TEN
SARAH AND I ARE both up early. With our matching Rask outfits, we look like twins as we head downstairs to take the shuttle bus to the paddock.
According to the all-important schedule, Leif’s first activity of the day is an hour in the gym, followed by a shower in his private RV motorhome at the track.
If everything is going according to plan, that means he should be ready for me to collect him for breakfast right about now.
‘I’m through here!’ Leif’s voice calls from further inside, so I brace myself and follow it, past a small bathroom and up some more steps into …
‘Oh!’ I come to an abrupt halt in his bedroom. It’s smaller than I would have expected, with a low roof and skylight over a narrow bunk, but it’s still a room with a bed, which is definitely not an appropriate space for us to meet.
‘I’m so sorry. I thought you meant …’ I gesture behind me. ‘I’ll wait outside.’
‘Don’t worry.’ Leif stands up from where he’s currently bent over, straightening his bedclothes. Like me, he’s dressed entirely in Rask merchandise. ‘It’s my fault. I assumed you were Kelsey.’
‘Kelsey?’ It must be the name of his girlfriend, though this is the first I’ve heard of her.
‘My performance coach.’
‘Oh.’ I feel a bump in my chest, one that feels inexplicably like relief, followed by mild shock because he’s … not frowning? Instead he looks almost pleased to see me. It’s completely disarming. What the hell?
‘So, I’m going to be your assistant for the next few days,’ I say carefully, because maybe he hasn’t been fully apprised of the situation.
‘I know.’ He folds his arms over his chest, though not in a confrontational way, more like he’s unsure what else to do with them in such a confined space. ‘Vienna told me. Any news on Yuto?’
‘He says he’s feeling better.’ I give him a suspicious look because what is going on? He doesn’t seem even remotely bothered about me being here. ‘So we’re good? Working together, I mean?’
‘Of course.’
‘OK.’ I need another moment to process this. ‘Well, that’s great. I mean, obviously I’m new to this, but Yuto’s sent me a few pointers and if there’s anything you need, just let me know and I’ll do my best to facilitate it.’
‘I’m sure we’ll be fine.’ He clears his throat as I turn to go. ‘Did you sleep well?’
There have been so many surprises in the past minute that I shouldn’t be caught out by another, but I’m so taken aback I almost look over my shoulder to see if he’s talking to someone else.
First he’s not frowning, and now he’s asking me questions about my well-being?
It’s like he’s had some kind of personality transplant. ‘Um … yes, thanks. Did you?’
‘Yes.’
‘Good.’ I try to think of something else to say. ‘You must be feeling positive after Belgium?’
‘I’m working on it.’ He pauses. ‘It’s hard not to worry.’
‘That’s understandable,’ I say, because it is. ‘I’m sure the past few months have been really tough, driving a car you couldn’t rely on, always waiting for something to break.’
‘Yes.’ His gaze latches on to mine. ‘It was.’
‘But all of that’s behind you now. The upgrades are working and you’re one of the best drivers on the grid. You can’t let the past undermine your confidence in the present.’ I smile because, as pep talks go, I think I’m doing pretty well. ‘Whatever happens, I know you’ll drive a great race.’
‘Thank you.’ He shifts his weight from one foot to the other like he’s both pleased and embarrassed by the words. ‘I appreciate that.’
‘Anyway …’ It occurs to me suddenly that we’re still in his bedroom, standing a little too close for comfort. ‘Shall we go to breakfast? Or I can fetch you something to eat here, if you prefer?’
‘No. The team motorhome is fine.’
‘OK, then.’ I swing round and head for the door, so baffled by the 180-degree change in his behaviour I almost bump my head on the frame as I go. As if the past five minutes haven’t been weird enough, for a moment I almost forgot the schedule.
COREY AND EMIKA ARE already at a table in the middle of the room when we arrive.
‘Hey, guys.’ Corey grins as we sit down, me with a plate of toast and scrambled eggs, Leif with a bowl of porridge, piled high with berries and nuts.
‘You’re in a good mood.’ I smile.
‘Because I have a good feeling about today.’ He leans back, lacing his fingers behind his head.
‘The sun is shining, the car is ten times better than it was and a little bird told me some pretty juicy gossip last night.’ He glances around and lowers his voice confidentially.
‘Noa Shimizu’s retiring at the end of the season. ’
‘Shimizu’s leaving Quezada?’ I give a startled jolt. I keep an eye on all the gossip forums and this is the first I’ve heard of it.
‘Yep. They’re not going to announce anything until the summer break, but it means there’s going to be an empty seat at Quezada.’
‘Traitor!’ Emika hisses at him. ‘What about Rask?’
‘I didn’t say I was going anywhere.’ Corey holds his hands up. ‘I’m just keeping you all informed.’
‘How do you know about it?’ Leif looks perplexed.
‘I have a friend.’
‘You mean, a female friend?’ Emika rolls her eyes. ‘You could get her fired by repeating this stuff.’
‘Only if you guys tell, which I know you won’t. Anyway, the rumours will be flying about soon enough. The driver market will be total chaos. Everyone’s going to be delaying their contract negotiations until we know who’s going to replace him.’
‘Only if they want to move to Quezada.’ Leif lifts a shoulder.
‘Who wouldn’t?’ I say, then bite my own tongue as they all turn to look at me. ‘I mean, they’re a great team.’
‘Not as great as Fraser right now.’ Corey glances around again. ‘The rumour is that Hayden Quaid isn’t performing as well as they’d like either. There might be seats at both teams.’
‘Seriously?’ Emika gapes at him. ‘Don’t tell me you have another “friend” at Fraser?’
‘What? I’m a friendly person.’
‘Maybe a little too much.’ She cocks her head to one side. ‘How are you feeling, Ava? Ready for the insanity?’
‘I think so.’ I force down a mouthful of scrambled eggs, trying to ignore the flutter of nerves in my stomach. ‘It’s the track walk first, right?’
‘Yes. Then we move on to the press stuff.’ She throws a wary glance at Leif. ‘Is that OK?’
‘Nope.’ He takes a mouthful of porridge. ‘But it’s in the contract.’
‘Message me if you have any problems.’ Emika turns back to me. ‘The paddock can feel like a maze, but you get used to how things work after a few races.’
‘Maybe we should swap?’ Corey suggests.
‘What?’ Leif’s head jerks up, his tone a little sharp.
‘We could swap minders.’ Corey looks between us all. ‘Our schedules today are pretty much the same, but Emika and I have both been here before so we know where we’re going. It’ll take some of the stress away.’
‘That’s actually not a bad idea.’ Emika scrunches her mouth up thoughtfully. ‘What do you think, Ava? Just for today?’
‘I guess it makes sense …’ I glance at Leif.
Paranoid as it sounds, for a moment I wonder if he’s planned this with Corey to get rid of me, only I don’t think so.
He seems to be frowning at his teammate.
Weirdly, I feel a flash of annoyance towards Corey too.
Yesterday, I would have been relieved to be paired with him.
Now I feel oddly deflated that I don’t get to spend the day with Leif, after all.
‘Leif?’ Corey prompts him.
There’s a moment of silence before he nods. ‘Whatever you guys want.’
‘Great.’ Emika drains her orange juice and stands up. ‘Let’s go.’
‘I’M SO GLAD IT’S you and not Charlotte who came,’ Emika confides as Leif and Corey walk the track in front of us, discussing the layout with their race engineers.
‘I mean, I love her, but I wish she were married already. Sometimes I think if I hear another word about wedding favours I’ll tear my hair out. ’
‘Does that mean you don’t want an update?’ I tease her. ‘Because I have new information about table settings.’
‘Don’t you dare.’ She shudders. ‘Speaking of new information, Vienna just made a last-minute addition to the schedule. Now there’s a speaking engagement at 6 p.m. in the hospitality centre, but she wants to introduce Leif and Corey separately, so I’ll take one in, while you watch the other in the motorhome. ’
‘You make them sound like puppies.’ I laugh at the image. ‘Are they likely to wander off?’
‘It can happen, especially at the end of a long day. One of the Chiltern drivers went completely AWOL in Miami a couple of years ago. They eventually found him in a hot tub on a yacht; his minder got the boot the next day.’
‘OK.’ I stop laughing. ‘I’ll keep an eye on them.’
‘Great.’ She lifts her phone to her ear. ‘I’ll just call Vienna and make sure she’s not about to spring anything else on us.’
I carry on walking, although the temperature is beginning to feel uncomfortable. I knew it was going to be hot, but I wasn’t expecting humidity too, the kind of sticky heat where just breathing makes you sweat – and it’s only 9 a.m.
‘Ava?’
A voice calls my name and I look over my shoulder to find a middle-aged man in white jeans, white trainers and a blue shirt jogging towards me, looking red-faced and in desperate need of a lie-down.
Or possibly even a stretcher. He seems to know who I am, though I don’t think I’ve ever seen him before.
‘Hi.’ I offer him one of my water bottles since I brought two as a precaution. ‘Do you need this? I haven’t opened it yet.’
‘Thanks.’ He grabs it, takes several long gulps and then pours a hefty splash over his shaggy brown hair. ‘You’re a lifesaver. I can’t remember the last time I ran anywhere.’
‘Today probably wasn’t the best day to start. Can I help you?’
‘Yes. I’m Nathan, Leif’s manager.’
‘It’s so nice to meet you.’ I smile as we shake hands. ‘Although Emika’s minding Leif today now.’