NINETEEN #2
‘You’ll hardly know I’m here.’ He takes a couple of steps into the lounge and freezes. ‘This is … um … atmospheric.’
‘I was going for cosy,’ I mutter stiffly, as I turn the music off and start blowing out candles, though it’s obvious what kind of evening I was actually planning. There’s no way this could get any more embarrassing.
‘What can I do to help?’ I ask in an attempt to rush him along.
‘Make me a cup of tea?’
‘You said you’d only be ten minutes!’
‘Fine, no tea, but I need a ladder.’
‘Right.’ I scurry to the cupboard and pull out my steps. ‘Here you go.’
‘Hold it steady for me?’
Fifteen minutes of foot-tapping later, I’m ready to tear my hair out.
Next time I need work doing, I’m just going to hire somebody and pay a premium.
How can Dan not see how awkward this is?
And how long can it possibly take to install a light fitting?
Thankfully Leif seems to be running late.
With any luck he’s stuck in a mile-long tailback that will take half an hour to clear …
‘There.’ Dan finally brushes his hands together. ‘What do you think?’
‘Perfect. Thank you.’
‘I’ll send you a bill.’
‘Haha.’ Now that he’s leaving, I feel marginally more grateful. ‘Sorry about not making you a cup of tea. Next time I’ll cook dinner as a thank you.’
‘I’ll remember that.’ He stops in the hallway and looks seriously at me. ‘I’m glad you’re dating again, Ava.’
‘Me too.’ I reach for the door handle. ‘So thanks again and …’
I freeze as there’s a knock on the other side of the door. It’s Leif. I know it. And now Dan is lifting an eyebrow at me, so I have no choice but to open up and introduce them to each other.
Crap.
I close my eyes and drag in a breath. This is going to be mortifying …
‘Hi.’ I open the door.
‘Hi.’ Leif’s gaze heats as he takes in my jumpsuit, which I don’t mind because I’m ogling him too.
He’s still wearing his suit, as requested, and looks even hotter than he did earlier, possibly because there aren’t a dozen people bustling around us.
Unfortunately, my appreciation is spoiled by the presence of my big brother, who decides to step into view right at this moment.
I clear my throat as Leif’s gaze shifts sideways. ‘This is my brother, Dan. He came, unannounced , to fix a light fitting for me.’
‘Hey.’ Leif holds a hand out. ‘Good to meet you.’
‘Dan is just leaving,’ I say after they’ve shaken.
‘Actually, I didn’t catch your name.’ Dan’s expression is quizzical.
‘It’s Leif.’ A faint look of surprise crosses Leif’s face. ‘Olsen.’
‘Leif Olsen …’ Dan rubs his chin. ‘I feel like I’ve heard that name before.’
‘I’ve probably mentioned it,’ I answer, because it hits me suddenly that, despite watching the Spanish Grand Prix with me and Maisie, he’s clearly forgotten who Leif is.
If I weren’t so annoyed with him for ruining my evening, it would be funny.
But I still want him to leave before he puts two and two together.
‘Do you work at Rask too, Leif?’ Dan folds his arms like he’s settling in for a long discussion. ‘Are you in the technical or administrative side?’
‘Ah … Technical.’ Somehow Leif manages to keep a straight face.
‘And the two of you are seeing each other?’
‘We’re trying to.’ I tap my foot impatiently.
‘Since when? Is it serious?’
‘ Dan! ’ I hiss, because now he’s going too far. ‘That’s none of your business.’
‘You’re my sister.’
‘Your twenty-one-year-old sister!’
‘It’s still my job to look out for you.’
‘It’s OK,’ Leif interjects. ‘Dan, I promise you, I’m not messing around here. I’m serious about Ava.’
‘ There .’ I swivel to Dan. ‘Satisfied?’
‘Actually …’ Dan gives Leif an appraising look. ‘Yes. Nice to meet you, Leif. Enjoy your dinner.’
‘I’m so sorry.’ I cringe as I close the door behind him. ‘He normally behaves like a sane person.’
‘He’s just looking out for you.’ Leif smiles. ‘Has he always been so protective?’
I hesitate because the answer to that is complicated. ‘Not always, but I guess with our parents being abroad, he thinks he needs to act like my dad now.’
‘Then I’m glad I passed his test. You look beautiful, by the way.’
‘Thanks.’ I try to smile back, but my muscles feel stiff with tension. ‘Are you hungry? I made dinner.’
‘Famished.’ He follows me through to the lounge/kitchen where my new light is much too bright and I’m too embarrassed to start the music again. As romantic settings go … it’s really not. Suddenly I kind of wish we could cancel tonight.
‘I’m sorry I was late,’ Leif says as I take a bottle of white wine out of the fridge. ‘Bastian wanted to talk about contracts. Then Nathan joined in on Teams. I thought I was never going to get out of there.’
The pop of the cork sounds much too loud. ‘You mean, another contract with Rask?’
‘Yes. Bastian’s keen to sign me for next year, but there are other options.’
‘I guess you still can’t talk about it?’ I leave the question hanging.
‘I wish I could, but it’s confidential. There are just so many factors to think about.
Like us.’ He moves closer, coming to stand by my shoulder as I pour the wine.
‘Ava, I meant what I said to your brother. Even if I moved to a different team, it wouldn’t change how I feel about you.
’ He pauses. ‘If it meant being based in a different country, I’d still come back here all the time. We could still be together.’
I smile, some of my tension ebbing away at both the words and the implication behind them.
Personally, I think he’s being overly optimistic.
I don’t see how a couple can work for competitors and maintain a relationship, but it looks like that won’t matter.
The majority of teams are based in the UK.
If Leif is hinting about moving abroad, he must mean Quezada.
All I need to do is ace my interview and we can carry on as we are.
‘I’m not worried about that,’ I say. ‘Besides, there might be other opportunities for me too, away from Rask. I’m still only there on a trial basis.’
‘But Vienna’s definitely going to want to keep you. She’s always telling people how amazing you are.’
I feel a rush of professional pride, closely followed by guilt. ‘All I’m saying is that we both have our careers to think about. And I’m sure neither of us would want to hold each other back, so … don’t let me influence your decision.’
‘Maybe I want to let you influence me a little.’ He takes hold of one of my hands, caressing the palm with his thumb. ‘But that’s enough work talk. Tonight is about me and you.’
‘Right.’ I agree, though I can feel my body stiffening again.
It’s not him, it’s just that this evening isn’t going remotely as I planned, and being out of control is making me spiral.
‘Actually, Leif … I’m sorry, but I can’t do this.
’ I pull my hand away. ‘I had everything ready, but then my brother turned up and I’m not in the right place any more. ’
‘Hey.’ Leif’s gaze turns very intense suddenly. ‘It’s OK. I’m not expecting anything here. I’m just happy to spend time with you. We can eat dinner and talk and watch old races, whatever you want.’
‘You’d be OK with that?’ I tilt my head suspiciously.
‘Totally. I don’t want you to do anything you’re not ready for.’
I rise up on my toes, straighten his tie and kiss him. ‘Thank you.’