Chapter 34 #2
“You still gotta go out with us. We can use you to pull in the ladies, then do an ol’ bait and switch.”
People are watching. I can deal with it, eyes everywhere pinned to me.
It’s the perfect opportunity to push this aside, to set things straight, to tell him where I stand.
I look to Lana, whose face is strangely blank.
I wonder if this is what the Chameleon looks like, if that blank face and the small, pleasant tilt of her lips is the mask she wears when she’s on the job.
It’s surely not what my Lana looks like.
I wonder then, what do I look like to her right now? Do I look like her Rome, or some strange, distant version of myself she can’t recognize?
“Come on, like old times. Or are you back to being a little brown-noser, needing to get back on your dad's good side?” Noah asks as two more drivers join our small group.
Irritation flares within me, and with it, I can feel it—sliding into an old habit, into an old costume that feels both familiar and comfortable. I should fight it off, not fall into the pattern that only brings me headaches, but we’re here to find information, right? Not to create waves.
“Of course not, I was just letting you hang. I know how much you need someone to help out so you can get some. You know I’m in once I’m back.” The small crew of men cheers.
“Ayy! The party animal is back!” Noah hoots.
“Fuck yes,” someone calls out.
“Next year is going to be one for the fucking books,” another says.
Even though it strikes unease in my chest, I don’t refute them.
I don’t tell them that they have it wrong—that I won’t be partying, that I’ll be splitting my time between racing and spending it with Lana, that I’ve grown comfortable spending my nights in and like it that way.
There are so many things I’d rather be doing than sitting in a loud club pretending that everyone there likes me.
But I don’t get the chance, not with David giving me a grin. “Chaos and partying aside, are you looking forward to coming back?” I nod, eager to change the topic.
“Oh yeah. It’s been fun, killing some time and finding any way to keep racing. But I really want to be here, where the real action is.”
“Oh, I’ve seen the one you’ve been killing some time with,” Sam says, a boyish look on his face, and it irritates me.
“I wouldn’t mind killing some time if it got me a hottie like that.
” Lana’s entire body stills in my peripheral vision.
With his words, I know somehow this is it.
This is the moment that changes everything.
I could play it off, keep being playboy Rome, keep winning them over, and maintain that image Lana was talking about.
But I know in my gut that it would almost definitely make me lose Lana.
Alternatively, I could set myself up to introduce a new version of myself, possibly for good.
The answer is obvious.
“Aye, watch your fucking mouth,” I say, trying to smile to keep things friendly while walking the thin line of wanting to punch him in the face.
“That’s my girlfriend.” I know I made the right choice when her head pops up, a contented, satisfied look on her face.
I reach over, not caring that Stephanie is in the middle of asking something, and pull her into my side.
“Oh man, my bad,” Sam chuckles. “I didn’t realize you were reformed.” He looks over Lana, and without looking at her myself, I know she has that happy, dazed look I love the most. I also know, like always, that she’s absolutely stunning. “If I had a woman like her, I’d be reformed too.”
“No chance, Sam,” David says. “You’re too much of an asshole.” We all laugh, and Lana melts into my side, her arm wrapping my waist.
“Lana, this is David,” I start, eager to keep her close, to find that strength that she gives me to be a better version of myself. “And Sam, Noah, and Mike. They’re drivers and good friends of mine.” She looks up at me, smiling.
“Good people, or secretly assholes?” she asks, and the men laugh loudly. I know this is her way of asking me without asking if I would consider them suspects, and something about having our own little code warms me.
“Good people but also assholes, so who knows?” I say, and hope she gets the real meaning: Friends, not foes, but everyone is a suspect, right?
She smiles.
“Well, good to meet you guys, I think?”
“Honestly, I’m kind of honored. We’ve seen some of the clips of you driving, and it’s sick… Ever think of doing Indy?” David says, and warmth moves through me. Lana laughs out loud and shakes her head.
“Oh, no. Rome took me once, but I like the safety of being high up in a truck,” she says. “Was a good experience, though.”
Despite the audience, my cock twitches at the reminder.
Okay, topic change is much needed. I tip my chin toward Stephanie, who is still hanging nearby, and give her a small, apologetic smile. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to pull her away from you like that.”
“Oh, no, not at all! We were just about done,” she says.
“Actually, Rome, do you have a minute? I’d love to talk to you about your transition to the Monster Smash circuit and what you’ve been up to.
” I look to Lana, who is in a group of drivers she doesn’t know, but ones I don’t mind.
She gives me a small smile and waves her hand.
“I’m good here. I’m here to mingle.”
“Are you sure?”
“We’ll take good care of her,” Noah says, and I roll my eyes.
“That’s what I’m afraid of,” I grumble.
“I’m fine. You know I can handle a couple of arrogant drivers,” she says, shooing me off. She gives me a let-me-do-my-job look that makes me smile.
“Okay. I’ll be back quickly,” I say, bending to press my lips to hers in full view of everyone here. “Feel free to punch any of them if they step out of line.” The crowd laughs, and Lana salutes me before I walk off with Stephanie.
Unfortunately, one conversation turns into two, and an hour later, I still haven’t been able to get back to Lana.
Twice I see her move my way, but then I’m whisked off once again, giving her an apologetic smile.
I feel like an ass, but this is the reality of my life, and if we’re ever going to work, this is what she’ll be in for.
When I finally get a moment to breathe, I look around the room, catching sight of the lavender dress she was wearing.
Relief moves through me as I spot her chatting with Noah and Mike.
The relief washes through me quickly until Levi walks up, stopping just a bit too fucking close to her to be casual.
In an instant, that all-too-familiar energy bubbles in my chest.
He greets the group, shaking hands with Mike before turning to Lana. I guarantee she remembers him. But Levi is a dumbfuck, so there’s a good chance he doesn’t remember her, especially all done up.
She smiles at him with a faux kindness that I recognize instantly, and it settles the fire in my chest just a bit before he tips his head to the side, toward the bar.
She shakes her head politely, lifting her drink, and I start to move that way.
At her refusal, he looks annoyed, and I halt close enough to hear their conversation.
“Come on, it would be fun. Just one drink.”
“No, thank you, I have a boyfriend,” Lana says with all the politeness in the world. Far more than Levi deserves, that’s for damn sure.
“She’s dating Rome,” Noah explains, and Levi’s eyes light up.
“Rome, huh?” His brows furrow as if he doesn’t understand something and then clear a bit. “You’re the woman from Monster Smash, aren’t you?” Lana nods, her smile tight. “Now you definitely need to let me get you a drink.”
“Why is that?”
“Oh, Rome and I have this long-standing teasing thing going on. We’re good friends, you know. Have been for years.” Lana looks at him with fake confusion.
“I thought you were rivals?”
“Oh, you know how the press is, always pitting us against each other. It’s fun for the cameras, but behind closed doors, we’re good friends.
It will be fun, me getting his girl a drink, riling him up.
Things are a bit boring here, don’t you think?
” She hesitates, trying to understand, then she shakes her head.
“No, thank you,” she says, and I smile, but Levi doesn’t. Instead, he frowns at her, a bit pitying.
“You know, he’s going to fuck around on you soon anyway. You should just beat him to the punch.”
“If I want advice on my relationship, I’ll ask a professional, not a random man at a party. But thank you again for your interest.” I grin, beginning to move, intending to claim my girl and plant a kiss for everyone to see.
“You don’t have to be a bitch about it,” Levi says. “You aren’t that hot anyway.” Lana lifts a shoulder, completely unfazed.
“Whatever makes you feel taller, buddy.” I can’t help but bite back a laugh, knowing that the fact that he’s barely 5’10” bothers him. But it’s gone in a moment when he moves, shifting as if he’s going to try and hit Lana.