. “How can I hate you?” I ask him, my eyes burning into his just as his large hand cups my cheek, brushing his thumb against my skin. “None of this was real, it was just an act…” I trail off. “Fake.” Just saying the word has acid burning my windpipe.
“Some of it was fake, yes…” he admits, “but you can’t tell me there were times when this didn’t feel fake between us, that this felt real.”
His words catch me off guard, my breath hitches as I let the words sink in.
“And that’s why you’re calling it off.” It all makes so much sense now. “Because this got too real for Royce Lexington.” I push his hand from my cheek.
“Babe.” The word falls from his tongue, his eyes widening at the realisation.
“Do you know what,” I mutter, “I’ve lost my appetite.” I step back, shaking my head in disappointment as I turn and walk away.
I have no idea where I’m going. I just keep walking. I half expect him to call out for me, to run behind me and pull me into his arms. But he doesn’t.
He just let me walk away.
Sighing, I reach the marina and look over the quiet bay. The mega yachts sit pretty, the lights twinkle against the still water, and I feel a sense of peace float over me. Slipping my phone out from my bag, I snap a photo and share it to my socials.
Hovering my finger over Nora’s name, I hesitate but my brain decides for me and on the first ring I hear the sound of a throat being cleared beside me. Cutting the phone off, I let my arm fall gently as I turn around and see Cowan standing there.
“Oh, hey.” I smile at him and he undresses me with his eyes.
“Hey you.” He edges closer, leaning against the railing. “Where have you been?”
“Nowhere,” I admit, slipping my face down for just a moment.
“Then why are you all dressed up?” A cocky smirk is pulling at the corner of his lips.
“I was meant to be going for dinner.” I sigh, turning my face back to the quiet marina.
“With Royce?”
I nod.
“Then why aren’t you?” His brow raises.
“Because things happened.” I lift my shoulder, not willing to talk about it anymore.
Silence bounces between us for a moment and I turn to look at him. He’s slightly taller than Royce with blonde hair, tanned skin, and green eyes.
“Are you still hungry?” he asks.
I know I should say no. I should go back to the apartment and sleep this shit show of an evening off.
But I don’t.
“Starving,” I admit and a wide smile pulls at his lips.
“Good.” He laughs softly.
My phone vibrates in my hand just as we’re about to walk towards the restaurants. It’s Nora. I answer, bringing the phone to my ear.
“Hey.”
“Hey, sorry, I’ve just seen I have had a missed call, but I don’t recall hearing it ring,” she says, her voice soft.
“I called by accident.” I smile before we say our goodbyes. “Let’s go,” I mutter, sliding my phone into my bag and following his lead.
Dinner is lovely, we eat overlooking the marina. We speak about nonsense, really, but it doesn’t feel the same as when Royce and I would just chat.
Cowan is on his phone, texting whilst we wait for the bill. I don’t have a chance to fight him when the waiter places it down, he pays for it straight away.
“Ready?” He pushes from the table and holds his hand out for me.
“Thank you,” I whisper as I step in front of him and begin to walk towards the exit of the restaurant.
His fingers tease against mine before they’re curling around my wrist and pulling me against his body. His eyes volley between mine, his head tilting as he edges his lips towards mine. I shove on his chest, a flash illuminating us, and I turn knowing full well we have just been pictured like that.
Like we’re about to kiss.
My stomach drops, and I retract my hand. My brows are furrowed as I stare at him.
“What’s the matter?”
“I’m with Royce.” The lie tastes bitter on my tongue.
“You’re not really with him though, are you?” He smirks.
I blink.
“I know about the fake relationship, he told me.”
I swallow down the bile that coats my throat.
“You didn’t really think he cared about you… did you?” His brow raises as he stares me down.
I ignore his harsh words and shake my head. He laughs, his head tipping back.
“But me, I’ll take care of you… there’ll be no fakeness.”
I inhale heavily, my nostrils flaring. “I don’t swear,” I say as my voice trembles, “but internally, I am cussing you out.” I shake my head in pure disgust as I walk away from him.
His laughs echo around marina and suddenly, when my phone begins pinging and ringing, I know I have made a huge mistake.
“Nora,” I whisper into the phone, tears threatening to fall.
“What the…Athena?! There are photos of you all over socials with Cowan…”
“It’s not what it looks like.” I choke on a sob, a tear running down my cheek.
“Are you sure? Because what it looks like is that you’re meant to be dating Royce… and here you are, plastered over every social and F1 gossip page with his rival.”
I swallow down the tears. Rage swims in my stomach, my heart batters around in my chest as I storm up the slight hill towards the apartments.
My phone pings again and I drag it from my ear for a moment and see a blast from the Hot Goss Paddock.
Uh oh, looks like Royce’s girl has got herself hooked on a new Formula One driver. This is going to cause trouble in paradise, that’s for sure… poor Royce. Xoxo
Anger burns through my veins. “He broke it off with me! The thing he asked me for, to help him with you know, the bit where he didn’t want his name tarnished … and then”—I stop walking, my chest caving in as it aches—“he fake dumped me.” My heart races, my eyes misting over.
“What?” Nora can hardly get her words out.
I say nothing, I stand in front of the apartments, tears rolling down my face.
“I’m sorry Athena, come to my apartment. We will sort this out.”
I nod as if she can see me.
“And Cowan?”